TUESDAY February 5, 2019
The Lord’s Anointed
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 10:1
When Samuel anointed Saul as king and commander over Israel, a large bottle or basin of oil was poured on top of his head; it ran down through his hair, eyes, mouth, beard, and dropped all the way down his clothing until it reached his feet. He would be covered with oil! In Israel, the manner of pouring oil over a king’s head represented God’s anointing. Saul was consecrated––separated to God––and the power of the Holy Spirit was now upon his life.
Later, King Saul would become jealous of a young man named David who was anointed to be the next king of Israel. The Lord had found a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 16:10-13). Due to Saul’s disobedience, God would remove His Spirit from Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). David eventually fled from Saul because the king sought to kill him. One day, David had an opportunity to kill Saul, but he would not harm him. Why? Saul was the Lord’s anointed. David told his men:
“The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul…
As Christians, each of us is to be regarded as the Lord’s anointed. We should not say a word against each other. Be honest; how often have you secretly gossiped about someone behind their back? Understand, you may not seek to murder someone, but you may be guilty of murdering someone’s character through gossiping. Think about it.
Be deaf, be blind, be dead to gossip, and it will grow disgusted with you and select a more sensitive victim.
~C. H. Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!