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Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah
However, I do find it interesting that the Bible does not state unequivocally that Jesse trained David, even though I feel the weight of evidence is very compelling.
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I understand you. And it would be difficult to suggest that Jesse had no part in David's training.
But once you get to specific things, and at specific points in what was then David's somewhat young life, I consider the certainty greatly reduced.
I know that I always thought that the account of how Saul's armor did not fit him indicated how small he was. But I was not thinking about the fact that Saul was described as standing a head above almost everyone. It wouldn't have fit very many people — even the future king.
But David was somewhat young. If he was the youngest among several and not the only one left at home, then I suspect that he was generally below expected fighting age. And therefore the amount of training in fighting would probably not be very certain.
Not saying he couldn't have been well trained. But there is no evidence of it.
This is how I am thinking of the account I can read. I do not give the same meaning to identifying yourself as Jesse's son as you do. It seemed almost commonplace, therefore not able to convey anything more than heritage as a certainty.
I will comment directly on one of your points that I have ignored before. When you get into the notion of honoring your father and mother, you are bringing an "A causes B" concept into play but using it in reverse. Can't remember the fancy name for it. Honoring your father and mother means it will be well with you — according to the promise. But the fact that something goes well with you does not evidence the honoring of the father or mother. And even if you are honoring your father and/or mother, that does not convey any knowledge about what they taught you.
And, once again, since David gave the honor (the credit) for the killing of the bear and the lion, and ultimately of Goliath, to God, then there is nothing bringing his father into the picture (even if he did teach him something about the ways to face such tough opponents). That is not a dishonor to Jesse. It is a giving of the rightful honor to God.
I do not find the notion that David was other than "home schooled" as being implausible. That is, if you mean that home schooled means that his mother and/or father were the primary educators. If Jesse were of significance in the community, he probably could have someone help in that department. More like private school.
I'm not trying to say that this is the correct analysis. You suggested such a lack of plausibility when I have reason to think it quite plausible. Neither of us are clearly right. And that has always been my point.
Then you get to faith, and I would have to agree. In a world in which you are mostly with your family, if your parents don't have faith, it would be hard for you to arrive at any kind of serious faith. So that one is probably more than plausible. Even today when we are around so many other people, the presence, or lack of, faith in our parents or other very close relatives is often a significant factor in arriving at your own faith.
I noted this weekend when my son visited from Washington that there is much of the intangibles of our family dynamic of faith, morality, etc., that is deep in him. He has not had the same kind of drive to find a Christian fellowship since moving to the Portland area (although he has finally done so). But when something came up about Rob Bell's
Love Wins, he expressed no doubt in the truth of the Bible in the issues surrounding that book. Never heard it from his own mouth before. And he didn't need to impress us or anything.
It is not a certainty, but if you see someone with strong faith, there is usually strong faith close by in the family, typically one or two generations before.