1 Samuel 24

Messiah (the LORD's anointed)

Messiah — the Anointed One

And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. 1 Samuel 24:6

'Anointed' here translates the Hebrew mashiach, the word that became 'Messiah'. It refers to Saul, but David's reverence for the LORD's anointed points toward the true Anointed One, Jesus Christ (see also verse 10).

• the same title in Psalm 2:2 — 'Against the LORD, and against his anointed.'
• the same title in Acts 4:26-27 — The apostles apply 'his Christ' (anointed) to 'thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed'.

Jehovah as Judge and Advocate

The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 1 Samuel 24:12–15

David refuses revenge and asks the LORD to judge and to plead his cause. Jehovah is both the Judge and the Advocate who pleads our cause, roles the scriptures give to Jesus Christ.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• the same title in John 5:22 — The Father has committed all judgment unto the Son.
• the same title in D&C 45:3 — Christ is 'the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him'.

David as a type of Christ

And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 1 Samuel 24:17

David returns good for evil to the man hunting him. His mercy toward his enemy is a small foreshadowing of Christ, who loved and forgave those who sought His life.

• a type of what is in Luke 23:34 — 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.'

David as a type of Christ

And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 1 Samuel 24:20

Even Saul admits that David's kingdom will be established. The Davidic kingdom is the line through which the Messiah comes, the Son of David whose kingdom has no end.

• fulfilled by Luke 1:32-33 — Jesus given 'the throne of his father David'; 'of his kingdom there shall be no end'.