Anesti Ministries

God sends Samuel to David.

God calls us not to dwell on the past but to embrace what He has in store for our future. Samuel knew the danger of anointing a new king while Saul was still on the throne. Samuel knew that obedience to God would cost him his life. Instead of refusing God, Samuel asked the Lord for wisdom to carry out His command.

Jesse was the grandson of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:18-22). He was also a descendant of Perez, the son of Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38:29). The elders of Bethlehem were unsure whether Samuel had come to execute the Lord’s judgment or bring blessing. Samuel’s consecration of Jesse’s house shows us that God always consecrates us before He anoints us. In the Old Testament, consecration (קָדַשׁ) involved the act of ceremonial cleansing for the purpose of making individuals holy. God’s spirit can only anoint a person who is set apart. If you want God’s anointing in your life, you must be set apart from sin, worldly desires and personal ambition.

Samuel anoints David.

v7 We often make choices based on physical appearances. When Samuel saw the outward appearance of Jesse’s oldest son, he thought that God would choose him. But God taught Samuel a lesson on the kind of person he chooses. God prioritises a person’s heart over outward appearance. Outwardly, Saul looked like a good king, but inwardly, Saul’s heart was far from the Lord. Israel wanted a king who was a warrior but God chose a king who was a shepherd. God calls us to follow Him by faith and not by sight. Learn to trust God even when you don’t fully understand His plan.

David was the youngest of eight sons. He was probably out in the fields because he was an unlikely choice. But God saw something in David that others could not see. v12 In Hebrew, David is described as having bright eyes (יְפֵ֥ה עֵינַ֖יִם), a description of Godly vision. God was looking for a king who was neither spiritually blind to his commands nor blind to justice. Even though David was anointed by Samuel, it was only 15 years later that David became king over Israel. You may feel stuck in ministry or wonder why you don’t see God fulfilling His promise in your life. Keep trusting in God because He will fulfil His plan for your life.

God sends David to serve Saul.

v14 Because of Saul’s disobedience, the anointing of the Lord left him. It seems that this spirit was a form of God’s judgment upon Saul for his disobedience. God used this to open the door for David to enter into the king’s service. Imagine how David must have felt being sent into Saul’s service. He had just been anointed but now he had to submit to the king that God rejected. David must have struggled with this inside. David could have tried to take the kingdom for himself by killing Saul, but he chose to submit to God. David served Saul so well that he became Saul’s armor-bearer. In the next chapters, we will see how God used this season to mould David’s character.

v18 God uses people who possess 3 qualities. David was skilled in his craft, he possessed good character, and was filled with the anointing. God used David’s gift of music to bring healing. God uses our gifts to accomplish His purpose. If you have a passion for something, pursue it with determination. But we must also develop our character because character carries the anointing. When we possess the anointing, our natural gifts become channels for people to encounter God’s presence.