Scripture Reading: 1 Sam. 25:2-42; Col. 1:24; Rev. 1:9; Eph. 6:10-20
Ⅰ
David typifies the warring Christ in the midst of sufferings—1 Sam. 25:28:
A
David is the most thorough type of Christ in the Old Testament, covering the longest period of time—Matt. 12:3.
B
David typifies the Lord Jesus as a man in His suffering on earth before His resurrection; David's suffering was for the conquering of the usurping enemies and the gaining of the good land, the ground for God's building—Psa. 69:1-9.
C
David was prepared as a man according to God's heart; he was chosen, trained, anointed, tested, and approved by God—1 Sam. 16—17.
D
In the record of David's being persecuted and tried by Saul, there are two striking points—chs. 18—24:
１
The first striking point is God's sovereignty—Rev. 4:11; Dan. 4:1-3, 34-35:
ａ
It is crucial for us to have a vision of God's sovereignty—Rom. 9:19-23.
ｂ
As the sovereign One, God is above everything, behind everything, and in everything—1 Kings 22:19.
ｃ
God prepared Saul to perfect David and prepared Jonathan and Michal to help him—1 Sam. 18:10—20:42.
ｄ
David trusted in God and walked according to God's sovereignty in all his trials—17:36-37; 23:14-16; 30:6b-10.
２
The second striking point is David's taking the lessons of the cross:
ａ
Although David was persecuted and suffered so much, he never fought, reacted, or responded; using the New Testament term, he was always under the cross—24:3-22.
ｂ
David's being tested in his relationship with Saul meant that David was continually put on the cross—Matt. 16:24.
E
David behaved and had his being according to God's heart; he had no feeling for himself but only labored and conducted himself for God's people and God's kingdom—1 Sam. 15:28.
F
David's being established by God is seen in his repeated victories over the Philistines—2 Sam. 5:17-25.
G
David was one with God; what was his was God's, and what was God's was his; David and God had only one kingdom—Acts 13:22, 36.
H
Everything concerning David was arranged under God's sovereign direction to accomplish one thing—to build up His kingdom in His elect—Matt. 6:10, 33.
Ⅱ
Abigail typifies the warring church in the midst of sufferings—1 Sam. 25:2-42:
A
From 1 Samuel 25 onward, Abigail was always at the side of David the warrior and followed him in his wars—vv. 40-42:
１
Abigail's marriage to David typifies the church enlisted as an army for warfare—Eph. 6:10-20.
２
Abigail typifies the warring church, fighting for God's kingdom in the midst of sufferings—Rev. 1:9; 11:15; 12:10.
B
The type of Abigail portrays our need to be one with Christ in His sufferings— Phil. 3:10; Col. 1:24; Rev. 1:9:
１
The afflictions of Christ are of two categories: those for accomplishing redemption, which were completed by Christ Himself, and those for producing and building the church, which need to be filled up by the apostles and the believers—Col. 1:24.
２
The fact that Paul mentions the afflictions of Christ in connection with the stewardship of God indicates that the stewardship can be carried out only through suffering—v. 25:
ａ
If we desire to share in the stewardship of God, we must be prepared to suffer—Rev. 1:9; 2 Cor. 1:3-6.
ｂ
All those who participate in the service of the church or in the ministry must be ready to partake of the afflictions of a steward; this means that we must be willing to pay whatever price is necessary to fulfill our stewardship—4:10-12; John 12:24-26.
C
The type of Abigail portrays the church's participation with the Lord Jesus in spiritual warfare—Eph. 6:10-20:
１
Not only must God's eternal purpose be fulfilled and the desire of His heart be satisfied, but God's enemy must be defeated; for this, the church must be a warrior—1:11; 3:9-11; 6:10-12.
２
Spiritual warfare is necessary because Satan's will is set against God's will—Matt. 6:10; 7:21; Isa. 14:12-14:
ａ
Spiritual warfare has its source in the conflict between the divine will and the satanic will.
ｂ
As the church, our fighting is to subdue the satanic will and to defeat God's enemy—Rev. 12:11.
３
The purpose of spiritual warfare is to bring in the kingdom of God—v. 10:
ａ
Spiritual warfare is the warfare between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan—Matt. 12:26, 28.
ｂ
The work of the church on earth is to bring in the kingdom of God— 16:18-19.
４
Satan is terrified of the church as the Body of Christ, the corporate warrior fighting against him and his kingdom—S. S. 6:10; Eph. 6:10-20.
５
Christ will marry the one who has been fighting the battle against God's enemy for years—Rev. 19:7-9, 11-16.
６
The overcomers who constitute the bride of Christ fight the battle against all the enemies of God and defeat them in order to bring in the kingdom of God—2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 11:15; 12:10.