As I continue to dig into the life of David, I love finding little things that I hadn’t really noticed before.  Here I just wanted to see when David was first mentioned in the Bible.  David is first mentioned in the book of Ruth.  How, he was not even born yet?  I know, which caused me to dig into this a little deeper.  Why would David be mentioned in the book of Ruth?  I believe that it was so that we could see, “just what stock he came from,” what treed did David fall from.  The book of Ruth introduces this gentile woman who loved her mother-in-law (Naomi) so much that after the most painful experience in her life (death of her husband) she decided to stay connected to her when she could have abandoned her.  She not only stayed with Naomi, but she also followed her God (the God of Israel), even though Naomi tried to push her away.  Ruth 1:16 But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.  17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.  This woman demonstrated great character and unconditional love and as the book continues, we see how God steps in and changes her life forever.

This Ruth was the great grandmother of David and if she was this principled, what would his great grandfather be like.  Boaz was a relative of Naomi and the text lets us know that he was a wealthy man, but the most interesting thing to me was his first words “Ruth 2:4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!”  The first word Boaz spoke was a blessing over his employees; he was shining God’s light in the workplace.  This was obviously the way Boaz carried himself on a regular basis, therefore it is not surprising that he spoke a blessing over Ruth during their first encounter (Ruth 2:12 The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”) then he would become a provider for her (Ruth 2:15 And when she rose up to [b]glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not [c]reproach her. 16 Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”) and in the end, Boaz would become Ruth’s kinsman redeemer (Ruth 4:10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from [e]his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day”).    

So here is the thing; Ruth was one of of the few gentiles that would become followers of God. Just as we are all gentiles (unless you happen to be a Jew) and now are able to follow Jesus Christ. Speaking of Jesus Christ; He was our Kinsman Redeemer, we he like Boaz paid to price for us on the Cross. So not only were those in David’s bloodline were powerful men and women of God.  The were also powerful examples of what would flow from their bloodline; yes David of course but also Jesus (Matt 1:1-12).

The character, Godliness and humility that David’s great grandparents demonstrated had to be passed down over the years.  Now I’m not saying that you have to have a Godly upbringing to become a King.  But I am saying that when you lay down that foundation for your family, your great grandchild may just become the King, because we all need to remember that “The Apple Doesn’t Fall Too Far From the Tree!!!