DAVID

David foreshadows Jesus in multiple ways. He is a type of Christ.

David was a shepherd, caring for his daddy’s sheep in the hills outside Bethlehem. Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:14). As a shepherd, David successfully protected his sheep from lions and bears (1 Samuel 17:34-36) just as Jesus, “the good shepherd … lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

David defeated Goliath when Israel was powerless. Jesus, the Heaven-sent hero, fights our battles and has successfully defeated sin and death on our behalf.

David was chosen by God as the anointed king of Israel, pointing forward to Christ Jesus, the chosen and anointed King of kings.

David’s merciful heart foreshadows Jesus. In Old Testament times, when an empire passed from one king to another, the new king often destroyed the family of the previous king to prevent any possible rebellion and revolt. Not so with David. In fact, when David’s kingdom was fully established, he specifically sought a living descendant of Saul. He found Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan. Mercifully, David invited Mephibosheth to eat at his own table (2 Samuel 9:10). Instead of destroying him, King David adopted him as his own.

Isn’t Mephibosheth a picture of me and you? Without Jesus, we were like crippled children, hopeless and helpless, in a corrupt and sinful kingdom. Jesus didn’t seek to destroy us, but to redeem us for His own. Jesus doesn’t owe us anything, but He has invited us to dine at His royal table… forever! That’s mercy!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).