Be—and Stay—the Anointed of the Lord!

​In his discussion of the battle between David and Goliath (in 1 Samuel 17) in his book Evangelism by Fire: Keys for Effectively Reaching Others with the Gospel, Reinhard Bonnke describes various categories of character types found on both sides of the battle lines in the Valley of Elah. I found his reflection on the three types of characters within Israel’s camp—the anointed, the un-anointed, and the ex-anointed—particularly insightful for us today.
 
The Anointed
 
The anointed refer to those on whom God’s manifest presence and power rested. Unfortunately, only one individual fit the bill in the valley that day—David. Recall when the Lord directed the prophet Samuel to seek David out and anoint him: “So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David” (1 Samuel 16:13).
 
David’s attitude and conduct on the battlefield—including his victory over Goliath—clearly distinguished him as the Lord’s anointed. Despite his obvious skills and charisma, David did nothing in his own strength but relied entirely on God. David cared only to honor and glorify God. It wasn’t bravado or overweening confidence that led him to challenge Goliath, but the fire of the Holy Spirit in him.
 
The Un-anointed
 
The un-anointed included Eliab, David’s oldest brother, and, it seemed, pretty much all of the Israelite army present that day in the valley. If looks could deceive, then Eliab was a prime example. Even Samuel, the seasoned servant of God, was fooled! Recall when the sons of Jesse were paraded before Samuel in Bethlehem: “When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:6-7).
 
Moreover, the un-anointed often stand in the way of the anointed, as did Eliab when David—who Eliab seemed to despise—asked among the troops for details concerning Goliath’s challenge (1 Samuel 17:28-29). But it wasn’t just Eliab and the troops that quivered in fear before Goliath. Even King Saul and his generals, including the great Abner, hid in their tents. Not a single one of those seasoned warriors, all valiant men with proven battle experience, dared face Goliath. They remind me of The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything—Larry the Cucumber, Mr. Lunt the Gourd, and Pa Grape—from VeggieTales!
 
The Ex-anointed
 
The ex-anointed refer to those on whom God’s manifest presence and power once rested but no longer. King Saul is one of the saddest figures in Holy Writ. He started well but subsequently lacked the will to stay faithful to God and, as a result, finished badly. He began in the power of God’s anointing, with the Spirit of the Lord coming powerfully upon him (1 Samuel 11:6). However, because of his subsequent rebellion and continued unrepentance (1 Chronicles 10:13-14), God’s anointing no longer rested on Saul once the Holy Spirit departed from him (1 Samuel 16:14). When that happened, Saul went from anointed to ex-anointed.
 
Another ex-anointed figure, arguably, was the priest Eli, who no longer heard from God despite having led Israel for 40 years, and whose final contribution was to coach the young Samuel in hearing from the Lord (1 Samuel 3). Eli would end his life and career on a tragic note, falling and breaking his neck upon learning the ark of God had been captured by the Philistines.
 
The Re-anointed?
 
And yet, perhaps there’s good news for the ex-anointed! True repentance restores a right relationship with God. Another ex-anointed figure that has long intrigued me is the strongman Samson. Playing fast and footloose with sin despite being Israel’s judge, Samson’s presumption that God’s anointing would continue to stay with him was woefully erroneous. Indeed, he wasn’t even aware God had left him—as reflected in the loss of his inhuman strength (Judges 16:20). Yet, after his hair had regrown, he sought the Lord and performed one final amazing feat and killed more Philistines on that day than he’d ever done previously (Judges 16:30).
 
Samson experienced the return of God’s anointing and favor, but did he repent before God? It’s not apparent, but anything is possible with our Lord (Luke 1:37)! Samson acknowledged God as his “Sovereign Lord” (Judges 16:28), which may possibly indicate the condition of his heart. The ex-anointed would do well to recall David’s prayer of repentance: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalm 51:10-12).
 
Be (and Stay) Anointed!
 
It’s not too far fetched to suggest that many in the Church today comprise the un-anointed. Folks with hearts and spirits like that of David are far and few between. But there’s good news! As Peter, quoting the words of the prophet Joel, told the crowds in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit of God came upon the Church in a mighty way: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18). God will pour His Spirit on all people, including the un-anointed!
 
Peter’s message on that day to his “global” audience—Jews from every nation under heaven (Acts 2:5)—was this: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39). The promise of the impartation of God’s Spirit is for us and the global audience, international students from every nation under heaven, to whom we’re called to minister!
 
The anointing of God is therefore not reserved for select folks like King David, but for everyone whom the Lord calls. The only condition for His anointing to remain in us is that, like David, we continue to abide in Christ and He in us (John 15:4). But if we choose not to remain in Him, we become like branches that wither and are thrown into the fire and burned (John 15:6)—much like King Saul’s tragic tale. But as Samson’s story suggests, God is ever ready to re-anoint the ex-anointed, so long as they return to Him!  

---