Typology is a special kind of symbolism (A symbol is something, which represents something else). A type is a “prophetic symbol”. A type in the scriptures is a person or thing in the Old Testament, which foreshadows a person or thing in the New Testament. For example, the flood of Noah’s day (Gen. 6-7) is used as a type of baptism in 1Pet.3:20-21. The word for type that Peter uses is figure.
When we say that someone is a type of Christ, we are saying that a person in the Old Testament behaves in a way that corresponds to Jesus’ character in the New Testament. For example in Heb.9:8-9; the Old Testament tabernacle is a type. The high priests entrance into the holiest place once a year prefigured the mediation of Christ, our High Priest. Heb.10:19-20 refers to the veil of the tabernacle as a type of Christ: the veil was torn just as well as the flesh of Jesus was torn.
Scripture teaches that David was a prophet and priest as well as king of the nation. And in these three offices, David was a type of Christ, a type who pointed to the coming Ideal Prophet, Priest and King. All three offices are of critical importance for man’s salvation. As the Ideal Prophet, Jesus Christ proclaimed the perfect Word of God. As the Ideal Priest, Jesus Christ stands as the perfect Mediator between God and man, representing us and making us acceptable to God through His shed blood. As the Ideal King, Jesus Christ rules and reigns over the universe as the Sovereign Lord before whom we are all to bow and worship in service throughout all eternity.
1. THE PORTRAIT OF DAVID: A TYPE, FORESHADOW OF CHRIST AS KING, PRIEST, AND PROPHET
a. David was a king exalted and anointed by the God of Jacob (2 Samuel 23:1). Jesus was exalted and anointed by the same God (Acts 10:38). Jesus Christ is declared to be King, the Ruler of Israel and the Ruler of the universe. The implication is clear: we are to subject ourselves to Him as the Ruler and Lord of our lives (Matt. 2:2; 21:5; 25:34; Luk.1:33; John 1:49; 18:37; 19:21; 1Cor.15:25; 1Tim.6:15; Rev. 1:5; 17:14; 19:16; Isaiah 9:7; Jer. 23:5; Dan. 7:14; Zech. 9:9)
b. He had the most humble beginning, being a simple shepherd boy tending the sheep for his father Jesse. His father had achieved nothing of significance in his life so far as is known. But his father was an Israelite of the tribe of Judah. Being an Israelite from the tribe of Judah pointed toward David’s being the fulfillment of the predicted king who would be the very founder of the Messianic line (Gen. 49:10-12; Deut. 17:14-15). Jesus had a very humble beginning, being born in a manger (Luk. 2:11,12; Matt. 2:6 )
c. David was also a priest who led Israel in worship (2 Samuel 23:1). Of the 150 songs in the book of Psalms, at least 73 are said to have been written by him. David periodically performed various priestly functions (1 Sam.21:9; 23:6-13; 30:7-8). However, he would have been prevented from performing those functions that were preserved only for the Levitical priest (Heb.5:4). King Saul tried it, and he lost his kingdom to David (1 Sam.13:7-14).
Jesus Christ is the Perfect Priest who intercedes between God and man on our behalf. In order to become acceptable to God, we must approach God through the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 2:17; 3:1; 4:14-15; 5:1-5; 6:19-20; 7:21,25-27; 8:1,6; 9:11; 10:21).
d. David was also a prophet, a man through whom the Spirit of the Lord spoke (2 Samuel 23:2). David says that the Lord’s Word was on his tongue. The idea is that the Lord was speaking through him, inspiring the songs he was writing. Note that this is a definite claim of divine inspiration for the psalms, just as much as inspiration is claimed for all the Scripture, both the New and the Old Testaments (2 Tim. 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:19-21). Also note that the New Testament claims that David was a prophet (Acts 2:30). Jesus Christ is the Ideal Prophet, the Prophet of the Most High, the Lord God Himself. What He says, preaches, and teaches is to be obeyed. We are to follow Christ and do exactly what He says (Luke 1:76; 4:24; 13:33; 24:19; John 4:19; 6:14; 7:40; Acts 3:22).
2. THE BELIEVER AS A KING, PRIEST, AND PROPHET (Rev.1:5-6; 1Pet.2:5,9)
The believer is a King, priest and prophet. As Christ is, so are we in this world (1John 4:17)
Question for Discussion
How is the believer supposed to live as a ling, priest and prophet?
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