Let me share with you several ways David prefigures our Lord. The list is impressive! Making him, I believe, a wonderful Type of Christ.
David’s name means “beloved.” And Jesus was the “Beloved Son” of God the Father!
Matthew 3:17 … “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
David lived in Bethlehem. It was his hometown! Jesus was born in Bethlehem!
Matthew 2:1 … “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem …”
David was a man of “beautiful countenance.” (1 Samuel 16:12) And we are told Jesus is “fairer than the children of men.” Our Lord is also said to be “altogether lovely.”
Psalm 45:2 … “Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.”
Song of Solomon 5:16 … “His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”
David was a shepherd, literally so in his early years. Jesus our Saviour is a Shepherd too, THE Shepherd in fact!
John 10:11 … “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
Hebrews 13:20 … “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.”
1 Peter 5:4 … “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
David began life humbly, a lowly lad. But yet he was exalted to King! So with Jesus, “obedient even to the death of the Cross.” Yet given a “Name that is above every name!”
Philippians 2:5-11 … “Christ Jesus … Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
David was mocked by his brothers! (1 Samuel 17:28 is an example.) In like manner Jesus “come unto His Own, the Jews, and they received Him not!?”
John 1:11-12 … “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
David defeated a giant named Goliath. (See 1 Samuel 17:49.) Jesus defeated death, hell and the grave (Satan too) on the old rugged Cross!
Hebrews 2:14 … “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”
David was anointed King on three different occasions! (Once by Samuel, Then by the men of Judah. Finally, by all Israel.) Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit (the Name MESSIAH means “Anointed One!”) at Conception, at His Baptism, then again at His Ascension!
David in 1 Samuel 16:13 by Samuel. In 2 Samuel 2:4 by Judah. And again in 2 Samuel 5:3 by all Israel.
Jesus, let’s see …
Luke 1:35 … “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
Matthew 3:16 … “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.”
Acts 10:38 … How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
At His Ascension … Psalm 45:6-7 … “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
Other parallels exist. David is mentioned in the Bible over 1,000 times, folks! He is indeed a major Bible character.
We shall enjoy studying his life, the Lord willing.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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