In 1 Samuel 17:28-40 it is evident that there can be no doubt that David was different to the rest of the Israelite army and even the members of his own family. His sight was different in that he could see that God was bigger than Goliath. His motives were different even though his brother, Eliab, was critical of his intent. And his strategy too was different. Saul’s armour did not fit and was the wrong kind. Again David is a ‘type’ of Jesus who was to come and who was different in every sense but did not allow anything or anyone to deter him from the goal of saving His people
Philip Burns
Rev Philip Burns is the minister of Bendigo Presbyterian Church.
‘The day David faced the enemy (part 1)’ (1 Samuel 17:1-27)
The story of David and Goliath is usually misunderstood to be a description of a clash between a champion and an underdog, but the story itself has far more meaning than that. It is true to say that Goliath was big and David was small, but because David is a ‘type’ of Jesus who was to come, the beginning of the story in 1 Samuel 17:28-37 emphasizes how David heard all of Goliath’s taunts and was willing to step into the breach for God’s people – something that the Lord Jesus did for God’s people to a greatest degree.
‘The upside of a downward spiral’ (1 Samuel 16:14-23)
In 1 Samuel 16:14-23, Saul’s continued disobedience and hardened heart meant that his life soon began to spiral downwards. However in the providence of God, David, the youngest son of Jesse became instrumental in bring blessing to Saul in his torment. In this way David is a type of Jesus, his greater Son, who was to come and who brings the fullness of forgiveness, salvation and peace to all who come to Him in faith.
‘Samuel’s thoughts on his long walk back’ (1 Samuel 16:1-13)
When Samuel went in obedience to the Lord’s command to the home of Jesse to anoint a new king in 1 Samuel 16:1-13, he must have thought deeply about the disappointments he’d known, the task he’d received and the obstacles he’d faced. The anointing of the previous King, Saul, had ended in disaster and now Samuel may well have thought that the same lay ahead. God, however, had other plans for Samuel and for His people in the anointing of David, who would not have been the world’s choice. The principle Samuel learned in all this was the need to wait for God’s instructions and then obey.
‘On the beach with Jesus and then to wherever He sends’ (John 21:1-25)
John 21 concerns the appearance of the risen Jesus to seven of his disciples while out fishing and then on the beach. When they disciples saw him from their boat while out fishing they saw him as a stranger. When Jesus enabled them to bring in a great catch of fish, they saw him as their Lord. When Jesus carefully and gently reinstated Peter, they saw him as their friend. When Jesus then commissioned them to ‘follow him’, he made it clear they should serve him as their Lord
‘The core of faith: seeing what can’t be seen’ (John 20:24-31)
When Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection, Thomas had not been with them and refused to believe their testimony. However, when Jesus appeared to Thomas and proved that he was alive, Thomas’ doubts soon evaporated and he freely confessed his faith. John’s purpose in writing what he did about Jesus was for this very purpose; that we too may believe God’s testimony concerning His Son.
‘The Day that changed everything and everyone’ (John 20:1-23)
When the disciples of Jesus had all but given up hope, because they had seen Jesus die and be buried, God changed everything by raising Jesus from the dead. Their perception of death, their perspective of Jesus and their purpose in life were all radically altered – and all for the better! The same change can come to all who believe God’s testimony concerning His Son Jesus who conquered sin and death.
‘Jesus: His thirst and your salvation’ (John 19:28)
Jesus spoke seven times from the cross. The sixth of His sayings was the short and plain, ‘I thirst’. These woulds could be taken in a very simple sense and quickly passed over. Of course he was thirsty! Dying is hard work. But there’s a whole lot more to it than that! What did jesus mean when He said what He said?
‘Jesus: crucified, dead and buried’ (John 19:17-42)
The facts of the cross are plainly recorded in all of the gospels, but John has his own special emphasis on the events that unfolded that first Good Friday when the worst that man could show met with the best that God could give. The end result was and is a story of amazing sacrifice in which Jesus completed all the Father had sent him to do – to secure the salvation of all of God’s people.
‘Jesus on trial before Pilate’ (John 18:28-19:16)
Pontius Pilate was a cruel and often uncaring Roman governor in Jerusalem who had plenty of opportunity to ask Jesus questions, but failed to do anything with the answers Jesus gave to him. In fact, Pilate had the greatest opportunity to know the truth but succumbed to the pressures placed upon him the Jewish religious authorities and the vengeful crowd. Even yet, his question, ‘what shall I do with this man called the Christ?’ is a question everyone must answer.