(Notes of an Address, With Additions.)
1 Samuel 17:34-39; 18:1-4; John 10:11-17; 11:39-44; 12:1-3; Psalms 26, 36. and 51.
IN the first book of Samuel, David a God’ fearing shepherd is brought before us. In the Gospel of John, Christ is presented in three ways―first as Shepherd, then as Victor, and lastly as Guest.
The Saviour’s love comes very close to us: it touches us; it tells us what no one else would care to tell us, and we like it, for we do not like reserve in those we love. There is nothing but love behind all that Christ says and does. In the confidence of love He would have us listen to what He has to say to us; and it is thus we learn His determination to bless us. Our shortsighted folly may often prove a hindrance to the attainment of His gracious purpose; but He is none the less determined to bless us. His hand is mighty, and behind it is the power of persistent love.
In the first Scripture we have David prefiguring Christ as the “Good Shepherd” (1 Sam. 17:34-37). But we expect the Antitype to go beyond the type, do we not? and this we shall find here. In David we are introduced to a very distinguished personage―one who proved himself well able to master a lion or a bear that dared to approach and touch his flock. This is the type, and a beautiful type it is; but what a great difference we find when we come to Christ, the Antitype. David stood in defense of a lamb of his flock, and dealt a death-blow to the devourer.
But Jesus did much more: He gave His life for the sheep (John 10:15).
“He stood between us and the foe.
And willingly died in our stead.”
Such a Vanquisher had every right to be honored. But was He? We shall see. But let us first take note of other striking comparisons. As the giant’s head in the hand of David was the undeniable proof of his victory, so Lazarus sitting at the table with Jesus, after having been four days in the grave, was the undeniable witness of the Saviour’s triumph over death.
Now mark another comparison―a sorrowful confirmation of the type. In 1 Samuel 18:6-9 we find a joyful celebration of David’s victory, but in verse 9. we are told that “Saul eyed David from that day forward.” And that which comes out in John 11:53 sadly corresponds with this, “From that day forward they took counsel together for to put Him to death.” Again, when David returned from his victorious conflict, there were those who sang his praises; and when Jesus entered Jerusalem as Zion’s King (John 12:12, 13) there were many that welcomed Him, and expressed their welcome thus: “Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the Name of the Lord.”
In 1 Samuel 18 we see true affection for David in manifold evidence. In verse 1 we read, “Jonathan loved him as his own soul”; in verse 16, “All Israel and Judah loved David”; in verse 20, “Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved “David”; and in verse 22 we read of one saying, “All his servants love thee!” Again and again, the love lavished on David is plainly recorded from princely Jonathan down to the King’s servants. Now, though everybody loved David, we have no mention of David loving anybody!
In turning to the great Antitype, what a contrast we find! In John 10:17, we hear Him saying, “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again.” But no one else is spoken of as loving Him!
Now notice what is said of the true David’s Own love. In John 11:5, a message is sent Him― “Behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick” (vs. 3). In verse 5 we read, “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister and Lazarus.” In verse 36, when the Jews saw Him weeping at the grave, they said, “Behold how He loved him!” Then in chapter 13:1, we get another touching feature of His love: “Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them in the end.” Nor was that enough for His heart; He would have every one that loves Him to love us also! “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (13:34). In Peter’s first epistle (1:22) the Spirit reminds us of this, “See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” That was just how Jesus loved; and how He still loves. Nor is this all. He would have the same fervency seen in ours also.
Though He is now at God’s right hand, we are His special objects of interest; He is ever thinking of us, ever living to make intercession for us. What a never-failing Friend! Though now in the place of power, He is still “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” here below (Heb. 4:15). How, then, could there be a doubt as to our welcome there? Depend upon it, if the most trembling believer here were to go to heaven from that seat, words could not describe the pleasure that Christ would have in greeting him there! Ile even gave His life to get that pleasure both for Himself and His Father. This He expressed to His Father while still here. “Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory which Thou hast given Me” (John 17:24). And when the Holy Spirit came, the inspired apostle states the same delightful fact (1 Thess. 5:10), “Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” What could He do more to fill our hearts with a sense of the love He bears us? Blessed, blessed Saviour!
In Psalms 26, 36 and 51., the lovingkindness of God is brought before us. In David’s experimental history, and in ours, the 36th comes before the 26th, since what is stated in the 26th is the result of what is experienced in the 36th. In the 36th we have the joyful outpouring of David’s heart in these words: “how excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God; therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink or the river of Thy pleasures” (verses7 and 8). In the 26th Psalm we get a different out-pouring, and a petition with it, but David’s acquaintance with God’s lovingkindness was the secret of both. “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart; for Thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes” (vs. 2). David had confidence in God’s heart, but had now learned to be suspicious of his own. In another Psalm we find him saying, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psa. 139:23, 24). Solomon, as well as David, had a very decided judgment of this vital matter― “Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he” (Prov. 16:20); “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool” (Prov. 28:26). And Jeremiah gives us the reason: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” And note God’s answer: “I the Lord search the heart, and try the reins” (Jer. 17:9, 10).
But what had David to say, when the desired search had brought heart-breaking evil to light? All that his broken spirit and contrite heart could do was to rely on the same lovingkindness for the mercy he needed and the restoration of the joy he had lost (Psa. 51:1, 8, 12). Take note of three things:―
1. His excellent lovingkindness wins and satisfies our hearts (Psa. 36:7, 8).
2. A knowledge of the same lovingkindness keeps our hearts open to His searching eye, lest anything that grieves His Spirit should be carelessly passed over by us (Psa. 26:2, 3).
3. When any heart-breaking failure has taken place, we have not to say, like David, “O continue Thy lovingkindness” (Psa. 36:10), for we have been assured that, having loved His own that are in the world, He loves them unto the end (John 13:1). The conviction of having so grieved His never-changing love opens our lips both in self-condemnation and grateful praise (Psa. 51:3, 4, 15).
How eternally inexcusable will he be who refuses to be won by such a LOVE! “How often would I... and ye would not,” said Jesus, and wept as He said it! GEO. C.