David and his 3 enemies

Enemy 1: overcoming (feeling of) rejection

David’s family rejection was the initial challenge he faced. Despite being the youngest of 7 or 8 brothers in Jesse’s family, according to 1 Samuel 17:12-14 and 1 Chronicles 2:12-16, he was not favored or pampered as one might expect in today’s society. In fact, when the Prophet Samuel visited Jesse’s house in Bethlehem, as recounted in 1 Samuel 16:1, David was not even considered important enough to be presented before him, as noted in 1 Samuel 16:11.

David was not included in the group of his siblings who were being consecrated at the sacrifice in 1 Samuel 16:5. It was not because he was still a small child, but rather because he was tending to his father’s flocks in the field at the time. It is uncertain whether David was given this responsibility because he was so trustworthy at a young age or if he was purposely sent away from Jesse’s house. Read more..