David Setting Forth Christ in Death and Resurrection

We have not only seen David setting forth Christ in the work of His first coming, but we shall also see him setting forth Christ in death and resurrection and as Shepherd of His people. We shall now consider David setting forth Christ in death and resurrection.

David came to his brethren when they were in confusion and distraction because of the enemy, the Philistines. Challenge after challenge came from the proud champion, Goliath, saying, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid" (I Sam. 17:10, 11). David appeared on the scene while confusion and fear reigned. "He rose up early in the morning as Jessie commanded him; and came to the camp" of his brethren, "as the host was going forth to fight" (I Sam. 17: 29). David heard the challenge of the champion as it was repeated again, and he was ready to battle in God's name. "Thy servant will go and fight." "The Lord will deliver me out of his hand."

Christ came to His brethren when they were in confusion and dismay because of the enemy, Satan, "he came unto his own" (John 1:11), but He found "that men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). The Prince of this world swayed the hearts of men, but had ''nothing in Him." God sent His Son to deliver His people from the confusion and dismay into which Satan had plunged them. He came "to save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). Thy servant will go "to do thy will, O God."

David went down into the valley to meet Goliath, the enemy. "And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had . . . . and he drew near to the Philistine" (I Sam. 17:40). Here was to be a battle unto death between this shepherd lad and the giant.

Christ went down into the valley of death to meet Satan, the enemy. "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Gen. 3:15). Here is God's first mention of the Saviour and of the struggle which must come between Him and Satan. We see Christ then as "he took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:7, 8). He went down into the Valley of Death to meet "the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan."

David, as he went down into the valley, had faith that God's grace was with him and that he would be brought out alive. "David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion . . . . He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine" (I Sam. 17:32, 37). The God of Israel was his strength, his stay. On whom else could he lean?

Christ, as He went down into the Valley of Death, had faith that God's grace was with Him and that He would be brought out alive. Jesus said to the twelve disciples, "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again" (Matt. 20:18, 19). Christ knew that He would come forth from the grave, that He would be raised from the Valley of Death. God had spoken it, and the Word of the living God could not be broken.

David overcame the enemy, Goliath, beheading him. "And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone . . . . David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his (Goliath's, sword . . . . and slew him, and cut off his head therewith" (I Sam. 17:48-51). Christ overcame the enemy, Satan, crushing his head. God had said to Satan, "He shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Gen 3:15). On the Cross Christ's heel was bruised, but Satan's head was crushed. Through death He, Christ, destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil (Heb. 2:14). Thanks be to God that, in our standing in Christ, Satan has no more power over us. His head has been crushed by the "Lion of the tribe of Judah."

David came forth from the valley on the resurrection side to lead his brethren to victory. "When the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines" (I Sam. 17: 51, 52). David in the strength of the Lord brought victory out of defeat. Christ came forth from the Valley of Death in resurrection to lead His people in victory. "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept" (I Cor. 15:20). "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Cor. 15:57). "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (I Cor. 15:58). What an incentive to service!