Jesus in the Old Testament 029: David as a Type of Christ

 Jesus in the Old Testament 029

David as a Type of Christ

1 & 2 Sam 

Thesis: David was a prophetic picture of Christ in numerous ways. He allowed his life to be ruled by the Spirit of God and so, while not perfect, was able to fulfill God’s call upon his life and point many to the worship of God.  While David’s call in this way is unique, our lives can also, when submitted to the Spirit of God, be used as examples to a watching world. 

1. Nutshell w/Kids 

1. Read 1 Sam 16:1-12. 

2. God chose David to be king when he was a boy, somewhere between 9 and 15 years old.  

3. Already his heart was right before God. 

4. You are not too young to be serious about your faith and your relationship with God. 

5. You are not too small or uneducated/untrained for God to use you. 

6. God desires to have your heart at a young age and use you throughout your life.  Don’t wait to be older before you give your life to the service of God

 

2. Deeper w/ Adults

1. David and Christ

1. Name: Beloved (of God)

1. OT Prophecies of Christ often speak of the affection between God and His Messiah (Isa 42:1)

2. Specifically spoken during Christ’s baptism (Mark 1:11)

2. Chosen because of his heart’s disposition toward the Lord at an early age. (1Sam 16:1-12)

1. Before He is anointed, David’s heart is already in pursuit of the Lord and devoted to Him. 

2. Jesus was similarly attested at a young age (Luke 2:46-50)

3. Anointed and filled with the Spirit (1Sam 16:13)

1. The Holy Spirit comes upon and remains with David at his anointing. 

2. Similarly, the Holy Spirit comes upon and remains on Christ at his baptism (Matt 3:13-17)

4. Immediately tested by conflict (1 Sam 17)

1. The very first thing that happens to David is that he is tested in conflict with the enemy of God’s people. 

2. He is victorious because he relies on the covenant promises of God to His people, not his own strength. 

3. His victory here sets the entire course of his life as a conquering hero of Israel. 

4. Jesus is immediately taken from his Baptism into the wilderness to be tempted (Mark 1:12). 

5. While there, he defeats Satan by relying on the words of God in scripture, not His own divine nature (Matt 4:1-11). 

5. Initially rejected with murderous intentions (1 Sam 18:6-11).

1. Saul is Jealous of David.  Rather than repenting and following the Lord with his whole heart as David does, Saul is filled with murderous rage. 

2. The Jewish leaders, once confronted by the teachings of Jesus, do not repent but rather decide to kill Jesus (Matt 26:1-5).

6. Drew a crowd of misfits and broken people to be his followers (1 Sam 22:1-2)

1. These men were not the ones that anyone would have chosen to be the central core of a King’s government, but they were exactly who God needed them to be. 

2. They became mighty men of valor and champions after living with and being trained by David (2Sam 23:8-39). 

3. Jesus’ inner circle was likewise composed of common, low-level society men whom He chose and trained to become great leaders

1. Four Fishermen, a tax-gatherer, a political mercenary, and others who were of no notable profession. (Luke 6:12-16). 

2. They were later to be called pillars of the church (Gal 2:9)

3. Every one of them except John died a martyr’s death (and he survived his attempt). 

4. Every one of them died away from home on the mission field. 

7. Eventually receives his kingdom but in stages with a long gap in time between his anointing and his coronation  (2 Sam 2:1-4; 5:1-5). 

1. David was anointed as a boy. 

1. All men over the age of 20 were required to serve in the military in Israel (Num 1:3)

2. Jesse had 7 sons older than David, and three of them were old enough to be serving in the army when David fought Goliath (1Sam 17:13).  

3. That leaves four more boys under the age of 20 but older than David.  Even if they were minimally spaced (13 months or so), that puts David at most 15 years old when he fights Goliath. Maximum. 

4. David is out tending sheep when he is summoned by Samuel. Apprenticeship to a trade started as early as 9 years old in Israel, with 13 years old being seen as manhood when they would be expected to begin their own trade. Minimum.  

5. David was between 9-15 years old when he was anointed and fought Goliath. 

2. David was 30 years old when he became king in Hebron. 15-year wait at the minimum.

3. Jesus was anointed at his Baptism, and his coronation in heaven happened after his resurrection (Rom 8:34; Eph 1:20; Rev 12:5)

4. However, His earthly reign is yet in the future (rev 201-3). 

8. Given spiritual worship of God (2Sam 6:12-23). 

1. He is not concerned with the externals.  He is after a pure expression of devotion to God. 

2. Strips himself of his outer robes and dances in his undergarments (not naked). 

3. Michal derides him for it, but He is convinced that this is the kind of worship that pleases the Lord, and he commits himself to self-sacrificing worship in ever-increasing degrees. 

4. Jesus, out of obedience to the will of God, set aside the full glory of his Godhead and came to earth to suffer and die (Phil 2:5-8). 

5. Jesus commends this kind of worship to us as well (John 4:23)

9. Desires the glory of God (2Sam 7:1-3). 

1. David did not seek (only) his own glory but desired to glorify God in his life and by the construction of a temple.  

2. Jesus explicitly stated that He did not seek his own glory (John 8:50). 

10. Betrayed by close associates and family (2 Sam 15:1-12). 

1. The betrayal of David by Ahithophel occurs in 2 Sam 15 but is mentioned in Psalm 41:9. 

2. This is quoted in John 13:18 in reference to Jesus. 

11. Restored to His kingdom (2 Sam 19:14-15). 

1. David is brought back to Jerusalem after putting down the rebellion of his son Absolom. 

2. Jesus, after His crucifixion and ascension, is again seated in glory and has been restored to that majesty which was his from before the creation of the world.

3. In fact, his glory is even greater now than it once was, having accomplished the will of God for the salvation of man (Phil 2:9-11). 

2. Not a perfect picture. 

1. David’s bloody reign disqualified him from serving as the temple builder (1 Chron 28:3)

2. David’s famous sin with Bathsheba was not in fitting with his typical role (2 Sam 11). 

3. However, we see Christ’s atonement prefigured in his repentance (Psa 51). 

3. An example for our lives

1. We cannot imitate his governmental role, but we can imitate his heart. 

1. Even as a youth, he had a heart that pursued the Lord.  

2. His life was characterized by worship 

3. Stalwart confidence in the Lord. 

2. We can pattern our behavior under trial after him. 

1. When persecuted, he did not retaliate against his fellow Israelites. 

2. Respected the office and anointing of the King, even when that king was seeking his death. 

3. He serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of sin. 

1. He repented when confronted and picked up his life of worship immediately. 

2. Forgiven, but he dealt with the consequences in his kingdom and family for the rest of his life. 

Discussion Questions

1. David was chosen by God because of his heart’s posture as opposed to any of his accomplishments.  If your heart were as easily evaluated as your actions, what would people see? 

2. David’s life looked like Christ’s in many ways.  In what ways does your life look like Christ’s?  In what ways does it not? 

3. David failed severely, repented, and was restored.  Do you need to confess anything to the Lord or to your family?