The Anointing of David
The Anointing of David: A Divine Appointment
The narrative of David’s anointing, found in the sixteenth chapter of 1 Samuel, is a pivotal moment in the Old Testament. It marks the transition of Israel’s kingship from Saul, whom the Lord had rejected, to a shepherd boy from Bethlehem, chosen not for his outward appearance but for his heart. The anointing declared God’s sovereign will, imbuing David with the Spirit of the Lord and setting him apart as king over Israel, a man after God’s own heart.
God’s Rejection of Saul and the New Mandate
To fully grasp the significance of David’s anointing, one must understand the context of God’s rejection of King Saul. Saul, Israel’s first king, whom the LORD chose when the people demanded a king, had repeatedly disobeyed the Lord’s commands. His failures culminated in a direct act of rebellion, as recorded in 1 Samuel 15, where he spared Agag and the best of the Amalekites’ spoil, contrary to God’s explicit instruction. Samuel’s rebuke to Saul was stark:
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
1 Samuel 15:23
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This rejection paved the way for a new leader. The Lord, seeing the heart, had already prepared His chosen vessel, and He sent the prophet Samuel, still mourning over Saul, to Bethlehem.
Samuel’s Commission and Journey to Bethlehem
Samuel was to cease mourning for Saul and prepare to anoint a new king. God directed Samuel to the house of Jesse the Bethlehemite, assuring him that He had “provided me a king among his sons.”
And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
1 Samuel 16:1
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Samuel, wary of Saul’s potential wrath, expressed his concern, but God provided a way for him to carry out the divine mandate discreetly, he was to take a heifer and say, “I am come to sacrifice to the LORD” (1 Samuel 16:2). Upon arriving in Bethlehem, Samuel sanctified Jesse and his sons and called them to the sacrifice.
The Selection of David: God Looks on the Heart
As Jesse’s sons were presented before Samuel, the prophet, guided by human perception, initially believed Eliab, Jesse’s eldest son, to be the Lord’s choice. Eliab possessed the physical stature and appearance befitting a king. God immediately corrected Samuel’s judgment:
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7
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One by one, seven of Jesse’s sons passed before Samuel, but none were chosen by the Lord. Perplexed, Samuel inquired if Jesse had any other sons. Jesse then mentioned his youngest, David, who was tending the sheep. The detail shows David’s humble position and his faithfulness in obscurity. That he was left with the sheep suggests his own family did not consider him a likely candidate.
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
1 Samuel 16:11
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When David finally arrived, the Lord confirmed His choice. David is described as “ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to.” While he possessed outward attractiveness, it was his heart, known only to God, that qualified him for this divine appointment.
The Anointing: Impartation of the Spirit
With God’s unmistakable affirmation, Samuel anointed David. The act itself was simple:
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
1 Samuel 16:13
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The anointing was a tangible impartation of divine power, not only a ceremonial gesture. The oil, a common symbol of consecration in the Bible, represented the Holy Spirit. From that moment David was empowered by the Spirit of the Lord for his future role as king. The anointing was made “in the midst of his brethren”; Matthew Henry judges that they possibly did not understand it as a designation to the government, yet its effects would soon become evident.
The Immediate Effects and Manifestations of the Anointing
The anointing brought an immediate change. Scripture states that “the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.” In stark contrast, 1 Samuel 16:14 notes that “the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.” The Spirit’s favour had passed from Saul to David.
Though David was anointed king, he did not immediately ascend to the throne. He returned to his duties as a shepherd, demonstrating humility and patience. However, the anointing began to manifest in his life in various ways. One of Saul’s servants spoke of him as “cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war” (1 Samuel 16:18), and his harp brought solace to Saul when troubled by an evil spirit. Matthew Henry notes that some take his courage against the lion and the bear, and his skill in music, as effects of the Spirit’s coming upon him. This brought him into the king’s court and a close view of royal life.
Moreover, the anointing empowered David with extraordinary courage and faith. His encounter with Goliath, detailed in 1 Samuel 17, is a prime example. David, a youth who had never proved Saul’s armour but had slain the lion and the bear (1 Samuel 17:34-36), faced a seasoned giant, not relying on physical might or conventional weaponry, but on the power of the living God. He declared:
Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
1 Samuel 17:45
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This confidence stemmed from the presence of the Spirit of the Lord within him, who enabled him to overcome the giant and to fulfill the divine purpose for which he was chosen.
The Enduring Significance of David’s Anointing
David’s anointing was a spiritual empowerment for divine service, not only a political office. It consecrated him to God’s purpose, validated his calling, and equipped him for leadership. It was the source of his wisdom, courage, and prophetic insight, which would later be expressed in the Psalms.
Furthermore, David’s anointing carried messianic implications. He became the prototype of the true King, the Messiah, who would come from his lineage. The “Anointed One” (Christos in Greek, Messiah in Hebrew) finds its Old Testament foreshadowing in figures like David, who were literally anointed with oil. The covenant God made with David, promising an eternal throne for his descendants, pointed directly to Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the ultimate Anointed One.
Lessons for Believers Today
While believers are not anointed with physical oil for kingship, divine enablement by the Holy Spirit remains central to Christian life. Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who empowers them for service.
- God looks on the heart: Our outward appearance, social status, or perceived qualifications are secondary to our heart’s condition before God. He seeks humility, faithfulness, and a willingness to obey.
- Divine enablement: The Holy Spirit empowers believers for ministry and service. Just as the Spirit came upon David, so too does He indwell and equip believers, enabling them to live a life pleasing to God and to fulfill their unique calling.
- Patience in waiting: David was anointed king but waited many years before ascending the throne. This period of waiting, marked by trials and persecution from Saul, refined his character and prepared him for leadership. Believers are often called to patience as God works His purposes in their lives.
- God’s choice is sovereign: God chooses whom He wills, often confounding human expectations. Our trust should be in His perfect plan and divine timing.
The Apostle Paul speaks of this New Testament anointing:
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
And John further clarifies this anointing:
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
1 John 2:20
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This “unction” or anointing refers to the Holy Spirit residing within every believer, providing spiritual discernment, understanding, and empowerment for living out the Christian faith.
Conclusion
The anointing of David shows God’s sovereign choice, His sight beyond the outward, and His faithfulness to empower those He calls. A humble shepherd boy became a man after God’s own heart, equipped by the Holy Spirit to lead a nation and to foreshadow the coming Messiah. God’s anointing is not based on human merit but on divine grace and purpose. As believers, we too receive an anointing, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, empowering us to live for Christ and to fulfill the good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.