“Son of David”
Daily Scripture
Matthew 1:1, 6, 1 Samuel 16:10-13, 2 Samuel 7:8-9, 16
Matthew 1
1 A record of the ancestors of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham
6 Jesse was the father of David the king
1 Samuel 16
10 Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD hasn’t picked any of these.” 11 Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Is that all of your boys?”
“There is still the youngest one,” Jesse answered, “but he’s out keeping the sheep.”
“Send for him,” Samuel told Jesse, “because we can’t proceed until he gets here.”
12 So Jesse sent and brought him in. He was reddish brown, had beautiful eyes, and was good-looking. The LORD said, “That’s the one. Go anoint him.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him right there in front of his brothers. The LORD’s spirit came over David from that point forward.
2 Samuel 7
8 So then, say this to my servant David: This is what the LORD of heavenly forces says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be leader over my people Israel. 9 I’ve been with you wherever you’ve gone, and I’ve eliminated all your enemies before you. Now I will make your name great—like the name of the greatest people on earth.
16 Your dynasty and your kingdom will be secured forever before me. Your throne will be established forever.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
“Mentioned a thousand times in the Bible, David is the biblical man for all seasons, the most complex and many-sided human character in Scripture.” * We often only know a few of those sides of David. His name in Jesus’ genealogy evoked many sides of his life, with a clear air of royalty. “David is the only person called king in this genealogy. This is because he is the representative king of Israel. Israel’s royal dynasty was called the house of David. See 2 Samuel 7:12-13.” **
- In David’s day (and much of the Middle East today), shepherds had very low social status. David’s father at first didn’t even include him with his brothers as a potential king for Samuel’s attention. Have you ever (years ago or 10 minutes ago) felt that you’re not valued, that the world needs nothing you can offer? How does the story of God choosing David, the left-out kid brother keeping the sheep, speak to your heart?
- One thread that ran through David’s story was God’s promise that his royal dynasty would last “forever” (cf. 2 Samuel 7:16, 1 Kings 9:3-5). To human eyes, that promise failed—the Davidic line of kings could not and did not continue through and after the exile in Babylon. But Matthew traced Joseph’s ancestry back to David (as Luke did Mary’s—cf. Luke 3:23-38, especially verse 31). How was Jesus the only one who could and did fully make God’s promise to David come true at last?
Prayer
Jesus, son of David, so much, globally and locally, tugs me toward hopelessness. Reinforce my ability to live in hope, in confidence that your good reign will indeed last forever. Amen.
GPS Insights
Gabby Delpleash
Gabby Delpleash is a sophomore at Creighton University, a College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Fellow pursuing a major in Biochemistry with a double minor in Biology and Music on the pre-medicine track. She served Resurrection as a summer intern in the Worship Experience ministry, organizing resources for the work of Christ. When Gabby’s not serving or studying, she can be found outside on a long run, obsessing over books from her favorite authors or getting way too competitive in a game of Pickleball.
I currently find myself in a season of change where I often find myself waiting: for clarity, for stability, for understanding of where I belong in the midst of splitting my time living in Omaha, Nebraska and Kansas City. It’s why I call Advent the actual “most wonderful time of the year.” It’s a lovely season of excited waiting and anticipation, a time when we prepare our hearts for the arrival of Jesus—the fulfillment of God’s promises as the Son of David. Just like every Insight blog I’ve had the wonderful privilege of writing, these themes of waiting, hoping and anticipating during Advent season powerfully resonate with this season of my life. This particular Advent season reminds me that waiting isn’t passive; it’s active, hopeful, and purposeful. Just as Israel waited for their Messiah, I’m learning to wait with faith, trusting that God’s plan is unfolding even when I can’t see it fully.
David’s story teaches us that God works in unexpected ways and through unexpected people. Advent underscores this truth as we remember that Jesus, the King of kings, was born in a humble manger, not in a palace. Similarly, in my life, God is present and working in the seemingly ordinary and overlooked places—whether in an impromptu late-night campus walk with my close friends (when we really should be studying), a heartfelt “I love you, you’re doing great” text from my mom, or the quiet moments in the midst of endless projects and exams when I feel the most alone. Advent encourages me to embrace this waiting period as a sacred time for growth and reflection.
The promise of the Son of David—fulfilled in Jesus—reminds me that God is faithful. David’s dynasty, which seemed lost, was restored most extraordinarily. In this Advent season, I’m reminded that Jesus is not just the fulfillment of a promise to Israel but also the answer to my own longing for hope and purpose. His eternal kingdom brings peace and assurance, especially when the transitions in my life feel chaotic or uncertain.
As we prepare for Christmas, we must look at Advent as an invitation to refocus on what truly matters. While too easy to get caught up in the changes and challenges of college life, Advent calls me to pause, reflect, and anticipate the joy of Christ’s coming. Just as David’s story shows that God’s timing is perfect, Advent teaches me to trust that God’s plans for my life, no matter how uncertain they feel now, are also perfect.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, general editors: Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit, Tremper Longman III. InterVarsity Press, 1998, p. 194.
** Eugene Eung-Chun Park and Joel B. Green, study note on Matthew 1:6 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 5 NT.
