Sunday, June 4, 2023
Pastor Leanna Brewer, OpenDoor Church, Burleson, TX
Anoint: set someone apart; to authorize and equip him or her for a task of spiritual importance.
Jesus Christ is set apart by the work of the Holy Spirit for his ministry of preaching, healing and deliverance. The Holy Spirit sets Christians apart for their ministry in Christ’s name.
Evidence pointing to the Spirit’s anointing in Jesus Christ’s ministry Mt 4:23-25; Mt 7:28-29; Mt 12:28; Lk 4:14-15; Lk 5:17; Lk 6:19; Lk 7:14-15
1 Samuel 11:15 – So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
1 Samuel 10:1 – Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: “Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance?”
1 Samuel 16:1-13 – The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
Differences between David and Saul
- When Saul was anointed, he wasn’t looking for God. He was looking for his dad’s donkey. He thought it was about him.
- David understood it was about who God is.
- Saul saw his anointing as his own personal gain, his position. He won the lotto. He never saw it as kingdom gain.
- David saw his life as advancing the kingdom. Saul never fought in the battles. He sent others out to do it. David was always at the front of the battle. Saul saw his anointing as advancing his personal life.
- Saul had no respect for the covenant of the Lord.
- Saul had no value for the presence of the Lord because he thought he was in trouble. He even considered God “Samuel’s God” not his own.
1 Samuel 15:30 – Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord YOUR God.”
- David had a huge value for the presence of the Lord whether he was in trouble or not.
- Saul was not into praise and worship, or repentance, because he did not value the presence of God.
- Acts 13:21 says Saul was king for 40 years. (1 Samuel 13:1 says 42 years)
- David was king for 40 years, and so was Solomon.
* The kings took over for the judges, who also ruled 40 years
* David had a huge priority for covenant with the Lord, which is still lasting today. Saul’s anointing and covenant died with him.
- Saul went from being nobody to being king in one day. David went through a very long process: decades before becoming king. Be careful of instant promotion.
- When Jesus refers to himself as King, it’s always as “the Son of David,” never Saul.
Know God like David and not Saul.
When you make a covenant with the Lord, it’s all about Him and His kingdom; not your personal gain.