Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years. The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.
And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.”
Comment: How different was war in those days from what happens now! There were no drones high above sending back messages to the authorities sitting far away from danger’s way. Thus the last of Jesse’s sons, too young to be involved in the fighting, is sent as a messenger on more than one occasion, taking food to his big soldier brothers and seeking news to be carried back to his elderly father. Challenging the Israelis, Goliath daily marched out and called his taunts and challenges to the Israelis but apparently no visit of David coincided with the appearances of the ranting giant. More than a month passes and David hasn’t yet seen Goliath.
Prayer: Help me to wait patiently for You to give Your orders, but not to delay when I sense Your will, O God.
As I read it! 
Thanks for your comments, Barry, on this passage. I hadn’t stopped to think about the fact that 40 days had come and gone with Goliath taunting the people every day, and David, at this point, not even having had the opportunity to encounter him. Probably Saul’s army was feeling at the “end of their tether” after 40 days of Goliath’s ranting. It is amazing how God’s timing is always perfect, even in this situation. He always comes to our rescue at “just the right time”. God bless you.
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