|
|
|||
|
|||
 David Window
The era of the Judges came to an end when the prophet Samuel anointed Saul as Israel’s first king. But it was the second king, David (c. 1000 B.C.), through whom the redemption of Israel would be continued. David was born in Bethlehem, the youngest of eight sons, and grew up tending the sheep of his father, Jesse. Even then he was known for his music, and for his irresistible confidence in God, enabling him to defeat the giant, Goliath. David was the king who united Israel and conquered Jerusalem. But more than that, David was “a man after God’s heart,” and his heart’s desire was to build a house for the Lord. Instead, God established David’s dynasty (the House of David) with a covenant. God promised that the kingship would never depart from David’s line, and David’s reign became the model for later prophecies of the Messianic Kingdom. Tragically, David’s story went on to include an affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. When the magnitude of his sin was revealed to him, David’s repentance was genuine and deep, but the consequences to his family were devastating. Yet, David and Bathsheba had a son, Solomon, which means peace. In the beauty of God’s grace, Solomon was chosen as David’s heir, for “the Lord loved him.” The New Testament writers believed that Jesus was the Messiah (Christ in Greek) who would restore the throne of David, for they saw in the life of Jesus an uncanny resemblance to the life of David in things like his lineage, birth in Bethlehem, and triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Even in his death the suffering of David was seen, and Pilate hung a sign on the cross that read, “The King of the Jews.” But we are also told that the full reign of Christ is still to come, when he will be revealed to the world as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. David is honored in our windows as the model of Christ. He is playing a harp outside the walls of Jerusalem, perhaps composing a psalm. David’s youth as a shepherd is brought to mind by the green grass, the lamb, and the flowing stream, as are the words of the beloved 23rd Psalm. The roses represent Mary, through whom the Messiah would finally come.
Like Stars Appearing: The Story of the Stained Glass
Windows of St. George's Episcopal Church, Dayton, Ohio | |||
|
|||
