Notes:

Who’s Representing You?    See Session Slides Here

1 Sam.17:4-7. Goliath is a picture of man under Satan’s control. Adam after the Fall. Note the three ‘sixes’:

• He was 6 cubits tall.
• 6 pieces of armour.
• His spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron.

1 Sam.17:8-9. ‘Choose a representative’. A representative takes up the cause of those he stands for and re-presents their case. He says, ‘Don’t look to these now; look to me.’ Winner takes all.

Who is your representative? This is a picture of a very important doctrine – federal headship, federal union. Our identity is based upon the one with whom we are identified, the one who represents us. In Adam ‘all sinned’. Adam represented the human race. His sin was imputed to us. If God dealt with us on the basis of a representative once, He can do it again. Our only hope is that someone else will represent us.

 ‘And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid’ (1 Sam.17:10-11). John wept much because no one was worthy to take the scroll, etc.

But there is another representative: Jesus. He is typified by David.

• We are born under the Federal Headship of Adam
• We are born again under the Federal Headship of Christ
• We are born under the Federal Headship of Adam physically
• We are born again under the Federal Headship of Christ spiritually

1 Sam.17:24-28. Eliab attacked David because David witnessed his cowardice. The flesh focuses on appearance.

1 Sam.17:34-37. David saw Goliath as just another animal attacking God’s flock. 5 stones, 5 wounds. 5 = Grace.

1 Sam.17:49-51. David used Goliath’s own weapon to cut off his head. Heb.2:14&15.  1 Cor. 2:8.

1 Sam.17:52-53. The Israelites contributed nothing to the battle. But they reaped all the benefits and spoil of the victory. David’s victory was their victory. Our identity is based upon the One who represents us.

‘And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent’ (1 Sam.17:54). Jesus was crucified at Golgotha = ‘The place of a skull’ (Matt 27:33). Christ on the cross with His feet on the skull symbolized His victory over the seed of the serpent. Gen.3:15; Eph.1:19-23; Rom.16:20.

As Adam’s offense resulted in condemnation, so Jesus’ sacrifice results in justification for those who believe. ‘Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life’ (Rom.5:18).

‘For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ’ (Rom.5:17).

Superior blessings

1) Judgment was for one sin; justification for many (Rom.5:16).

2) 1 Sam.17:9 Freedom from power of sin (Rom.6:17-18).

3) 1 Sam.17:25 Great riches. His daughter for a bride. Exemption from taxes. Saul in his heavy taxation system represents the demands of the law.

4) Victory over Satan. We are not called to defeat Satan. He has already been defeated. We are facing an enemy who has no authority over us. We need to learn to stand in that victory.

2 representatives appointed by God. ‘The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven’ (1 Cor.15:47). ‘For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive’ (1 Cor.15:22).