Gospel Reflections #942: Even if we remain nameless

1 Samuel 17:55 "When Saul saw David going out to meet the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of the army, 'Abner, whose son is that young man?' 'I swear by the Lord, O king, I do not know,' Abner replied."

This depicts the scene where King Saul, having seen the young David confront the giant Goliath, asks his army commander Abner, "Whose son is that young man?"

This passage raises the question: why had Saul forgotten David, despite it already being recorded that David played the harp and served as his armour-bearer?

One view suggests that several years had passed since his youth playing the harp, and David's physique and appearance had changed (such as his voice breaking and facial hair growing), making it difficult to intuitively recognise him as the same person.

We too, if we knew someone had received God's calling, might be impressed and never forget them. Yet when someone seems an ordinary, insignificant person, we scarcely notice them and they may not linger in our memory.

Jesus came into this world as an ordinary, insignificant person, so He did not bask in the limelight. Yet He remained utterly faithful to God's calling.

We tend to seek recognition and response for our own actions, especially those requiring tremendous effort. Yet both David and Jesus sought no reward whatsoever, remaining wholly obedient to God.

Even if we are nameless, or our very existence unknown, God knows us fully. He knows us better than we know ourselves.

That is precisely why we can joyfully accept God's calling.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.