Summary: The eighteen similarities between David and Goliath and Jesus and Satan

The Seventh Similarity

Both were betrayed; yet both overcame

Betrayed by those he served, David delivered the city of Keilah from the Philistines, and yet the people of Keilah were ready to hand David over to Saul (1 Sam 23:1–12). Similarly, though David had delivered Israel from Goliath, and though he had more success against the Philistines than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly spoken of.

Yet the people readily reported David’s presence to Saul. Later, the Philistines refused to allow David to go into battle with them (29:1–11), and when David and his men returned to Ziklag they found it burned and all the women and children taken captive (30:1–5). Remarkably, David’s own men, “bitter in soul” at this calamity, were ready to stone him.

Similarly, Jesus cast demons out of many, healed many, and even raised people from the dead (e.g., Matt 4:23–25; Mark 5; Luke 7:11–15; John 11). John indicates that Jesus also did signs in Jerusalem (John 2:23; 5:1–9; 9:1–12). Even if most of his mighty works were not done in Jerusalem, it is likely that many in the crowd shouting, “crucify him!”, had come to Jerusalem for the Passover from areas where Jesus had done mighty works. Just as the city people that David delivered in Keilah were ready to hand David over to Saul, so the crowds, whom Jesus delivered from demons, disease, and death, were ready to hand him over to Rome. Just as David’s men were ready to stone him, Judas was ready to betray Jesus (e.g., matt 26:14–16), and the rest of the disciples abandoned him in his hour of need. Wow!

The Eighth Similarity

1 Samuel 17:54

And David took the head of the Philistine (Goliath) and brought it to Jerusalem.

Why would David do that? There are no insignificant details in the bible . According to rabbinical commentaries, all rabbis agree that Goliath’s head was buried at a place of Sculls, which is Golgotha.

Matthew 27:35

And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say (a place of Sculls) they crucified him!

On that very mountain, a greater seed of David (Jesus) came, and crushed and disarmed the greater Goliath (Satan), and gave all of us the victory over Satan. Wow! wow! wow!

2 Corinthians 2:4

Now thanks be to God which causes us to triumph in Christ.

David cut off Goliath’s head. Jesus will destroy the world’s worst enemy, Satan.

Let us look closely at Zachariah’s prophesy of Jesus in Luke 1:71:

That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us.

David delivered Israel from their fear of Goliath. Jesus delivers us from our fear of sin, death and Satan, so that we can serve God without fear, amen!

The Ninth Similarity

David returns to King Saul’s palace with the head of Goliath in his hand and blood is dripping!!!

1 Samuel 17:57

And David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

Revelation 5:9

And they sang a new song, saying you are worthy to take the scroll, and to open the seals thereof; for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.

Jesus returns from earth to the King of kings’ heavenly palace with blood dripping from his head, hands and feet. Wow! what a similarity?

Chapter 4

The Fourth of Three Similarities

10th, 11th, 12th

The Tenth Similarity

1 Samuel 18:2

And Saul took him (David) that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house:

Before David would come and go: but after the killing of Goliath, Saul made David stay permanently in the palace;

Jesus came to earth to save us from sin, death and hell, after he returned from destroying Satan to the father’s heavenly palace; the Father said to Jesus in Hebrews 1:13

But to which of the angels said he at any time, sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Jesus at this very moment is in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for you and me.

It is worthy of note that no high priest ever sat down in the tabernacle, because the job of atonement was never complete and no chair was found amongst the tabernacle furniture. Jesus is the only high priest that God has favoured with the words, “sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool”. Wow!!!

The Eleventh Similarity

2 Samuel 5:4

David was thirty years old when he began to reign.

And Jesus begins his ministry at thirty years of age

Luke 3:3

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age:

David begins to reign at thirty years of age:

Jesus begins his ministry at the age of thirty:

Not only was David anointed, and not only did he save the Israelites from the hand of the Philistines, but he also restrained God’s people from evil-doing. The people who gathered around David while he was in the wilderness were those who were in distress, those who were in debt, and those who were bitter in soul (1 Sam 22:2).

Twice David’s men urged him to strike Saul, and twice David restrained himself and his men. In addition to his respect for King Saul as the Lord’s anointed, striking Saul would set a grisly precedent for dealing with an unwanted king. David might not have wanted such a precedent once he became king.

Whereas Saul had around him the kind of people who would strike down priests, David did not tolerate those who came to him thinking that they would benefit from the death of King Saul and Prince Jonathan (2 Sam 1:1–16). David did not even congratulate Joab for his murder of Abner, but made him mourn Abner’s death. David also punished the murderers of Ish-bosheth. David further restrained evil by doing justice and refused to endorse or encourage murderous methods in Israel.

Similarly, Jesus was anointed without measure, and during his entire life on earth, he restrained and refused to bow down to evil and sin. The bible says he was the spotless Lamb of God. Just as David refused to endorse murderous methods,

Jesus also shamed the Pharisees who wanted to stone the woman caught in the act of adultery. Wow!!

The Twelfth Similarity

1 Samuel 17:4-7

4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. 6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and one bearing a shield went before him.

When you look at Goliath, the number six is stamped all over him.

he is six feet plus tall

his spearhead weighed six hundred shekels of iron

and there are six pieces of armour

Six pieces of armour :

Helmet of brass

Coat of mail

Greaves of brass for legs

A target of brass between his shoulders

Spear was like a weavers beam and his spear head weighed six hundred shekels of iron:

One bearing a shield went before him.

So what number do you get when you see Goliath?

6 6 6 the number of the flesh;

The spirit of the anti-Christ - the enemy of Christ.

David dealt with the spirit of the anti-Christ in the person of Goliath.

In the end time Jesus will deal with the spirit of the anti-Christ in Satan.

2 Thessalonians 2:8

And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

Amen