In case you forgot here’s what the word prophet means and why someone is given that title. The English word prophet in the Old Testament comes from the Hebrew word “nabiy” which means “spokesman” or “speaker”. The Greek word for prophet is “prophētēs”, which can mean “one who speaks forth” or “advocate.” Prophets are also called “seers,” because of their spiritual insight or their ability to “see” the future, as directed by God.
This is the fifth post in the series.
David
We know David as Israel’s second and most renowned king.
2 Samuel 5:1-5 (NLT)1 Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood.2 In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the LORD told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel’s leader.’”3 So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the LORD with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel.4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all.5 He had reigned over Judah from Hebron for seven years and six months, and from Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.
We know of his victory over the giant Goliath
1 Samuel 17:48-51 (NLT)48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword.51 Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.
We know of his prowess as a warrior.
1 Samuel 29:4-5 (NLT)4 But the Philistine commanders were angry. “Send him back to the town you’ve given him!” they demanded. “He can’t go into the battle with us. What if he turns against us in battle and becomes our adversary? Is there any better way for him to reconcile himself with his master than by handing our heads over to him?5 Isn’t this the same David about whom the women of Israel sing in their dances, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”
We know of his adultery with Bathsheba and his order for the death of her husband.
2 Samuel 11:2-5 (NLT)2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home.5 Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.”
2 Samuel 11:14-17 (NLT)14 So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver.15 The letter instructed Joab, “Station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so that he will be killed.”16 So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy’s strongest men were fighting.17 And when the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight, Uriah the Hittite was killed along with several other Israelite soldiers.
We know that after he was forgiven for these sins that God told him that He would bless his family and that there would always be someone from his family on Israel’s throne.
2 Samuel 7:8-16 (NLT)8 “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel.9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!10 And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past,11 starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. “‘Furthermore, the LORD declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings!12 For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong.13 He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever.14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.15 But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight.16 Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”
We know that the Bible says that Israel’s Messiah would be a descendant of David.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NLT)6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
Luke 1:29-33 (NLT)29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
And we know that God loved David and called him a man after His own heart.
Acts 13:22 (NLT)22 But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’
We know all of those things about David but did you know that he was also a prophet? Remember our definition of a prophet as “one who speaks forth” or “advocate.” Prophets are also called “seers,” because of their spiritual insight or their ability to “see” the future, as directed by God.
David is identified as a prophet by New Testament writers.
Acts 2:29-31 (NLT)29 “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us.30 But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne.31 David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.
David foretold the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, depicted His suffering and death, and described the establishment and glory of His kingdom. David also foretold many of the blessings which those who believe on Jesus would receive.
David’s Prophecies
Psalm 2:7-9 (NLT)7 The king proclaims the LORD’s decree: “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father.8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.9 You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’”
Psalm 16:8-11 (NLT)8 I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
Psalm 22:1, 16-18 (NLT)1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? 16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet.17 I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat.18 They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.
Psalm 40:6-8 (NLT)6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand— you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.7 Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures:8 I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”
Psalm 41:9 (NLT)9 Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.
Psalm 45:6-7 (NLT)6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.7 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
Psalm 72:11-12 , 17(NLT)11 All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him.12 He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.17 May the king’s name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.
Psalm 94:20-23 (NLT)20 Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side— leaders whose decrees permit injustice?21 They gang up against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.22 But the LORD is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide.23 God will turn the sins of evil people back on them. He will destroy them for their sins. The LORD our God will destroy them.
Psalm 97:1-12 (NLT)1 The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice! Let the farthest coastlands be glad.2 Dark clouds surround him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.3 Fire spreads ahead of him and burns up all his foes.4 His lightning flashes out across the world. The earth sees and trembles.5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness; every nation sees his glory.7 Those who worship idols are disgraced— all who brag about their worthless gods— for every god must bow to him.8 Jerusalem has heard and rejoiced, and all the towns of Judah are glad because of your justice, O LORD!9 For you, O LORD, are supreme over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.10 You who love the LORD, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.11 Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right.12 May all who are godly rejoice in the LORD and praise his holy name!
Psalm 110:1-4 (NLT)1 The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”2 The LORD will extend your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem; you will rule over your enemies.3 When you go to war, your people will serve you willingly. You are arrayed in holy garments, and your strength will be renewed each day like the morning dew.4 The LORD has taken an oath and will not break his vow: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
Psalm 118:22 (NLT)22 The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.
Psalm 118:26 (NLT)26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD.
New Testament References To David’s Prophecies
The Psalms are full of prophecies about Jesus many of them repeated in the New Testament.
Acts 2:25-28 (NLT)25 King David said this about him: ‘I see that the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.26 No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope.27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.28 You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’ (Psalm 16:8-11)
Matthew 21:9 (NLT)9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Praise God in highest heaven!” (Psalm 118:26)
Matthew 27:35-37 (NLT)35 After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.36 Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there.37 A sign was fastened to the cross above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” (Psalm 22:18)
Hebrews 10:6-10 (NLT)6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin.7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. (Psalm 40:6-8)
1 Peter 3:22 (NLT)22 Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority. (Psalm 110:1)
Hebrews 6:20 (NLT)20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. (Psalm 110:4)
When we read the Psalms, we should be aware of David’s prophecies which inform and encourage us about the wonderful future God has in store for His people.