Helplessness

A bad situation can get worse.  That is what happened in the time we are reading about.  The nations of that area were loose confederations of cities with unregulated borders.  When one group wanted to gain power (usually territory, or people, or goods) they would gather their trained men and challenge a neighbouring nation.  The Philistines challenged Israel, and Saul had to collect Israelite men and go to war. 

David was too young to be a soldier (you had to be over 20 years old) so he went off back to his sheep.  At home his new experiences as a palace servant didn’t make any difference to the way he was treated.  So when three of his brothers join Saul’s army, David also became a messenger going backwards and forwards between home and the battle-field to take supplies and bring back news. 

So there David was, back in the position of being bossed around by everyone.  There is a record of how his brother spoke to him when he visited the army. He says, “… with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness?  I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is ….”  It seems that David was regarded with disdain by his brothers, and treated as little more than a nuisance. 

It is encouraging to realise that David was able to become a confident and compassionate leader in spite of growing up in a discouraging family.  He seems to have allowed these early experiences to build good things into him, instead of letting them break him down.  There are many examples of his good leadership.  One is that he made it a rule that the soldiers who stayed with the supplies got equal shares with those who went into battle.  Another is that he was willing to listen to advice.

So I am able to ask myself whether there are horrible family experiences which influence my life.  When there are, the real question is:  Do I learn to be a better person because of them, or do I become a nasty person like those who mistreated me? 

The record of this can be found in the Bible, 1 Samuel 17:1-31

http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?translation=niv&book=1+samuel&chapter=17