By Dr. Wayne Brouwer
April 14, 2025David was the runt in his family.
When the great prophet came to town and Bethlehem’s clans turned out for a day-long celebration, Samuel moved among the leaders to find Israel’s next monarch (1 Samuel 16). Yahweh nudged Samuel when he shook Jesse’s hand. “Great choice!” thought Samuel, surveying the seven strapping sons that huddled with their father. Any one of these handsome guys would lead God’s people well! But no! No further nudge, no divine signal. “These are all your sons, right?” Samuel asked Jesse. “Yes, indeed,” smiled the proud father. “Quite a bunch, aren’t they?” Samuel clarified his query. “I mean, do you have any other sons?”
Jesse and Mrs. Jesse looked at one another briefly, brows furrowed. After a minute, a light of remembrance came on. “Oh, yeah… We left the little boy, the runt of the litter, at home with the sheep,” they replied. “Get him!” ordered Samuel. And later that day, the lad forgotten by his parents, left out of the family football scrimmage team, and virtually unknown to his neighbors, was anointed by Samuel to be Israel’s next king!
Years later, now very famous, King David tried to build a permanent House for Yahweh, a beautiful Temple to replace the ancient and ragged Tabernacle of Israel’s wilderness wandering years (2 Samuel 6-7).
Yahweh said, “Thanks, but no thanks! You are wishing the right thing, but you are a man of war. Prepare everything so that your son can build my House. And, by the way, because you wanted to build me a House, I will build you a House. From this time forward, forever more, one of your descendants will always rule over my people.”
A thousand years later, one of David’s descendants — another no-account runt, according to many at the time — came to Jerusalem as Passover began.
What the leaders ignored and scoffed at, was obvious and apparent to the people.
“Hosanna (God saves!)!” they shouted at Jesus. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna to the son of David!”
Here comes the King!
Image created by AI.
