“…The Lord has not chosen this one either.” I Samuel 16, v.8
“Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” v.9
Samuel then asks Jesse, …”Are these all the sons you have?” v.11
“There is still the youngest…but he is tending the sheep.” v.11
“Then the Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him, he is the one.’ “ v.11

Meet David, a young, gentle shepherd. I don’t picture young king David looking like the typical shepherd in our Nativity scene. Our Nativity shepherd is old, really old, and he’s learned-looking. He looks tired, certain and calm. In contrast, young king David is spunky, a hunter, a musician, a close and devoted friend to Jonathan, a writer of some rockin’ poetry. Young King David is way too cool for such a majestic setting as the Nativity. Imagine, our sweet babe Jesus descended from his earthly family. Jesus and David are connected. They’re family.

King David (sculpture by F. A. Jerichau, 1860); on display in Copenhagen, Denmark

The story of young rockin’ David turns ugly, and David, unlike his descendant Jesus Christ, sins. As David grows older, David desires more of the world’s pleasures and less of God’s will. He falls, and he fails. He’s a sinner.

I now see David, the entirety of David, sitting in my Nativity. He’s close to the babe Jesus. So close that he can smell his glory, power and holiness. He recognizes he’s next to perfection. He senses his great need of the babe Jesus’ love and forgiveness. Jesus’ radiance blows through David. His earthly kingship blows away. The greater king has arrived, David recognizes, yet just a babe. David now bows, he trembles at his unworthiness, his sinfulness, his arrogance. The King of Kings has arrived.

I bow, too, recognizing my sinfulness, my shortcomings. As I spend time with my extended family this Christmas, I want to take the powerful babe Jesus with me, wherever I go, all the time. He’s a reminder of God’s greatness and my weakness, and my family’s weaknesses. He’s our grace-giver.

God chose David as his beloved chieftain: A young, cheerful, shepherd boy, turned lustful, lazy commander: Sinner. He chose you, your family, and me, sinners, too. Indeed, praise Him.