When I used to be 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 house, and every time my sisters and I’d visit, they’d plan all varieties 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 got here across a watch counter in certainly one of the stores that featured a brand of watches that was trendy within the mid to late Nineteen Eighties. If you remember Swatch watches, they were “must-have” items on the time, and my aunt offered to purchase one for me. Looking at the varied styles and all of 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 attention. Even the wristbands were see-through.
If you have ever seen the inner workings of a watch, that there are numerous gears and complex parts that have to work together in perfect harmony for that watch to maintain time. If you remove any certainly one of those tiny pieces, the watch will immediately stop functioning properly.
The church operates in an identical way. We all have a very important function, even when we feel like we play a smaller role. If any certainly one of us is missing, all the body goes to be impacted. All believers have been set apart or anointed for the work God wants to perform through our lives, and all of us play a beneficial role in the good work He’s doing.
The concept of being anointed for a selected task has been illustrated several times within the book of 1 Samuel. Saul was anointed with oil by the prophet Samuel to function Israel’s first king. Years later, David was anointed by Samuel to interchange Saul in that role. But within the years where there was overlap, Saul was insanely jealous of David, a lot in order that he devoted considerable time and manpower to capturing and attempting to kill him.
That’s what was going down in 1 Samuel 24. Ever since David killed Goliath with only a sling and a stone, he was an individual of note in Israel. He was like a star to the people, and plenty of were devoted and dependable to him, including the tons of of men who surrounded him and often fought with him in battle. Saul, being insecure and protective of his own power, viewed David as a threat to be eliminated, not a person to honor or cooperate with.
Scripture tells us that Saul took three thousand men and went after David. In this pursuit, Saul got here upon a deep cave and selected to alleviate 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 assumption of David’s men that this could provide the right opportunity to kill Saul and end his murderous pursuit. But it was never in David’s heart to harm or kill Saul. Rather, he quietly approached Saul within the darkness and cut off a corner of his robe.
Interestingly, Scripture indicates that David actually felt a bit bad about doing that, regardless that he had just spared Saul’s life. The robe of a king was certainly one of the ways during which his authority was visually conveyed. It very likely would have been stitched from alternative fabrics which made it relatively unusual in texture and appearance. Instead of cutting Saul down, David cut off that corner piece of fabric which might later be used as an instance 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. 6 He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do that thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to place out my hand against him, seeing he’s the LORD’s anointed.” So David persuaded his men with these words and didn’t permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.” – 1 Samuel 24:5-7
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 up to now as to point out honor toward Saul regardless that Saul brought hundreds of men into the wilderness to pursue David and end his life.
“Behold, at the present time your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand within the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I won’t put out my hand against my lord, for he’s the LORD’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand.” – 1 Samuel 24:10- 11a
Why did David display such mercy and respect toward Saul? Would you may have done the identical? It’s clear that David wasn’t weak, nor was he afraid to finish the lives of soldiers from warring nations that attempted to harm the people of Israel. But when it got here to Saul, he couldn’t bring himself to harm him. I think this reluctance could 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 should be spiritually perceived with a purpose to be grasped. The Spirit of God was compelling David to not harm someone who had been anointed by the Lord, and regardless that Saul was in riot 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, regardless that that idea was often disregarded by the people of Israel. When we read through the Old Testament, we see examples of individuals the Lord divinely anointed for his or her task. We learn of patriarchs and prophets that God called out from among the many 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 an interesting 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 try and convey that they are above making mistakes, are uncommonly holy, and might’t be challenged because their ministry has been anointed. That’s a misapplication of this idea.
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 perform through our lives. “But you may have been anointed by the Holy One, and also 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 got here from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I’m well pleased.’” – Luke 3:22
Multiple accounts are also given within the gospels of Jesus being anointed with oil in preparation for His death and burial, and likewise to acknowledge His authority because the Messiah and King.
Mary due to this fact took a pound of costly ointment produced from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet together with her hair. The house was stuffed with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, certainly one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared concerning the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to assist himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, in order that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you mostly have with you, but you don’t at all times have me.” -John 12:3-8
“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 reminiscent of Messiah. -https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-anointed.html
It’s my belief that when David expressed reluctance to boost his hand in aggression against the Lord’s anointed, He was demonstrating that the interior witness of the Holy Spirit was guiding and directing his thoughts and actions. He may not have been capable of fully articulate the total theological significance of his reluctance to strike Saul, but I think it could possibly be said that his respect for the Lord’s anointed was actually a type of respect for the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
When I believe concerning the broader application of a portion of Scripture like 1 Samuel 24, I believe concerning the anointed ministry of Jesus, the work we have been anointed to do in His name, and the respect we now have the chance to point out Him within the technique of taking the steps of obedience He calls us to take.
In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew uninterested in court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application to Prior Richard at a neighborhood monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the remaining of his life within the monastery.
“Your Majesty,” said Prior Richard, “do you understand that the pledge here is certainly one of obedience? That might be hard because you may have been a king.”
“I understand,” said Henry. “The remainder of my life I might be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.”
“Then I’ll inform you what to do,” said Prior Richard. “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully within the place where God has put you.”
When King Henry died, an announcement was written: “The King learned to rule by being obedient.” When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, it helps to recollect God has planted us in a certain place and told us to be a superb accountant or teacher or mother or father. Christ expects us to be faithful where he puts us, and when he returns, we’ll rule along with him.
-Steve Brown, Key Biscayne, Florida (Bible.org)
Our lives function 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 way during which we serve may look drastically different, but they’re all a part of a greater plan.
I think the Lord intentionally places believers in all types of areas, doing various things, in order that the fragrance of Christ might permeate all types of industries and vocations. Some of us are anointed to guide within the church. Some of us have been sent to the local school district. Others are sent to the varied offices, retail hubs, restaurants, and manufacturing centers in our community. A number of of us have been sent to be the fragrance of Christ within the halls of presidency, 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 function a type 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 meet.
© John Stange, 2025. Originally published on Bible Study Headquarters. Used with permission.
Photo Credit; ©GettyImages/Anna Frank
John Stange is the Lead Pastor at Core Creek Community Church and a professor at Cairn University where he leads the Digital Media and Communication program. He also leads an internet community called Platform Launchers where he helps people construct message-based online platforms.
John has authored over 30 books and presently hosts several podcasts on the LifeAudio podcast network. His shows have been downloaded thousands and thousands of times by listeners throughout the world.
You can learn more about John’s ministry, books, and podcasts at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com.
