When I was in sixth grade, I went shopping with my grandmother and her sister, my great-aunt, who was like a bonus grandmother to me. In their later years, they shared a home, and whenever my sisters and I would visit, they would plan all sorts of fun things for us to do, including regular visits to the stores on Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barre, PA.
One afternoon while we were shopping, we came across a watch counter in one of the stores that featured a brand of watches that was trendy in the mid to late 1980s. If you remember Swatch watches, they were "must-have" items at the time, and my aunt offered to buy one for me. Looking at the various styles and all the loud designs, I finally settled on a watch that was completely transparent. That meant the gears and other parts were completely visible to the eye. Even the wristbands were see-through.
If you've ever seen the inner workings of a watch, you know that there are lots of gears and intricate parts that need to work together in perfect harmony for that watch to keep time. If you remove any one of those tiny pieces, the watch will immediately stop functioning properly.
The church operates in a similar way. We all have an important function, even if we feel like we play a smaller role. If any one of us is missing, the entire body is going to be impacted. All believers have been set apart or anointed for the work God wants to accomplish through our lives, and we all play a valuable role in the great work He's doing.
The concept of being anointed for a specific task has been illustrated several times in the book of 1 Samuel. Saul was anointed with oil by the prophet Samuel to serve as Israel's first king. Years later, David was anointed by Samuel to replace Saul in that role. But in the years where there was overlap, Saul was insanely jealous of David, so much so that he devoted considerable time and manpower to capturing and attempting to kill him.
That's what was taking place in 1 Samuel 24. Ever since David killed Goliath with just a sling and a stone, he was a person of note in Israel. He was like a celebrity to the people, and many were devoted and loyal to him, including the hundreds of men who surrounded him and regularly fought with him in battle. Saul, being insecure and protective of his own power, viewed David as a threat to be eliminated, not a man to honor or cooperate with.
Scripture tells us that Saul took three thousand men and went after David. In this pursuit, Saul came upon a deep cave and chose to relieve himself inside where he assumed he'd have some privacy. Providentially, David and his men were also in that cave, and as Saul approached, it was the belief of David's men that this would provide the perfect opportunity to kill Saul and end his murderous pursuit. But it was never in David's heart to hurt or kill Saul. Rather, he quietly approached Saul in the darkness and cut off a corner of his robe.
Interestingly, Scripture indicates that David actually felt a little bad about doing that, even though he had just spared Saul's life. The robe of a king was one of the ways in which his authority was visually conveyed. It very likely would have been stitched from choice fabrics which made it rather uncommon in texture and appearance. Instead of cutting Saul down, David cut off that corner piece of material which would later be used to illustrate that he had mercifully spared Saul's life.
“And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.” So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way. ”
After Saul left the cave, David emerged and called out to him. David grieved over the malice that Saul had in his heart toward him. He knew it was irrational. He also didn't reciprocate those emotions. David even went so far as to show honor toward Saul even though Saul brought thousands of men into the wilderness to pursue David and end his life.
““Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand.””
Why did David demonstrate such mercy and respect toward Saul? Would you have done the same? It's clear that David wasn't weak, nor was he afraid to end the lives of soldiers from warring nations that attempted to harm the people of Israel. But when it came to Saul, he couldn't bring himself to hurt him. I believe this reluctance can be attributed to the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in David's life. The Spirit of God was shaping David's heart. He was helping Him understand deeper-level concepts that need to be spiritually perceived in order to be grasped. The Spirit of God was compelling David not to harm someone who had been anointed by the Lord, and even though Saul was in rebellion against the Lord, he had still been divinely anointed or set apart as king.
The concept of bringing no harm to the Lord's anointed is spoken of elsewhere in God's Word, even though that concept was regularly disregarded by the people of Israel. When we read through the Old Testament, we see examples of people the Lord divinely anointed for their task. We learn of patriarchs and prophets that God called out from among the people. Years later, David himself referenced the concept of bringing no harm to the Lord's anointed when he sang to the Lord after the ark of the covenant was brought back to Jerusalem. He sang the words, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!” (1 Chronicles 16:22)
The concept of the Lord's anointing is a fascinating thing to contemplate. In our era, I often hear people describe certain church leaders as "anointed", and I've seen that perspective manipulated and misused. There are some in leadership who attempt to convey that they're above making mistakes, are uncommonly holy, and can't be challenged because their ministry has been anointed. That's a misapplication of this concept.
In fact, as believers living under the New Covenant, we were anointed with the Holy Spirit the moment we trusted in Jesus. We've been baptized by the Spirit, sealed by the Spirit, and consecrated for the work the Lord plans to accomplish through our lives. "But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge." (1 John 2:20)
As His public ministry began, the anointing of the Holy Spirit was demonstrated in Jesus' life when He was set apart and consecrated for His mission. At the time of His baptism we're told, "the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.'” (Luke 3:22)
Multiple accounts are also given in the gospels of Jesus being anointed with oil in preparation for His death and burial, and also to acknowledge His authority as the Messiah and King.
“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” ”
"Jesus Christ is God’s anointed Messiah. The word Messiah means 'anointed one' and derives directly from the Hebrew word for 'anointed.' Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, also meaning 'anointed one.' Thus, Christ is the Greek equivalent to Messiah. -https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-anointed.html
It's my belief that when David expressed reluctance to raise his hand in aggression against the Lord's anointed, He was demonstrating that the internal witness of the Holy Spirit was guiding and directing his thoughts and actions. He may not have been able to fully articulate the full theological significance of his reluctance to strike Saul, but I believe it can be said that his respect for the Lord's anointed was actually a form of respect for the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
When I think about the broader application of a portion of Scripture like 1 Samuel 24, I think about the anointed ministry of Jesus, the work we've been anointed to do in His name, and the respect we have the opportunity to show Him in the process of taking the steps of obedience He calls us to take.
In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application to Prior Richard at a local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery.
“Your Majesty,” said Prior Richard, “do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king.”
“I understand,” said Henry. “The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.”
“Then I will tell you what to do,” said Prior Richard. “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you.”
When King Henry died, a statement was written: “The King learned to rule by being obedient.”
When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, it helps to remember God has planted us in a certain place and told us to be a good accountant or teacher or mother or father. Christ expects us to be faithful where he puts us, and when he returns, we’ll rule together with him.
-Steve Brown, Key Biscayne, Florida (Bible.org)
Our lives serve as a continuation of the work Jesus inaugurated during His earthly ministry. The Holy Spirit has anointed us to obediently serve Christ in various ways. The fields we serve in, and the manner in which we serve may look drastically different, but they're all part of a greater plan.
I believe the Lord intentionally places believers in all kinds of areas, doing different things, so that the fragrance of Christ might permeate all kinds of industries and vocations. Some of us are anointed to lead in the church. Some of us have been sent to the local school district. Others are sent to the various offices, retail hubs, restaurants, and manufacturing centers in our community. A few of us have been sent to be the fragrance of Christ in the halls of government, the streets of law enforcement and emergency services, and the hospitals. It's all by design. It's all on purpose.
Respect for God's anointing, and His anointed servants, can ultimately serve as a form of respect for the Anointed One, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Out of our reverence and respect for Jesus, let's joyfully and obediently complete the mission His Spirit has anointed us to fulfill.
© John Stange, 2023
