1. 1 Samuel 29:1–11 (ESV)
  2. Christocentric focus

Jesus Christ as a loyal and good King

1 Samuel 29:1–11 (ESV)

1 Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel.

Given the positive assertions regarding David’s character, we can see how this passage points us forward to Jesus Christ. As a King who was truly loyal and good—there was no evil to be found in him. This was the testimony of those who met him. He was recognized as a good Teacher, the Son of David, the King who comes in the name of the LORD. For all the division that Jesus caused, he was widely acknowledged to be a godly and upright man. Even those who would have him killed could not point to any crime or wrongdoing on his part. Indeed, as he stood before Pilate, we have it on record, on public record no less, that Jesus was the blameless king who walked in God’s ways. Three times Pilate proclaimed to the crowd: I find no guilt in him (cf. John 18:38, John 19:4).

 And yet, he was still condemned to death. He was condemned to death because that was the Father’s will for the Messiah (cf. Isaiah 53). As a Servant King, he would come to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). He would come to bear God’s judgement against our sins. Only the innocent can suffer in the place of the guilty. One who is himself a sinner cannot pay for the sins of others.1 Our mediator must be a true and righteous man, and in Jesus Christ we find that individual (cf. 1 Timothy 2:5—6). He one man who had no guilt. The one man who had the right to claim a reward according to his righteousness (cf. Psalm 18:20—24). He is the King that David anticipated both in his actions and in his Psalms. He is our King and our only comfort in life and death, our faithful Saviour and Lord.2