http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2015-17&version=NIV
In chapter 15 of 1 Samuel, we see Saul has disobeyed the Lord again in not following the instructions of Samuel.
" But Samuel said to him, "I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!" (1 Samuel 15:26)
From this point on, the focus of 1 Samuel now is the interaction between Saul and David. In chapter 16, Samuel anoints David as the future king of Israel.
And then we come to chapter 17. David and Goliath. This is probably one of the first, if not first, Bible story that many of us have ever heard.
When people talk about the confrontation between David and Goliath, the lessons often seem to come down to asking, "Who or what is the Goliath in your life and how can you slay them?"
But I would say there is a greater spiritual significance to the confrontation of David and Goliath than that.
David and our Lord Jesus have so many things in common. Both are from Bethlehem.
Both come from humble means: David being a shepherd, and Jesus being from the family of a carpenter.
Both endured trials in preparation for their ministries at the beginning of their lives. David in his persecution from Saul, and Jesus in his temptations from Satan in the wilderness.
Both became kings. David became the king of Israel, and our Lord became the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and the King of Israel.
And both slayed a foe that was thought to be so great that no one or thing was thought to be able to overcome them.
David slayed Goliath, and our Lord Jesus Christ slayed death, sin, and Satan on the cross.
"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. " (Hebrews 2:14-15)
This is what I would say the spiritual significance of David versus Goliath really is. It is a foreshadowing or future anticipation of what Jesus Christ would do for us on the cross.
David is a biblical type of Christ. When we say that someone is a type of Christ, we are saying that a person in the Old Testament behaves in a way that corresponds to Jesus’ character or actions in the New Testament. When we say that something is “typical” of Christ, we are saying that an object or event in the Old Testament can be viewed as representative of some quality of Jesus.
So as we begin our study of the life of David, take time to reflect on how these events correspond and foreshadow what Christ would do for us.
David was to become a great man of God. Praise be to God, that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was and is the greatest man of all time!!!
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
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Yes, love how you pointed out the type of Christ in this story
ReplyDeleteThe beauty of how Jesus defeated Satan is He did it as a man submitted to His Father not as God. (Phil 2:6-10) Even though Jesus is God, He humbled Himself to become a man and only spoke and worked as the Father told him to (Jn 14:10). Jesus walked as a man 100% submitted to the will of the Father. What a pattern for us. As you pointed out, we see this in David as he fought Goliath. David didn’t rely upon his own strength and wisdom but came in the power and the Name of the Lord. The same pattern we must use to defeat our Goliaths. David then used Goliath’s own sword to behead him. Like you mentioned, Jesus used death to defeat him who had the power of death. We see this pattern in our life as God turns everything meant for evil against us into our good. (Rom 8:28)
Here is an interesting note. David took Goliath's head to Jerusalem for burial. The place is called Golgotha, “The place of the Skull” The same place our Lord was crucified. God has beheaded all our enemies and to make the point crystal clear, God placed a cross right on top of their greatest champion's head! I love how God makes His point
Thanks Russell and Kw for your comments.
ReplyDelete**I am pleased that my parents named me after King David, and the story is so wonderful of how he was an over-comer. First, he had to overcome a sinful heart. All great men have a "story" and/or a past, if you study the history of great, Godly, accomplished men. Read the list of "all-stars" in the New Testament, about which Paul teaches(it's either Romans or Hebrews-->Having a senior moment)
**I want to share a fact that most people perhaps have never heard. A fact which an individual would do well to share with any non-believer(s). **Within the last 10 years(I forget the exact date), remains were found that, when put together, were the bones of several men estimated to be between 9 and 10 feet tall. They were the remains of Philistine giants. If you look in the Guiness Book of Records, I believe 8' 11" is what is written as the record of the tallest human ever. I think not!!
**Some pastors believe the giants were products of angels mating with human women; well, never mind the strange details. The bottom line is that these giants DID EXIST!!!
I hope whomever reads this comment will enjoy it as much I did when I first learned of this information about 7 years ago.....I am astonished from and extremely interested in compiling facts of things which assist in proving the existence of God. Share facts with doubters. It can change their lives.
Peace and love!!!