David a Type of Christ, Rendered Not Evil for Evil

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 4min
 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 10
Listen from:
• BibleTruthPublishers.com
"Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again, when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself unto Him who judgeth righteously" (1 Peter 2:2323Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (1 Peter 2:23)).
Having dwelt at length upon the bitter hatred of man against God's anointed, we feel it is not amiss to point out the lovely contrast shown in David's Christlike kindness of heart towards his enemies. David is the most beautiful type of Christ "the Beloved," (as also Joseph is typical of "the Son of His love"). Such types point to "the Man of My counsel" (Isa. 46:1111Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. (Isaiah 46:11) margin), God's beloved Son. David is spoken of as "a man after His own heart" (1 Sam. 13:1414But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee. (1 Samuel 13:14)), one God delighted to honor.
The Scriptures present but one David, who is named about 1120 times (!); and we like to speak of David's Greater Son, "David's son" and "David's Lord," "the root and offspring of David." David wrote about 75 psalms and is spoken of as "the sweet psalmist of Israel." While a "youth" David's skill with his harp (and perhaps his singing) charmed king Saul at times when his spirit was troubled, so that Saul "loved him greatly" (1 Sam. 16:2121And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armorbearer. (1 Samuel 16:21)).
We have already noticed how that twice David spared Saul's life when he could have killed him (1 Sam. 24:44And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. (1 Samuel 24:4) and 26:5). Instead of rejoicing at Saul's death, David ordered the news bearer to be slain, and then lamented most touchingly, "Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant... Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul" (2 Sam. 1). Again when two had slain Saul's son Ish-bosheth and then taken his head to David and said, "Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, thine enemy which sought thy life;" instead of rejoicing, "David commanded his young men and they slew them" (2 Sam. 4).
One of the sweetest stories of God's grace in the Old Testament is that of David's earnest desire to show God's kindness to Saul's grandson Mephibosheth (meaning "a breathing shame") who was lame on both his feet. David sent and fetched him to his home, where he became as one of the royal family, and David restored all of the land of Saul to him. How faithful was David to the covenant of love made with Jonathan, Mephibosheth's father! (1 Sam. 18:5; 20:175And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants. (1 Samuel 18:5)
17And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. (1 Samuel 20:17)).
When the news came of the death of his ambitious, rivalrous and rebellious son Absalom, David "was moved and went up to the chamber... and wept; and... said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!" (2 Sam. 18:33; 19:1, 433And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! (2 Samuel 18:33)
1And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. (2 Samuel 19:1)
4But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! (2 Samuel 19:4)). Then further on in 2 Sam. 19 we see David accepting the repentance of Shimei who had cursed and stoned him —David forgave him and assured him that he would not die (2 Sam. 19:2323Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him. (2 Samuel 19:23)).