David Anointed King

Scripture

Today we begin a sermon series on “The Life of David.”

John Butler writes, “David was a man of many hats. He was a king, a warrior and a shepherd as most realize; but he also wore other hats….He was a son…a shepherd…a singer…a servant…a soldier…a sufferer…a seer…a supplicant…a scholar…a sovereign…a sire…a spouse…a sinner…a saint…and a savior who delivered Israel from their foes better than any other king of Israel ever did, and who foreshadows the Great Savior, Jesus Christ, Who was born in David’s Bethlehem and of the seed of David and Who is referred to some dozen times in Scripture as the ‘Son of David.’ ”

David’s story begins in 1 Samuel 16, where we read that God sent Samuel to anoint David as the next king of Israel.

So, let’s read about David being anointed as king in 1 Samuel 16:1-13:

1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16:1-13)

Introduction

The pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church. We have not had many popes in recent decades. The way in which the pope is selected is fascinating to me. As I understand it, all eligible cardinals (under the age of 80) gather in a private meeting in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope when the previous pope has died or resigned. A papal election is called a conclave. Once the conclave begins, the cardinals are not allowed to leave or have any communication with the outside world until the pope is selected. A cardinal must receive a 2/3 majority of the votes to be declared the next pope. There are four ballots per day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Voting can take many days before a pope is selected. Voting is done on paper ballets which, once recorded, are burned in a small stove in the chapel. Chemicals are added to the burning to produce either black smoke or white smoke. White smoke coming from the chimney is a sign to the massive crowds outside that a new pope has been elected.

According to Roman Catholic Church doctrine, the conclave is guided by God. But, as one cardinal told the National Catholic Reporter’s John Allen, “I was never whapped on the head by the Holy Spirit. I had to make the best choice I could, based on information available.”

King Saul was the first king of Israel. However, God’s rejection of Saul paved the way for the selection of a new king, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). God directed his prophet Samuel to go and anoint this new king.