Introduction
Much can be gleaned from the types and shadows in Scripture, especially when considering the Kingdom of God and the role of Jesus Christ. Figures such as King David and King Solomon serve as foreshadowings of Christ during different aspects of His reign.
Deeper understanding of the Kingdom of God emerges when we explore the life of Israel’s first king, Saul. King Saul symbolizes a striking typological representation of Satan, reflecting his nature and behavior.
Saul
Saul started as the king Israel had longed for. Give “us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5, KJV), the people of Israel insisted. In response, God granted their request (1 Samuel 8:7-9), providing them with a leader who outwardly mirrored the rulers of surrounding nations.
Saul’s Initial State
Saul’s appearance was impressive and commanding—he towered above everyone in Israel, standing a head taller than the rest. He embodied the image of a warrior king, the kind of leader Israel had envisioned and desired (1 Samuel 9:2).
Saul was a formidable warrior and a masterful leader of his elite army (1 Samuel 14:52), undefeated in battle until his death (1 Samuel 14:47). However, as time passed, Saul’s priorities shifted. He began to value his own desires over God’s will, leading to a profound change in his character.
Saul’s Iniquity
God issued Saul a straightforward directive: destroy the Amalekites completely—leave no one and nothing behind (1 Samuel 15:3). The Amalekites had long been marked for judgment by God. Their unprovoked assault on the Israelites, who were vulnerable at the time, is recorded in Exodus 17. In response to this betrayal, God vowed to obliterate Amalek under heaven (Exodus 17:14).
Saul disobeyed God’s command by sparing King Agag of the Amalekites and keeping the finest livestock for himself (1 Samuel 15:9). Due to his disobedience, God rejected Saul and stripped him of the kingdom (1 Samuel 15:28).
Although Saul had been rejected by God as king, he was not immediately removed from the throne. Despite the divine proclamation that the kingdom had been taken from him, it would be several years before this came to pass.
The Next King
During this time, God had already selected the next king of Israel (King David: An Analysis of the Archetypal Messiah). He instructed the prophet Samuel to visit the house of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:1), where He had chosen David, a young shepherd boy and the youngest in his family (1 Samuel 17:14), to be anointed. Despite being chosen for such a significant role, David returned to his humble life as a shepherd, faithfully tending to the sheep he cherished (1 Samuel 17:15).
One fateful day, David captured the attention of all Israel, including King Saul. The nation faced a dire threat from the Philistines, their long-standing enemies, who had a fearsome champion: a towering giant named Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4). King Saul and the entire army of Israel were paralyzed with fear, unable to confront him.
But when David arrived at the battlefield, sent on an errand by his father (1 Samuel 17:17-18), he stepped forward with unwavering courage. Armed only with a sling and a few stones, David struck down the giant, severed his head, and presented it to King Saul (1 Samuel 17:49-57). From that moment on, David became a trusted warrior, and King Saul made him captain over his entire army (1 Samuel 18:5).
Saul’s Jealousy Toward God’s Chosen
David’s relationship with Saul took a dramatic turn as Saul’s admiration gave way to envy. Saul’s jealousy toward David spiraled out of control, transforming into a consuming and dangerous obsession. Consumed by envy, Saul’s animosity toward David intensified with each passing day (1 Samuel 18:7-9). When it became clear to him that David was destined to be the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 24:20), Saul’s resolve to eliminate him only hardened, fueling his desire to see David destroyed (1 Samuel 27:1).
Forced to flee for his life, David sought refuge in remote places, living as a fugitive while evading Saul’s tireless and determined pursuit. Yet, through it all, God’s unwavering protection shielded David, ensuring he remained unharmed despite the danger that surrounded him.
It was to continue until the day of saul’s death. After which, david became king of judah first, then, just over seven years later, he became king over all israel.
Satan
According to scripture, Satan’s origins trace back to a different role entirely. He was initially a mighty cherub, one of the highest-ranking celestial beings described in biblical texts.
He is rarely referred to by name in the Old Testament, but significant insights about this figure can be gathered from two key chapters: Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14. While these passages provide glimpses into his nature and story, the New Testament contains numerous references that further expand upon his role and significance.
Satan’s Initial State
“Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.” (Ezekiel 28:12, KJV).
The verse depicts an ideal creation—designed by God as a perfect embodiment of wisdom and unmatched beauty. His appearance was intricately fashioned to align with the purpose he was meant to fulfill. “[E]very precious stone was thy covering…” (Ezekiel 28:13, KJV) highlights the splendor and perfection of his original state.
However, this perfect being did not keep his first estate (Jude 1:6) because iniquity was found in him and he fell from his high position, as the prophet Isaiah declared,
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!” (Isaiah 14:12, KJV).
His Initial Position
In the above verse, the English word “Lucifer” comes from the Hebrew:
He held a position of great prominence, chosen and anointed by God to fulfill his purpose.
“Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth…thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.” (Ezekiel 28:14, KJV).
As a cherub, he belonged to a much higher order than many other celestial beings. His presence on the mountain of God signified that he held a position of great authority, serving as one of the high governors within God’s divine government. The ‘holy mountain of God,’ or as the prophet Isaiah stated it, “the mount of the congregation” represents the pinnacle of God’s sovereign rule. His position was one of extraordinary power and privilege, granting him the honor of moving among the ‘stones of fire,’ a realm inhabited by fiery angels (Hebrews 1:7).
His Iniquity
But Lucifer, as he was then called, or as his original name meant, once revered for his brilliance and authority, was destined to lose his exalted position. His unparalleled beauty, his high rank, his exaltation in the midst of other celestial beings, and his relentless desire to follow his own will ultimately led to his downfall.
The specific wrongdoing he committed is not explicitly detailed, apart from his pride. His “heart was lifted up because of [his] beauty,” and he was led astray “by reason of [his] brightness” (Ezekiel 28:17, KJV).
His grandeur, his allure, and his status consumed him like an unrelenting plague, until he crumbled. He fell. He fell hard and fast from his once great position. As Jesus stated,
“I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18).
After his fall, he became an enemy of God and all that reflects His divine nature. From that moment, his mission has been “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10, KJV). He assumed the role of the adversary, acting as a prosecutor or accuser (Zechariah 3:1; Revelation 12:10) of God’s chosen. His name, Satan, now signifies his dark purpose and role.
Satan’s Jealousy Toward God’s Chosen
Scripture does not provide a precise timeline for Satan’s fall in relation to humanity. One perspective suggests it may have occurred between the first and second days of creation. This theory points to the contrast between God’s creation of order and the chaos described on the second day (Isaiah 45:18; Genesis 1:2).
Satan wasted no time in pursuing his ambitions. Shortly after the creation of man and woman, he set his plans into motion. God had entrusted humanity with dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26), granting them authority to govern His creation. However, Satan, cunning and deceptive , used his corrupted wisdom to disguise himself as a serpent and deceive Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1). He knew that their disobedience would bring the curse (Genesis 3:19) of death upon them—a curse he himself was all too familiar with due to his own rebellion (Isaiah 14:15).
The curse of death upon humanity was not the end of the story. God promised a ‘seed’ (Genesis 3:15) who would arise—a savior destined to confront the serpent. Though the serpent would strike the seed’s heel, the seed would deliver a fatal blow to the serpent’s head, symbolizing ultimate victory over evil (Colossians 2:15; Revelation 20:10). The promise of this seed from God must have deeply unsettled Satan. After all, how significant and powerful must this seed be to deliver such a devastating blow to him?
From the moment a ‘seed’ appeared, Satan initiated his relentless efforts to obliterate it. He manipulated Adam and Eve’s eldest son, Cain, driving him to eliminate what he believed to be the seed of promise—their second son, Abel (Genesis 4:8).
God, as Eve acknowledged, provided her with another son to take Abel’s place, naming him Seth (Genesis 4:25). Although little is documented about Seth’s life, humanity began to flourish and multiply across the land over time (Genesis 6:1). Recognizing that Seth himself was not the promised seed, but that the seed might arise from among the growing population, Satan sought to corrupt humanity, leading their hearts to become “only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). This wickedness provoked God’s judgment, resulting in the decision to destroy them (Genesis 6:7) through a great flood. Yet, Satan’s efforts were in vain, as God preserved eight righteous individuals to survive the flood (2 Peter 2:5) and carry forward the line that would ultimately bring forth the seed of promise.
Fast forward several hundred years, and we encounter Abram (Genesis 11:26), later known as Abraham. Once again, God reaffirms His promise of the seed, declaring it would come through Abraham’s lineage, specifically through Isaac—the son of promise born to Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 21:12). When Ishmael, Abraham’s son with Hagar, began to persecute Isaac (Genesis 21:9), Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away (Genesis 21:10; Galatians 4:30). While Isaac was a son born in Abraham’s old age and part of God’s plan, he was not the promised seed that God had originally spoken of to Eve.
As Isaac grew older, he became the father of two sons, Jacob and Esau. Understanding that the promised lineage would continue through Abraham’s descendants, Satan sought to target Jacob, using Esau to attempt to kill him (Genesis 27:41). Yet, God’s divine protection shielded Jacob from harm, ensuring the fulfillment of His plan (Genesis 32:11).
Fast forward several hundred years, and we see God once again refining the lineage of the promised seed, designating it to come through the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:8-12; Ruth 4:12), one of Jacob’s sons. This brings us to David (King David: An Analysis of the Archetypal Messiah), a descendant of Judah, who emerges in the biblical narrative. As David’s anointing to ascend the throne became evident, Satan opposed him fiercely, relentlessly attempting to end his life through the actions of his rival, King Saul (1 Samuel 20:3).
God provided unwavering protection to David, shielding him from the cunning and malicious schemes of Satan throughout the turbulent reign of King Saul. Despite numerous threats and challenges, God’s hand remained firmly upon David, ensuring his safety and guiding his steps. When the appointed time arrived, God intervened decisively, bringing Saul’s reign to a close and paving the way for a new chapter in Israel’s history. David, steadfast in his faith and obedience, stepped into his divine calling. He first rose to become the king over the house of Judah and, in time, was exalted as King David, ruling with wisdom and strength over the entire nation of Israel.
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