They Followed Saul

1 Samuel 17

There is a treasure of insight in this chapter. The most often talked about is David going against Goliath. However the Lord also speaks about many other things within these verses.

Verse 13-15 say, “And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third shammah. And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. But David went and returned from Saul to feed his Father’s sheep at Bethlehem.”

If God says something multiple times we ought to listen. The three eldest followed Saul, not the Lord. Yet we see that David returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep. There are two happenings here. The majority of elder brethren are following Saul (man) into battle where there is action, while David is tucked away learning what it truly means to be a shepherd of God feeding His sheep. Peter also once wanted to go to battle and drew the sword, however was also later on given the high calling by the Lord to simply “Feed His Sheep.”

Saul can represent so many things. Saul can be the apostle who shared this word with you. Saul can be the prophet who God uses in glorious ways. Saul can be the evangelist who’s boldness you admire. Saul can be the elder who always has the right words at the right time. Saul can be the teacher who’s spiritual insight has blessed you. We must submit to Saul as David did, but we need to ask ourselves constantly, “who are we following?” Are our eyes on a man, or the Lord Jesus Christ Himself?

Many times if we truly choose to go the way of David and follow the Lord outside the camp bearing His reproach, we will also be accused by our eldest brother of pride and naughtiness even though we were simply obeying our father’s command to bring corn, bread, and cheese to our brethren. This scene also parallels the story of Joseph in many ways. The first are last and the last are first.

In the end God uses David, the youngest, who knew the victory was won in the name of the Lord alone. While David’s brethren were following Saul, David was learning the ways of the Lord. His heart was to simply feed natural sheep and obeying the word of his father to feed his brethren. A true shepherd’s heart.

Follow God, not Saul.