David
We first learn of David as a youngster. He is handsome, gifted and brave, quietly tending
his father’s sheep on the hillsides of Bethlehem. David’s great musical gifts brought him
into King Saul’s royal court to soothe the King’s times of sorrow.
At this same time, Israel was in a constant state of warfare with the Philistines. The
Philistine invaders brought with them a giant, nearly ten feet tall, named Goliath, who
challenges and threatens Saul’s warriors to a one on one fight each day. One day,
David’s father, Jesse, sends David with food from home to his brothers on the battle front.
While he is there, he encounters the giant Goliath. After hearing of the rewards for victory
to be granted by King Saul, David resolves to fight the giant even though King Saul tries
to discourage him.
The victor in this combat is well known by young and old. David uses his trusty slingshot
and with tremendous force and deadly accuracy, brings down the giant and finishes killing
the giant with Goliath’s own sword. The result, David is held up as a national hero by all
in Israel.
His journey to the throne however, wasn’t easy. As David’s fame grew, Saul’s affection
for him turned to jealously and hatred. Eventually after Saul’s death in battle, David was
able to unite the kingdom and made the captured City of Jerusalem, his capital.
He pushed back his enemies on all fronts until Israel became recognized as a powerful
nation and David became the most respected and celebrated earthly king of all time.
David reigned for forty years and although he had his faults, as all men do, he is
described as a man after GOD’s own heart.
The scene pictured in the window of David is recorded in ~ I Chronicles: 13-16. The
significance being the bringing of The Ark of The Covenant to the city of David, showed
GOD’s presence and blessing on the reign of David.
The Bible describes the event as one of great reverence and celebration.
Elijah
Sometime later, The LORD did great deeds by the prophet Elijah, such as the
competition between the false gods of Baal and his prophets and The True GOD on Mt.
Carmel, in which The LORD shows HIS power by sending fire down from Heaven and
consuming the sacrifice that Elijah had prepared.
At the time appointed GOD, carried Elijah up in a fiery chariot. This scene is often used
as a symbol of CHRIST’s ascension, which is directly across in the southern facing
window.
As you can see, on the Old Testament side, we have illustrated the different ways in
which GOD spoke to mankind, from the beginning, speaking through Patriarchs, Moses,
the Judges, the Kings and the Prophets.
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