David: From Shepherd to King

The boy David 

Long before David was king he was a boy.  But God knew him.  Kings do grow up from little boys, and so do priest and prophets.  

Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good looking.  and the LORD said, "Arise and anoint him; for this is the one!"  1 Samuel 16:12

There was something extraordinary about the bearing and deportment of the boy David.  He was "bright eyed."  Literally he had beautiful eyes.  "Yapheh" means "beautiful."  There was some kind of inner quality that made David shine!  I believe he had a clear conscience.  More than that he had no conflicts with God.  He was innocent and unaffected.  At a later time he would write, "Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."   He had that rare quality that is seen in only a very few people upon this earth.  You would be drawn to him at once.  He could command a following.  Men would follow him into battle, and maidens would sing his praises.

Behind those eyes was a mighty man of valor.  He had already fought a lion and a bear in physical combat.  But that valor was not of his own making.  It was a courage born of faith.  David had a love relationship with God.  By the time we meet him in the Scriptures, he is already an accomplished musician, singing sweet melodies that could soothe Saul's troubled soul.  It is rare, even these days, for a teenager to be so accomplished.  Where did David learn that?  By worshipping God of course.  David loved God.  That was the singular secret of David's life.  

note: "Ruddy" means he had rosy cheeks i.e. he was healthy.  Some people say he had red hair.

note:  Apparently David, as a boy, was not yet fully grown, or else he was just  short compared to his brothers. But God had prepared Samuel to anoint David saying, 

"Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature,  (saying of Eliab, David's older brother), for I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as a man sees; for the LORD looks upon the heart."  1 Samuel 16:7 (parenthesis mine)

Was David short?  We may never know, but if he was, that makes his story even more remarkable.  Normally, other men would not follow a short man, unless he had something about him.  Or, as David would say later, "The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him."

So the LORD had said to Samuel, "Arise and anoint him; for this is the one!"

note:  Jesse's sons were Eliab, Abinadab, Shimea, Nethanel, Raddai, Ozem and David.  Jesse also had two daughters named Zeruiah and Abigail.  Zeruiah was the mother of Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.  Abigail bore Amasa.  We shall hear of all of these men and women again.  (see 1 Chronicles 2:13-17)

David the shepherd boy

He also chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes that had young He brought him to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance.  So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.  Psalm 78:70-72

David must have been a good shepherd.  He would have worn the talit, the garment of Israel.  In cold weather he would have worn a tunic under his talit.  No doubt he had a leather belt around his waist into which he tucked his shepherd's rod, a dagger, and a sling.  He also would have carried a staff, a goatskin water bottle, and a shepherd's pouch containing his lunch and some small round stones.  The stones were for slinging at sheep who were bent on wandering off.  He would not hit the sheep.  He would sling the stones in front of them to make them turn around.  His staff may have been sharpened on one end so that it could double as a weapon.  It was probably a straight stick about five feet long.  The shepherd's hook, or crook as we have come to know it, was a different tool that was probably kept back at the sheep pen most of the time.  Shepherd's also carried a flask of oil for anointing the sheep if they were injured, and to protect them from sunstroke.

note:  It is not likely that David used dogs to help him herd the sheep.  He would not have needed any.  His father Jesse only had a few sheep (see 1 Samuel 17:28)  Dogs would have been an unneeded expense.  Yet, without dogs to accompany them, the sheep would have needed a human protector.  

The shepherd's rod was a short shaft with a knob on the end of it.  It was used like a club for defense .  The knob on the end gave it weight and authority.  David would have carefully selected it and cut it himself from a sapling that had a large root ball at its base.  

Interestingly the rod had another use besides defense.  It was used for counting and comforting the sheep.  A shepherd would make the sheep pass under his rod as they entered the pen for the night.  As they passed, one by one, the shepherd would inspect them for cuts and bruises.  If they were injured, he would apply some oil as a healing balm.  Thus the shepherd's rod became a symbol of his love, care, and authority over the sheep.  In time, kings were given scepters shaped like a shepherd's rod to remind them of the true nature of real authority.  There is a picture of this in the book of Ezekiel.  Speaking of Jesus, the prophet wrote.  "I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant."  Ezekiel 20:37

It has been said that a good shepherd will lay down his life for the sheep.  That was a well known saying long before Jesus used it to describe Himself.  On the other hand a bad shepherd thinks the sheep exist only for his own benefit.  We know that David was a good shepherd because he was willing to lay down his life for his father's sheep.  He had fought a lion and a bear.  David won in both cases.  He was very skilled in combat.  

There is something else that a good shepherd does.  He carries the lambs in his arms so that they will bond to him.  Later, they will know his voice and follow only him.  There is a picture of this in Isaiah.  Speaking of the coming Messiah, Isaiah wrote...  He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.  Isaiah 40:11

At night the sheep were kept in a common pen with sheep from other flocks.  At daybreak David had no problem separating his sheep from all the others.  All he had to do was call.  His sheep knew his voice.  A stranger they would not follow.  The communal pen was a permanent structure made of stone walls about seven feet high.  But there were times when the sheep were not kept in the communal pen.  Seeking greener pastures, David could have led them several day's journey from Bethlehem.  During those times David would have used brush to make a temporary pen for the night.  David himself would have slept in the gate of the pen, making himself the doorway.  Nothing could have attacked the sheep without going through David.  

Speaking of these well known things Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door.  If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  John 10:7-9

In order to be a good shepherd David would have had to look after the sheep both night and day in all kinds of weather.  Shepherds don't just herd sheep, that's for sure.  They have to take care of them.  That means they have to care if anything happens to them.  Something about tending the sick and the injured, carrying the lambs, rescuing the lost, staying up all night to help the ewes in the lambing season, fending off attackers, shearing the wool, providing food, drawing water from the well, and otherwise nurturing the flock, prepared a man for leadership.  In David's case he was being prepared to be KING!  Did he know that? Probably not.  He was the youngest of his father's eight sons.  He probably thought he would always be herding sheep. 

note:  The rabbis of Israel are quick to point out that God chose His religious leaders from the ranks of shepherds.  That would include Moses, Joseph, Jeremiah and of course David.  The boy David was being prepared to shepherd God's flock.

Although the shepherd's life is a life of constant care and vigil, there is actually quite a lot of time for rest, relaxation, and meditation.  Arising at dawn, the shepherd would let the sheep out of the pen.  By noon the sheep would be resting.  They would rest for at least an hour.  David spoke of that in Psalm 23.    At about midday the sheep are made to lie down in green pastures. David had plenty of time to practice with his sling.  It was also at that time that David would play his sweet melodies to the LORD of Israel.  There was something about David.  He had no reason to praise God except that he loved Him.  Why would David love God so much?  Did he learn that love and respect from his parents?  I think so.

David's parents

I am sending you to Jesse, the Bethlehemite.  For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.  1 Samuel 16:1

It has been said that no man can be truly good who did not have a good mother.  David's mother is mentioned in the Bible, but only briefly.  (see 1 Samuel 22:3)  She must have been good.  She was probably the one who taught David to read.  That was the custom in those days.  Jesse was David's father.  He was known as a wise man.  The Bible says of Jesse that "he went for an old man" in the days of Saul."  The Hebrew word "zaqen" means a wise old man, or an elder of the people.  It seems that he sat in the gate of the city acting as one of the counselors and judges of Bethlehem.  

Jesse was the son of Obed, who was the son of Boaz, made famous by the book of Ruth.  In other words David came from a very great and well known family.  His ancestors were quite famous in Israel.  David's parents and grandparents surely would have taught him to love God.

note:  The Bible says that Jesse was old and advanced in years in the days of Saul (1 Samuel 17:12).  That would make David the son of Jesse's old age, and that would make David very beloved indeed.  Remembering his parent's love would give David strength and comfort in latter years.  And although there may have been some sibling rivalry, David's brothers also later supported him.  David came from a good family.  

David, God's bondservant

He also chose David, His servant (bondservant).  Psalm 78:70  (parenthesis mine)

I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.  Acts 13:22  italics mine

There is an obedience that goes beyond duty.  It is the obedience of a son.  That is the obedience of faith and love.  A bondservant is a person who chose to be a servant.  He could have been free, but instead he chose to continue serving.  Upon making that choice his ear would be nailed through the ear lobe to the doorpost of his master's house.  (see Exodus 21:6)  That was an adoption ceremony, making him a son.  The blood from the earlobe upon his master's doorpost was a sign to everyone that a covenant had been made.  Fixing the bondservant's ear to the doorpost also signified the opening of the ear to his master's voice in a greater way.  Prophetically, the Bible says of Jesus, "My ears You have opened."  (Psalm 40:6)  Jesus was obedient, as a son, to everything His father said. "But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are."  (Hebrews 3:6)  italics mine

David also had that kind of obedience.  ...David, whom I chose because he kept My commandments and my statutes.  (I Kings 11:34) No doubt  David had learned from his parents to be a student of God's word, in order to keep all of God's commandments.  David was intent on that.  He said so.  

The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.  For all His judgments were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me.  Psalm 18:20-22

That kind of obedience requires humility.  You can't think that you have a better idea.  You have to enquire of the Lord.  You wait for Him to lead.  There is no acting on your own.  You have to hear from God.  You also have to trust God.  You have to trust in His grace.  King David knew God that way.  He said,  "For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the mercy (loving kindness), of the Most High he shall not be moved." Psalm 21:7

King David highly prized humility for he said,

With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;  With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; With the pure you will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.  For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks.  Psalm 18:25-27 

David knew the secret of these words...  LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare (make upright) their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear.  Psalm 10:17  (parenthesis mine)

But a man is made humble by God's Word.  David had a love for God... and His Word!

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart.  The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.  (Is this why David had "bright eyes?")  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  Moreover by them is Your servant (bondservant),  warned, And in keeping of them there is great reward.  Psalm 19:7-11  italics mine (parenthesis mine)

These are the words and the wisdom of David, the man who would become king.