Lance

Saul’s lance is the first thing Scripture shows when the word turns up. Twice in one chapter he hurls a javelin at David, who steps aside, and the second time the point sticks in the wall. Later a spear appears in a very different scene, when a soldier pierces the side of Jesus on the cross. Prophets had spoken of that moment too: “they shall look upon me whom they have pierced.” Isaiah closes the picture with a hope that spears will be beaten into pruninghooks. Start with 1 Samuel 18 and 19, then read John 19 to see how the weapon changes meaning.

8 verses

1 Samuel

1 Samuel 18:11

And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

1 Samuel 19:9

And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

1 Samuel 19:10

And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

Isaiah

Isaiah 2:4

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Zechariah

Zechariah 12:10

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

John

John 19:34

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

John 20:27

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

Revelation

Revelation 1:7

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.