KJV 1 Samuel 16:18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.”

NASB 1 Samuel 16:18 Then one of the young men said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valour, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him.”

David is one of the loveliest pictures of our Lord Jesus Christ: the shepherd boy going into the valley to face the giant, the sufferer in rejection, and the unappreciated deliverer of the nation. These are only a few of the ways in which He resembles His greater Son.

But there are also ways in which he stands in contrast to Christ. The admiring comments of Saul’s servant highlighted in 1 Samuel 16 is one of the contrasts. An evil spirit has come upon Saul, and he is looking for someone who can soothe his ill mood by playing on the harp. A servant overhears and recommends David as just such a man. Behind it all is God’s sovereign design to bring David from the sheepfold to the court. Nevertheless, the praise of the servant is worthy of our consideration.

The first contrast is the fact that he praised David. The Lord Jesus was despised and rejected. No voices were raised to defend Him, much less to praise Him, during His movements here amongst men. There may have been an initial fame and welcome as He performed miracles of healing to relieve the sorrow and sadness of the people, but ultimately, even these acts of mercy and kindness were ascribed to Satanic power, denying Him of true praise.

David is praised for his several abilities – as a musician, soldier, and courageous warrior. In contrast, men looked at the Lord and demeaned Him by calling Him just a carpenter (Mark 6:3). No one ever once commended Christ for His skill as a carpenter, His moral might and weight as He daily faced the hostility of the nation’s leaders, or His wisdom. It was enough for Him that it pleased the Father.

David is described as “comely” or of an attractive form. It is this exact word used in Isaiah 53:2, “He was without form.” There was nothing physically to attract men to the Saviour. He was not a man’s man. I gather from the wording in Isaiah 53 that there was nothing physically about the Lord that made Him stand out from other men. His beauty was moral and for the eye of God alone.

David is described as “prudent,” a word that means discerning or wise. Listen as the relatives of the Lord exclaim, “He is beside (mad) Himself” (Mark 3:21). Wisdom incarnate was deemed madness, or as one out of His mind. His utter devotion to God was viewed by men as folly.

Men readily recognized that “the Lord is with him.” How precious this final note of praise in the commendation of David by the servant. But how different for the Lord. “We esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God” will be the testimony of the nation in a future day as they look back on their response to Him at His first advent.

How wonderful to think that in a coming day, His moral beauty, majesty, wisdom, and service for God will be owned by all, as every knee will bow and every tongue confess. But you and I have that privilege each day of the week and every Lord’s Day collectively.

Consider

There are many statements about David that serve as either comparisons or contrasts to our Lord. Consider, for example, Nabal’s comment in 1 Samuel 25:10.