Patterns in the Bibleby Dale Harcombe | More from this Blogger 23 Jul 2008 09:56 PM Don't you love the way certain themes and ideas crop up again and again in the bible? Take the story of David and Goliath and the life of Jesus. Here are some of the similarities. It was 40 days that the Giant Goliath taunted the Israelites, 1 Samuel 17:16. Interestingly that is the same number of days that Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, Matthew 4:1-2. The taunts of Goliath and temptations of Satan have a certain similarity too. Goliath insisted that Israel prove themselves and in a sense their God, by sending their champion to fight against him 1 Samuel 17:8-10. Satan's temptations and taunts to Jesus were based around the idea of proving himself to be God's Son, Matthew 4:3,6. While Jesus withstood the temptations of Satan and counteracted them with Scripture, Matthew 4:4,7,10, the Israelites cowered in fear against the threats of Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:11. Except for David, that is. David recognized that Goliath's taunts were not just against Israel but defiance against God. He was disturbed enough by the slights on God's name to do something about it. He volunteered to go into battle against the enemy, 1 Samuel 17:32, 36-37, 45. Victory over the Philistine was not done in the way anyone would have expected, but by young man with a slingshot against an armed and armored warrior. A shepherd boy, David was the least likely person, and not at all what anyone would have expected to go and challenge Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:33. Jesus is our good shepherd, John 10:11 though he was not at all what the Jews expected either, Isaiah 53:2,3,Mattthew 13:55-58. David knew his power and resources lay not in amour and a sword but in the power and enabling of God, 1 Samuel 17:37. This made him bold enough to go forward and confidently claim victory in God's name, 1 Samuel 17:45-47. Jesus knew the only way to defeat Satan was firstly to withstand his temptations in the desert and ultimately to defeat him at the cross, Isaiah 53:8-12, Philippians 2:6-11 and Colossians 2:15. Jesus knew God's presence with Him and that His will would prevail, Matthew 6:39, 42, and John 6:38. He went to the cross trusting God to prevail. And He did. In both cases God honored and gave victory to those who trusted in Him. Bible verses from the New American Standard Version Please visit these related blogs Learn more about Dale Harcombe  Dale has a passion for books and writing. She writes in various forms, from articles to poetry to fiction for children and adults. Relevantchristian tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags David and Goiliath, Jesus and the cross, patterns in the Bible, similarities, victory Discuss this article
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