"God was teaching David lessons of trust. As Moses was trained for his work, so the Lord was fitting the son of Jesse to become the guide of His chosen people. In his watchcare for his flocks, he was gaining an appreciation of the care that the Great Shepherd has for the sheep of His pasture. PP 644.1"
"He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands."
Both passages connect David's shepherding experience to his future role as a leader of God's people. The EGW passage explicitly states that God was training David through his shepherding, echoing the sentiment in Psalm 78:70-72 that God took David from the sheepfolds to feed Jacob.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
The EGW passage directly connects David's shepherding experience to understanding God as the Great Shepherd, which is the central theme of Psalm 23:1. This is a clear and meaningful thematic parallel.
"Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb."
Both passages highlight the training and preparation of a leader (David and Moses) through the experience of shepherding. The parallel is that God uses shepherding as a means to teach and prepare individuals for greater responsibilities.
"The lonely hills and the wild ravines where David wandered with his flocks were the lurking place of beasts of prey. Not infrequently the lion from the thickets by the Jordan, or the bear from his lair among the hills, came, fierce with hunger, to attack the flocks. According to the custom of his time, David was armed only with his sling and shepherd's staff; yet he early gave proof of his strength and courage in protecting his charge. Afterward describing these encounters, he said: “When there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.” 1 Samuel 17:34, 35 , R.V. His experience in these matters proved the heart of David and developed in him courage and fortitude and faith. PP 644.2"
"And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him."
The EGW passage directly quotes 1 Samuel 17:34-35, making it a clear and undeniable explicit allusion.
"And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:"
The EGW passage directly quotes 1 Samuel 17:34-35, making it a clear and undeniable explicit allusion.
"Even before he was summoned to the court of Saul, David had distinguished himself by deeds of valor. The officer who brought him to the notice of the king declared him to be “a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters,” and he said, “The Lord is with him.” PP 644.3"
"Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth–lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him."
The EGW passage directly quotes 1 Samuel 16:18, confirming it as an explicit allusion.
"When war was declared by Israel against the Philistines, three of the sons of Jesse joined the army under Saul; but David remained at home. After a time, however, he went to visit the camp of Saul. By his father's direction he was to carry a message and a gift to his elder brothers and to learn if they were still in safety and health. But, unknown to Jesse, the youthful shepherd had been entrusted with a higher mission. The armies of Israel were in peril, and David had been directed by an angel to save his people. PP 644.4"
"And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;"
The EGW passage directly references and expands upon the event described in 1 Samuel 17:17, where Jesse sends David to the camp with provisions for his brothers. While it adds the detail of an angel's direction, the core event is directly alluded to.
"And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge."
The EGW passage directly recounts the events described in 1 Samuel 17:17-18, including Jesse's instructions to David to bring food and check on his brothers.