Scripture:
1 Samuel 24:5-6; 16:1-3, 12-13
Wed, 6 October 2021

“My Lord, the LORD’s Anointed”

Observation:

What is the significance of David acknowledging Saul as “my lord, the LORD’s anointed” (v.6)?

Deeper Reflection
THE WORD “anointed” is a key word in the Book of Samuel, comprising two Hebrew words, masah and masiah (messiah). The two Hebrew words together occur a total of 32 times (19 times in 1 Sam and 13 times in 2 Sam), all of which are used in reference to the anointing of a king of Israel. To be “anointed” by God is to be set apart for a special service of God, which “presuppose[s] special obligations”13. The expression, “the LORD’s anointed”, conveys the idea of “special status” and of being “under God’s special favor and protection”14: God “will give strength to His king and will exalt the horn of His anointed” (1 Sam 2:10). When David’s “conscience bothered him” after he had secretly cut off the edge of Saul’s robe, it seems like he received a divine revelation: “Far be it from me because of the LORD that I would do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to reach out with my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed” (vv.5-6). For the first time, David referred to Saul as “my lord, the LORD’s anointed”. This reflects David’s character, in that although he had been anointed as Saul’s successor (1 Sam 16:12-13), he did not see his anointing as somehow invalidating Saul’s anointing. And David realised that to touch “the LORD’s anointed” was “to touch the Lord Himself ”15. He recognised that Saul was still “the LORD’s anointed” and hence his humble submission: “my lord, the LORD’s anointed.”
13 John N. Oswalt, New International Dictionary of OId Testament Theology & Exegesis, Volume 2, General Editor: Willem A. VanGemeren (Zondervan, 1997), 1125
14 John N. Oswalt, 1125
15 John N. Oswalt, 1125
Application:

What views and attitudes toward God’s chosen leaders do I have which I need to change?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise:
  • Pray for leaders:
  • Pray for married couples: To subject to one another lovingly in reverence to Christ
  • Pray for those in need:
  • Pray for self:

Download this Building Fund QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for East QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for WDL QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Sun, 31 December 2023

Sunday Journal

Past Week’s Review
  • What was my high point and my low point for the week?
  • What gave me life and what drained me?
  • How was the Spirit of God at work?
Reflect

What is one key thing that God said to me this week in light of what has happened?

Respond

What is one thing I need to do in light of what God is saying?
Commit in prayer.

Download this New Life Fund QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for BPJ QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.