BETHLEHEM, HEBRON AND ZION
(week 16/15)
OLUBI JOHNSON
David typifies or symbolizes the Christian in this 3rd. day that grows into the perfection and fulness of Christ.
Every Christian today can be symbolized by:
1. Saul—anointed by the Holy Spirit but does not practice ALL of the will of God: they are selectively obedient to God only doing what is convenient for their flesh typified by Amalek (1 Sam. 15.1-31). It is instructive to note that the Laodicean church in Rev.3.14-22, also symbolizes the ‘Saul’ type of Christian.
2. Jonathan—anointed by the Holy Spirit but is double-minded (Jam.1.5-8), mentally acknowledging ALL (1 Sam. 23.16-18) of the will of God but does not practice it because of misplaced human loyalty and desire for human approval (Jn. 5.44, 2 Cor. 5. 16) and fear of loss of material and financial comfort (Lk.9.23-24; 1 Sam. 31.2). The Ephesian church in Rev.2.1-5 symbolizes the ‘Jonathan’ type of Christian.
3. David—accepts and practices ALL of the will of God and so grows to experience three anointings—the earnest, the borrowed anointing of the Spirit without measure and finally the FULL INHERITED anointing of the Spirit without measure like the Lord Jesus (Jn. 3.34 and Eph. 4.13,15). The Philadelphian church described in Rev. 3.7-13 also symbolizes the David type of Christian.
The good news is that ANY CHRISTIAN, AS ACT OF HIS WILL CAN DEVELOP DAVID’S TYPE OF HEART: NO ONE IS BORN WITH A DAVID TYPE OF HEART, IT IS DEVELOPED BY THE WORD AND THE SPIRIT LIKE DAVID DID:
Acts 13:22 AMP: And when He had deposed him, He raised up David to be their king; of him He bore witness and said, I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart, who will do all My will and carry out My program fully. [I Sam. 13:14; Ps. 89:20; Isa. 44:28.]
Psalms 19:7-14 NKJV: The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; (8) The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; (9) The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. (10) More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (11) Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. (12) Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. (13) Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. (14) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
2Samuel 23:1-2 NKJV: Now these are the last words of David. Thus says David the son of Jesse; Thus says the man raised up on high, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel: (2) “The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.
David experiences three anointings at:
1. Bethlehem—1 Sam.16.1, 12-13
1Samuel 16:13 NKJV: Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
2. Hebron via Ziklag—2 Sam.2.1, 3-4
2Samuel 2:3-4 NKJV: And David brought up the men who were with him, every man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. (4) Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.”
3. Jerusalem where Zion is built—2 Sam.5.1-5
2Samuel 5:1-7 NKJV: Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. (2) Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ” (3) Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel. (4) David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. (5) In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. (6) And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.” (7) Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).
In our article next week, we will see what these three anointings symbolize in our experience as New Testament Christians today.
