TYPES AND SHADOWS OF MODERN POLITICAL WARFARE

DAVID & GOLIATH: THE SPIRIT OF FEAR AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD – CHAPTER 10

TYPES AND SHADOWS OF MODERN POLITICAL WARFARE

12-19-04

(1 Sam 17:12-16) Now David [loving, beloved – symbol of confessing Christianity - Jesus Christ, you and me]was the son of that Ephrathite [fruitfulness] of Bethlehemjudah [house of bread of Judah], whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons [“a new beginning”]: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul [who is a symbol of professing Christianity] to the battle [clearly a modernized symbol of politics]: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. But David went and returned [withdrew] from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. And the [“uncircumcised” vs. 26 & 36] Philistine [Goliath] drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days [symbol of testing - of the church]. [and “they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.” v.11. Fear made the Israelites powerless and immobile – i.e. they were not feeding the sheep – they were watching and listening to Goliath – “tuned in to Goliath” so to speak, via “the boob tube.”]

1. Three evil highlights of Saul’s reign as king: (King Saul is the head of the body of Israel). Saul’s disobedience and rebellion to the word of God in not waiting for Samuel as commanded, and offering the burnt offerings himself because of “the people” (1 Sam 13:11) – religious disobedience (priest); in not totally destroying the Amalekite city as commanded, because of “the people” (1 Sam 15:15) – secular disobedience (king); in consulting with the witch at Endor (1 Sam 28) – forbidden (Lev 19:31; 20:6,27; Deut 18:10-12 “abomination”).

2. (John 21:14-17) This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon [Heb: hearing] Peter [Gk: a (piece of) rock], Simon, son of Jonah, lovest [agapao] thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love [phileo; have affection] thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest [agapao] thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love [phileo; have affection] thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep [shepherd my sheep]. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest [phileo] thou me? Peter was grieved [distressed; to be sad: be in heaviness, sorrowful] because he said unto him the third time, Lovest [phileo; have affection] thou me? And he said unto him, Lord [kurios; supreme in authority: God, master], thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love [phileo] thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

3. Jonah = Heb: a dove (appar. from the warmth of their mating):--dove, pigeon /// to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by impl. intoxication: banqueting, wine, wine [-bibber].

JESSE’S THREE ELDEST SONS FOLLOWED SAUL RATHER THAN DAVID

AND THEREFORE WERE WALKING IN DISOBEDIECE AND REBELLION TO GOD;

AND THE SPIRIT OF FEAR ENTERS SAUL

(1 Sam 16:12-14) And he sent, and brought him [David] in. Now he was ruddy [reddish (of the hair or the complexion)], and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren [chosen by God to be the new king of Israel]: and the spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. But the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled [to fear: affright, be (make) afraid, terrify, troubled] him [i.e. the spirit of fear].

1. (Mat 12:43-45) When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man [Saul’s anointing: “the spirit of God came upon him” 1 Sam 10:10], he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty [“the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul” 1 Sam 16:14], swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

2. (2 Pet 2:20,21) For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

3. (1 Sam 15:23) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity [lawlessness] and idolatry [worshipping idols, images]. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

BUT DAVID DID NOT FOLLOW SAUL

(1 Sam 17:15,16) But David went and returned [withdrew] from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. And the[uncircumcised]Philistine[Goliath]drew near morning and evening, and presented himselfforty days[symbol of testing – of the church].

1. (1 Sam 17:11) When Saul and all Israel heard those [blaspheming] words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid [in great dread].

2. dismayed = Heb: to prostrate; hence to break down, either (lit.) by violence, or (fig.) by confusion and fear: affright, be (make) afraid, beat down, discouraged, scared, terrified

3. The spirit of fear, which had previously entered into Saul in 1 Samuel 16:14, had now in 1 Samuel 17 entered into the body under his command. Makes sense. How does the evil spirit enter into the body? Through the head of the body – eye gate, ear gate. The woman (Eve) listened to the serpent, and saw that the tree “was pleasant to the eyes.”

4. Saul is the “head” of the body of assembled Israelites (the church). David is the “head” of the body of Christ (the saved). Goliath is the “head” of the antichrist body of uncircumcised Philistines (the unsaved).

5. Satan is attacking the church, nullifying and neutralizing the earthly source of salvation. The spirit of fear makes the present day church in apostasy powerless and immobile, i.e. they were/are definitely not feeding their Father’s sheep – but instead they were/are watching and listening to Goliath.

6. Who appeared to be winning the war while David was obediently “feeding” (tending, ministering to) his father’s sheep?

7. Who decisively won the war after God called David to the battle and empowered him to act?

8. What were the other four brothers doing all this time?

Amen