How could this be? In the story of David and Goliath, after the giant had been killed and Israel had won the battle, King Saul asked David a strange question, “Whose son are you?” King Saul had just had some kind of conversation with David when David was volunteering to fight Goliath. Even before that, David had stood before king Saul and played the harp to soothe the King’s distressing spirit. Perhaps David’s appearance had changed from the time he had played the harp to the time he defeated the giant. How could King Saul not have known who David was?
And Saul said to him, “Whose son [are] you, young man?” So David answered, “[I am] the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.” I Samuel 17:58
Why did the King want to know who David’s father was? For one thing, David’s victory for Israel had brought the blessings of no taxes to David’s family. David had also won freedom and great riches and the King’s daughter in marriage. But King Saul must have also known that David’s faith in God and the favor of God had come from someone. David’s identity came from his relationship with his father. I know there are some people who don’t want anything to do with their father and some people have never known their father. But the child of God should know that we don’t self identify, our identity comes from our Heavenly Father. He tells us who we are and makes us who we are today. Paul said, “I am what I am by the grace of God.”
Perhaps David’s identity had been supernaturally concealed from King Saul only to be revealed at the perfect time. Perhaps this strange question is recorded for me and you to consider it ourselves. “Whose son/daughter are you?” It should be obvious who your father is today. Not only have you taken his name, but we are to take on His holy character and conduct. We are to take on the Father’s business and do all we can to never shame His holy Name. “Whose son/daughter are you?” Through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ on the cross, God has made it possible for everyone to have the Father they are not ashamed of and long to be with.