David And Goliath Part 5 - The Pledge

# 241 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 17:17,18, “Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. 18 "And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them." (1 Sam 17:17,18) You can sense the loving concern of a father for his boys who are on the front lines. It's been at least 40 days and no word on how his boys were doing. So he sends David off with some granola and bread for the boys, and some cheese curds for their superior officer. (Perhaps his boys will be given some special consideration as a result of this gift.) There is a certain degree of urgency as he tells David to “run” to the camp. He gives David instructions to bring some assurances back to him that his boys were okay. The King James says that he was to bring back a “pledge.” A pledge would be more than David's Word. Typically, this pledge would be a lock hair or something that the father would be able to identify, proving that David had indeed had personal contact with his brothers. Well, he came back with more than a lock of hair, he came back with Goliath's head, thereby proving his boys were okay. I love the way Spurgeon comments on these verses. He says, “The great Antitype of David visited his brethren below, his Father sending him to us with heavenly food, and messages of love. Alas, like David, he met with a churlish reception, "he came unto his own, and his own received him not." The Lord grant that in our hearts he may ever find a welcome.” I would add to this commentary and say that the great Antitype David visited his brethren on earth and took a pledge back to heaven with Him. This pledge proved to all that He had indeed visited his brethren and accomplished His mission. This pledge was clearly visible to all, namely, his nail scarred hands and feet, and riven side. These are the wounds by which all who welcome Jesus into their heart are healed. Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.