Detail of Jesse from the Stained Glass window of All Saints Church, Hove, Sussex, England.
1 Samuel 17:57-58, As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand. “Tell me about your father, young man,” Saul said. And David replied, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.
King David is known through out Israel’s history. He delivered Israel from the hands of its enemies and ushered in its golden age. In David’s lineage was born the Messiah, Jesus, who came not just to redeem Israel but the whole of mankind.
David is also known by the title of the son of Jesse. Jesse must’ve been very proud. Every father would be proud of the accomplishments of his children.
I can imagine Jesse beaming with pride when he heard what his son David told King Saul after being asked about his father, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.” His son, a very young man, killed the dreaded Philistine giant, Goliath, the champion of the enemy army that led to victory for the Israelites.
Those words brought honor to Jesse. It showed how Jesse raised his youngest son. Jesse’s eldest children were arrogant and jealous of David and would probably will not give due honor to Jesse if given the chance. Not David, he was humble. He did not want to grab all the attention. He only sought to glorify God by honoring his father.
We need more children like David, but more importantly, fathers who will raise their children like Jesse. Children who will give back the glory to God in every circumstance because that was how they were raised by their parents.
Fathers have a great responsibility to their children and to God. Fathers are tasked to lead their family and raise up godly men and women through their off springs. They owe this task to God and He will surely honor them.
