The Thirteenth Similarity
David remained under God’s authority, and Jesus remained under God’s authority.
Giving himself over to God, in spite of the various opportunities David had when his men told him that the Lord had delivered Saul into his hand, David refused to lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed. Instead, David trusted that as the Lord lives, the Lord would choose which way Saul would die.
Similarly, Jesus told Peter, after he had prophesied on him, that it was not Peter’s business to question how the apostle John would die.
As David fled from one place to the next, it appears that he was intent upon avoiding open confrontation with Saul. David seems to have been resolute that he would not touch King Saul, trusting that if the Lord had anointed him as king, the Lord would bring it to pass, in his good time, when he should be king.
Similarly, Jesus did nothing to raise his hand against his opponents or exploit his appeal amongst the multitudes. When they wanted to make him king by force (John 6:15), he withdrew to a mountain by himself. He constantly urged people to tell no one of the mighty things he did (e.g., Mark 1:44; 3:12). Jesus even urged people to do as the Pharisees said, “but not what they do” (Matt 23:3). When Jesus was arrested, he did not resist.
“When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued, entrusting himself to him who judges justly”
(1 Pet 2:23).
Jesus was confident that God’s plan was being worked out, and he declared to Pilate he had no more power over him than what was given to him from above (John 19:11).
The Fourteenth Similarity
David was the unexpected King.
Jesus was the unexpected King of kings.
Evidently, no one, not even Jesse, expected that David might be the one whom Samuel was sent to anoint. The Lord sent Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as king (1 Sam 16:2). Jesse passed his sons before Samuel, and Samuel had to ask if all of Jesse’s sons were present. The youngest, David, was not even summoned from the flocks for this occasion. This youngest son later served as a servant in King Saul’s palace. He also played the harp for King Saul. These were not the conventional features of a king’s CV. Samuel seems to have been impressed with the stature and appearance of David’s older brother, Elias, Saul, on the other hand, expected his son to succeed him (e.g., 1 Samuel 20:31).
In a similar way, the Jewish establishment is hardly impressed by the circumstances of Jesus’ birth and the road he takes to the throne. John 7:27 indicates that Jesus was not perceived as the expected Messiah. His place of birth and the way in which he was raised, was also questioned. The suggestion that Jesus was a Samaritan (John 8:48) may reflect speculation on the circumstances resulting in the birth of Jesus. Just as Jesse did not expect his youngest son to be anointed by Samuel, so Jesus’ family apparently did not expect him to become the Messiah. They thought he was out of his mind, and did not believe in him (John 7:1–9). Just as the boy playing the harp was not expected to be king of Israel, so the carpenter from Nazareth was not expected to become King of kings of this world.
The Fifteenth Similarity
Luke 6:3-4
3 And Jesus answering them said: have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when he himself was an hungered, and they which were with him;
4 how he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that we're with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone.
I believe God allowed David to get away with something that was unlawful because it had prophetic significance.
Remember, Jesus quoted the above verse in the New Testament.
Now look what Jesus says in Luke 22:19:
And he took bread, and gave thanks and break it, and gave unto them saying, this is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Remember, David willing gave himself for the cause.
Jesus willing gave himself for the sins of this world.
Chapter 6
The Sixth of Three Similarities
16th, 17th, 18th
The Sixteenth Similarity
A. Both Jesus and David remained silent in front of their accusers
B. And both Jesus and David crossed the Kidron valley
2 Samuel 15:23
And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
Here we read that David crossed the brook Kidron fleeing from his rebellious son Absalom. He went in great sorrow of heart, marking the abandonment of his throne. It was then that he learned that even Ahithophel, his trusted advisor, had betrayed him and sided with Absalom. Along the way, Shimei, a relative of the former king Saul, came out and cursed him (2 Samuel 16:5-13).
When Solomon spared Shimei, he warned him not to cross the Kidron; it would bring him death (1kings 2:37). Unfortunately, Shimei did not keep his part, and Solomon ordered his death.
1 Kings 2:46
So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, (Shimei) that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
Similarly, on Thursday evening the second David (Jesus) crossed over the Kidron on his way out of the city after the last supper to reach the garden of Gethsmane on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. He too was the God-ordained King of Israel driven out by the Jewish leaders. When he crossed the Kidron he found his Ahithophel - his betrayer Judas in the garden.
John 18:1-2
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into which he entered, and his disciples.
2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
One who ate at his table lifted up his heel against him (Psalm 41:9). As David remained silent before the cursing and mockery of Shimeis, Jesus too was lead as a lamb to the slaughter, and yet he opened not his mouth. Christ’s crossing of the Kidron, however, was infinitely greater than that of David. David had to flee over the Kidron because of family problems caused by his own sinful nature.
Jesus came to the Kidron not to bear his own sin, but to carry the sins of the entire world. Wow! wow! wow!!!
The Seventeenth Similarity
Jesus and David prepare a feast
David prepared a feast for the crippled Prince Mephibosheth, Saul’s surviving grandson.
2 Samuel 9:7
And David said unto him, fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
David endured many years of humiliation and was treated like a common criminal by Saul, but was finally raised to the throne, for all of Israel to see. He restored to Mephibosheth all the land of Saul and made him sit at the king’s table continually.
Jesus, likewise, is going to prepare a feast for crippled humanity and God will restore and give the earth back to its rightful owner - the first Adam (you and me). This is the supper of the Lamb, and it is done because of pure grace.
Revelation 19:9-10
9 and he saith unto me, write, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of god.
10 and I fell at his feet to worship him.
So Jesus, after his great passion on the cross, arose triumphant from the grave, and was raised to the position of power and authority at the right hand of God and the whole world will see him return triumphantly.
Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
The Eighteenth Similarity
Jesus and David make Jerusalem their throne and the official royal city.
David took Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel and the royal city.
2 Samuel 5:7
Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion (Jerusalem ): the same is the city of David.
Revelation 21:2
And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Jesus also shall make Jerusalem his capital, and the royal city, although this is future.
We see in the newspapers the continuous fight over Jerusalem (God’s capital city). Guess who wins the city in the end?
May I end off with one of my favourite verses in scripture:
Psalms 137:5-6
5 If I forget thee, o Jerusalem,
Let my right hand forget her cunning.
6 If I do not remember thee,
Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
May the Holy Spirit reveal more and more truths in this real life story in Jesus’ name, amen!
