Many of the outstanding characters of the Old Testament foreshadow, in different ways, the Lord Jesus. With regard to David, he is not only a type of the Lord Jesus as the warrior king, but as the man after God’s own heart. In his life there were many imperfections, but there were also many features that indicate to us the perfections of Jesus.
The Anointing of David
When God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse, He did not indicate which of Jesse’s sons was to be anointed, and the Lord had to remind him, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature ... for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). It is noteworthy that when David is described, his countenance is specially mentioned, for the Spirit of God is not simply concerned with features naturally attractive, but rather with the moral traits indicated by them. They reflected the hidden beauty that delighted the heart of God, a beauty that pointed to the deep perfections of Christ. He was ruddy. The natural freshness of early manhood was evident in him, but what is commended by the Spirit of God caused Goliath to disdain him: “He was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance” (1 Sam. 17:42).
Withal of a beautiful countenance. The beautiful features of the Lord Jesus could not be seen by the leaders of Israel, but there were those who were attracted by His beauty. Wherever we see the Son of God, it is to behold the moral beauty that can only be seen by those in whose hearts God has wrought by His Spirit.
Goodly to look to. How goodly to look to was Jesus! We too are privileged to behold the glory of the Lord with unveiled face and to “see Jesus” crowned with glory and honor.
Called to serve Saul (1 Sam. 11:18). When the Lord departed from Saul and sent him an evil spirit, one of Saul’s young men gives a very remarkable testimony to David, and it was evident from his accurate description of David that the future king of Israel had early manifested the traits becoming to the office for which God was preparing him.
A son of Jesse the Bethlehemite. Although Jacob, when dying, had indicated that Judah was the royal tribe, it was not until David was anointed that the royal family came into evidence. None could have foreseen that David, the youngest in a family of eight sons — and that a family comparatively obscure — would be the one to sit upon Jehovah’s throne. And who would have thought that the lowly Babe, born in Bethlehem’s stable, was God’s King?
Who is skilled in playing. The skill that had been acquired in the obscurity of Bethlehem was now to be displayed in the presence of King Saul; later, as king himself, David instituted the service of song in the house of Jehovah. “The sons of Asaph under the direction of Asaph ... prophesied at the direction of the king” (1 Chron. 25:2,6). The service of praise David’s Greater Son to God today is not with instruments of music as in David’s day, but there is the praise in which God delights, and the One who leads the praise is Him who says, “In the midst of the assembly will I sing praise unto Thee” (Heb. 2:1212Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (Hebrews 2:12)).
And he is a valiant man. When David proposed to fight Goliath, he had to persuade Saul that he was able for the task, but others knew that David was brave and fearless, and they could bear witness before Saul as to him. And what shall we say about the Son of God? Coming into a world of sin to meet all the deadly opposition of Satan and of his instruments, He met all with the meek and quiet confidence of dependence upon God.
And a man of war. So far as we know, David had never been called upon to show himself a man of war, but the young man who spoke of David to Saul evidently had discernment in so describing David. The Lord too is “a man of war.” Before He introduces the blessings of His kingdom, it is necessary that the true David, the warrior King, should remove every opposing force, so that no evil will be able to raise its head during His reign in righteousness.
And skilled in speech. The psalms of David attest to the excellence of his words, but when we listen to Jesus, how surpassing wonderful are His words! At Nazareth they wondered at the words of grace that proceeded out of His mouth. The men sent to take Him are compelled to return without Him, saying, “Never man spake like this man.”
And of good presence. There was a charm about David that had caused this young man to speak of him in this way, and what was true of David naturally was true of Jesus spiritually: There was a charm about Him personally and about His words that drew others to Him.
And Jehovah is with him. This was David’s greatest asset. All his natural ability and charm would have availed him little without the presence of Jehovah. Of the blessed Lord Jesus we read in Acts 10 that He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil “because God was with Him.”
In the saints of Old Testament times, every ray of moral beauty, no matter how dim its shining, is delightful if it brings Christ before us, for every feature of Christ in the saints brings pleasure to God.
David As the Sent One
of His Father
Although David had been made Saul’s armor-bearer, his services were evidently not valued by Saul, for we read, “David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.” But here is no indication of David’s resenting being absent from the armies of Israel, and at the bidding of his father he is content to be his messenger to take food to his brethren and a present to their captain and to bring back tidings of the welfare of his brethren. We see in this something of the obedience that marked the Son of God when here on earth. Although so great and glorious, He was content to say, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:3434Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (John 4:34)). Diligence, eagerness and faithfulness marked David regarding all that had been put into his hands, whether the sheep or his father’s substance, reminding us of Him who said, “This is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day” (John 6:3939And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (John 6:39)).
While carrying out his father’s commandment and speaking to his brethren, Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, came forth and issued the challenge that dismayed Saul and all Israel. But David viewed this situation as the Lord Jesus viewed every situation — in relation to God. Bringing God in made David bold, but it made Eliab angry, for David’s confidence in God exposed the lack of confidence in God in all who feared the giant; this was the real cause of Eliab’s opposition. Nature’s strength had been exposed in its weakness, not only by the challenge of Goliath, but by the confidence that David had in God.
While on earth, the Lord Jesus had to meet the same spirit of opposition, but when He was reviled, he reviled not again. How often was he misjudged and falsely accused! At the close of His life, the deadly opposition of the leaders of Israel reached its height, and when they falsely accused Him before Pilate, even the Gentile governor could discern that it was “for envy they had delivered Him” up to be condemned (Matt. 27:1818For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. (Matthew 27:18)).
The first words of David to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him,” expressed his simple yet profound confidence in God. Israel’s God would not only meet the challenge of the enemy, but would give him the strength to fight with him. In David’s attitude we see the reflection of the Lord Jesus as He approached the hour when He would meet the “strong man,” in mortal combat. But His confidence is in God His Father, and coming forth from the garden He said, “The cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:1111Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? (John 18:11)).
David the Overcomer
David went forth to the conflict assured that Goliath would meet the same end as the lion and the bear, because he had “defied the armies of the living God.” He does not speak of Goliath as a giant, but as an “uncircumcised Philistine,” one who had no link with God, but on the contrary was an enemy of God and His people. Moreover, he views Israel in their true dignity, as a nation which God had set apart to act for Him with divinely given power. Likewise, every moment in His sojourn on earth the Lord Jesus was conscious of the dignity that was His, not only because of who He was, but also because He had been sent by His Father to do His will.
David refused Saul’s armor, just as Paul also refused the weapons of the world, saying, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4). God has armor for His saints, described in detail in Ephesians 6:11-1911Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, (Ephesians 6:11‑19). David’s weapons had been used in secret with God, and in the solitudes he had learned to rely on God and that He could use to accomplish His will what would be viewed as foolish by the warriors of this world. David, therefore, went forth, unarmed, so far as man could see, relying on God with his staff, his sling, and five smooth stones. His strength and protection were “in the name of the Lord of hosts.”
When cursed and threatened by Goliath, David manifested his unbounded confidence in God in replying that his triumph over the giant would enable all the earth to know “that there is a God in Israel” (1 Sam. 17:46). In the case of David, there was only the threat of death, but the Lord Jesus had to enter into death to overcome the enemy. After men had done their worst, He met the full force of divine wrath, being made sin and bearing our sins. It was in this way that the Son of God overcame the enemy.
It was through weakness that David conquered — a notable victory that signified the most wonderful triumph of the universe — Christ’s triumph over Satan’s power. Very soon, in the day of His glory, the Lord Jesus will reign over the earth, all the kingdoms of the world being subject to Him. At the end He will entirely remove death by casting it into the lake of fire, and the eternal state, where righteousness shall dwell, will be the witness of God’s triumph in Christ for the ages of ages.
W. C. Reid, adapted