Posted By: TruthinTypes
The Story of David and Goliath - 03/22/24 06:51 PM
There are two ways to look at the account of David and Goliath. One is the literal reading of the story as a historical account in the life of David. As such, it is full of instruction, encouragement, and warning, with many valuable lessons to be gained from reading it at face value.
Another way to look at this story is as a type. For those who may be unfamiliar with how a type works, they are really very simple. Types use people or events to illustrate a spiritual truth or even a prophetic event, much like a parable. They take a concept that can be elusive to our grasp, or vague to our understanding, and make it tangible.
For instance, the story of David and Goliath can be seen as a type of Christ and Satan. The account is found in 1 Samuel 17. Just as Goliath came at David with three weapons: a sword, a spear, and a shield, (1 Sam. 17:45) so Satan came at Christ in the wilderness with three leading temptations: Appetite, presumption, and worship, also known as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. (1 John 2:16)
David defeated Goliath with a stone he picked up out of the brook. He took five smooth stones and put them into his shepherd?s bag so he could easily and quickly access them. Just so, Christ used God?s word that He had placed in His memory, so He could easily and quickly use them against Satan. The water of the brook represents God?s Word, the stones represent His promises, and the sling represents faith and prayer. We are to store our minds with God?s Word and promises, and then use the sling of faith and prayer to deliver them to defeat the enemy. ?Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.? (Ps. 119:11)
I wondered why David chose five stones? In studying it out I found that Goliath had four brothers, (2 Sam. 21:18-22) representing in type that Satan comes to us through the avenue of our five senses.
?The apostle sought to teach the believers how important it is to keep the mind from wandering to forbidden themes, or from spending its energies on trifling subjects. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices, must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest. The heart must be faithfully sentineled, or evils without will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness. "Gird up the loins of your mind," Peter wrote, "be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; . . . not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (RH, July 25, 1912 par. 14)
It wasn?t enough that David knocked Goliath down with the stone, but he had to also cut off Goliath?s head. In other words, he had to finish him off. The Bible tells us ?but there was no sword in the hand of David.? (v. 50) David used Goliath?s own sword to defeat him. Hebrews 2:14 tells us how Christ defeated Satan. ?Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.? Satan bruised Christ?s heel, but Christ bruised Satan?s head. Christ took Satan?s own weapon of death and used it to defeat him at the cross. It is the same with us; in order to defeat self, we must die to self.
?To keep His glory veiled as the child of a fallen race, this was the most severe discipline to which the Prince of Life could subject Himself. Thus He measured His strength with Satan. He who had been expelled from heaven fought desperately for the mastery over the One of whom in the courts above he had been jealous. What a battle was this! No language is adequate to describe it. But in the near future it will be understood by those who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. And as they learn what it means to overcome, they will endure the seeing of Him who is invisible.? (21MR 271.4)
There is a lot more to this type, but for now it shows how a type works. One last thing is to see is why Goliath failed. We of course know that God gave David the victory, but there is always more to learn if we look closely. Goliath was the bad guy, and David was the good guy, but looking at the failure of the bad can also be instructive for us. Goliath can be compared with the soldier of Ephesians 6:10-18.
Goliath certainly had on the whole armor, so to speak, but in the end it did not protect him. One of the first things to notice is that he had a shield bearer; that is, another man was carrying his shield. (v.7) Paul lets us know that the shield represents faith, and is the way to quench the fiery darts of the wicked. (Eph. 6:16) The man who was carrying Goliath?s shield had in his hands the most effective means of intercepting the stone from David?s sling. The point to make is that Goliath made the fatal mistake of relying on someone else to carry his shield. The same is true with us. We must have our own faith that results from our own study of the Bible, able to test the experiences we pass through, rather than to rely on the faith of others.
The other thing to notice is found in the account given by Mrs White in Patriarchs and Prophets p. 648.1: ?The anger of Goliath was roused to the very highest heat. In his rage he pushed up the helmet that protected his forehead and rushed forward to wreak vengeance upon his opponent.? Again in Ephesians 6:17, Paul lets us know that the helmet represents salvation. In other words, it is when we are not sure of our salvation in Christ, or have incorrect ideas concerning how we are saved, that we leave ourselves open to the attacks of Satan. We are to rely solely on the merits of Christ for our salvation, and then in faith, cooperate with Him in the work of our character building.
The stone got past the unused shield, and struck Goliath?s unprotected forehead. The forehead represents our frontal lobe, where our conscience and will reside. This is where we are able to critically assess information and employ our power of choice. Satan is doing all in his power to blunt our powers of discernment. He does this through the unguarded avenues of our souls.
In closing, Mrs White lets us know that ?The scene of trial with Christ in the wilderness was the foundation of the plan of salvation, and gives to fallen man the key whereby he, in Christ?s name, may overcome.? She goes on to say ?When we are able to comprehend the temptations and victories of the Son of God while in severe conflict with Satan, we shall have a more correct idea of the greatness of the work before us in overcoming.? (ST Oct. 24, 1878.6; ST April 19, 1883.13)
Another way to look at this story is as a type. For those who may be unfamiliar with how a type works, they are really very simple. Types use people or events to illustrate a spiritual truth or even a prophetic event, much like a parable. They take a concept that can be elusive to our grasp, or vague to our understanding, and make it tangible.
For instance, the story of David and Goliath can be seen as a type of Christ and Satan. The account is found in 1 Samuel 17. Just as Goliath came at David with three weapons: a sword, a spear, and a shield, (1 Sam. 17:45) so Satan came at Christ in the wilderness with three leading temptations: Appetite, presumption, and worship, also known as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. (1 John 2:16)
David defeated Goliath with a stone he picked up out of the brook. He took five smooth stones and put them into his shepherd?s bag so he could easily and quickly access them. Just so, Christ used God?s word that He had placed in His memory, so He could easily and quickly use them against Satan. The water of the brook represents God?s Word, the stones represent His promises, and the sling represents faith and prayer. We are to store our minds with God?s Word and promises, and then use the sling of faith and prayer to deliver them to defeat the enemy. ?Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.? (Ps. 119:11)
I wondered why David chose five stones? In studying it out I found that Goliath had four brothers, (2 Sam. 21:18-22) representing in type that Satan comes to us through the avenue of our five senses.
?The apostle sought to teach the believers how important it is to keep the mind from wandering to forbidden themes, or from spending its energies on trifling subjects. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices, must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest. The heart must be faithfully sentineled, or evils without will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness. "Gird up the loins of your mind," Peter wrote, "be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; . . . not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (RH, July 25, 1912 par. 14)
It wasn?t enough that David knocked Goliath down with the stone, but he had to also cut off Goliath?s head. In other words, he had to finish him off. The Bible tells us ?but there was no sword in the hand of David.? (v. 50) David used Goliath?s own sword to defeat him. Hebrews 2:14 tells us how Christ defeated Satan. ?Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.? Satan bruised Christ?s heel, but Christ bruised Satan?s head. Christ took Satan?s own weapon of death and used it to defeat him at the cross. It is the same with us; in order to defeat self, we must die to self.
?To keep His glory veiled as the child of a fallen race, this was the most severe discipline to which the Prince of Life could subject Himself. Thus He measured His strength with Satan. He who had been expelled from heaven fought desperately for the mastery over the One of whom in the courts above he had been jealous. What a battle was this! No language is adequate to describe it. But in the near future it will be understood by those who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. And as they learn what it means to overcome, they will endure the seeing of Him who is invisible.? (21MR 271.4)
There is a lot more to this type, but for now it shows how a type works. One last thing is to see is why Goliath failed. We of course know that God gave David the victory, but there is always more to learn if we look closely. Goliath was the bad guy, and David was the good guy, but looking at the failure of the bad can also be instructive for us. Goliath can be compared with the soldier of Ephesians 6:10-18.
Goliath certainly had on the whole armor, so to speak, but in the end it did not protect him. One of the first things to notice is that he had a shield bearer; that is, another man was carrying his shield. (v.7) Paul lets us know that the shield represents faith, and is the way to quench the fiery darts of the wicked. (Eph. 6:16) The man who was carrying Goliath?s shield had in his hands the most effective means of intercepting the stone from David?s sling. The point to make is that Goliath made the fatal mistake of relying on someone else to carry his shield. The same is true with us. We must have our own faith that results from our own study of the Bible, able to test the experiences we pass through, rather than to rely on the faith of others.
The other thing to notice is found in the account given by Mrs White in Patriarchs and Prophets p. 648.1: ?The anger of Goliath was roused to the very highest heat. In his rage he pushed up the helmet that protected his forehead and rushed forward to wreak vengeance upon his opponent.? Again in Ephesians 6:17, Paul lets us know that the helmet represents salvation. In other words, it is when we are not sure of our salvation in Christ, or have incorrect ideas concerning how we are saved, that we leave ourselves open to the attacks of Satan. We are to rely solely on the merits of Christ for our salvation, and then in faith, cooperate with Him in the work of our character building.
The stone got past the unused shield, and struck Goliath?s unprotected forehead. The forehead represents our frontal lobe, where our conscience and will reside. This is where we are able to critically assess information and employ our power of choice. Satan is doing all in his power to blunt our powers of discernment. He does this through the unguarded avenues of our souls.
In closing, Mrs White lets us know that ?The scene of trial with Christ in the wilderness was the foundation of the plan of salvation, and gives to fallen man the key whereby he, in Christ?s name, may overcome.? She goes on to say ?When we are able to comprehend the temptations and victories of the Son of God while in severe conflict with Satan, we shall have a more correct idea of the greatness of the work before us in overcoming.? (ST Oct. 24, 1878.6; ST April 19, 1883.13)