Text, 1 Samuel 17:20-21, KJV: 20And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. 21For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
Thoughts: There are those who know quite a bit about sheep and there are those who do not! Those who do have shared in books and other materials that sheep are not very smart, and that they seldom listen to the voice of anyone who is not their shepherd. With this in mind, the role of this unsung hero is even more important.
In the context, Israel and the Philistines are again at war and the two armies appear to be staying only a few miles from Bethlehem. David’s three oldest brothers have joined the army and are among the soldiers in Israel’s side of the Valley of Elah. David’s father asked David to take them some food (one wonders if army food has changed much in over 2000 years!) and bring back news of what was happening.
There’s only one problem with this request: David was apparently the only one who was still keeping or tending the family’s flock of sheep! If he went off to anywhere, who was going to take care of the sheep while he was gone?
And that’s where this unsung hero, this keeper of the sheep, needs to be recognized. Even though we don’t know his name, or how much of what he did, he was able to help David and the family while David was gone. At first glance, nothing seems out of order: we don’t read of the sheep running off or becoming lunch for the lions and bears, nor do we read of the keeper leaving the sheep to fend for themselves while he sought greater opportunities. David’s flock? Absolutely. A faithful friend? No doubt about it. He made sure the flock was taken care of until David returned.
You and I may never be called to be a king or other high official, such as Saul or David himself. The Lord may want us to be “keepers”, faithful friends, who assist where needed and when needed so that others might answer the call of God on their lives. To be sure, the keeper would have had the right and duty to say No if the request was not from God.
In David’s case, he needed a keeper for the flock. He knew one, and he could trust him. If the time should come to be a “keeper” like David’s friend, may we be able and willing to fill in or plug the gap when and where needed.
Are you willing to be a “keeper”, too?
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).