2 Men, Obedience and Anointing–01 December 2021

                I awakened this morning, determined that I would get past my morning routine, and immediately begin writing my blog post for this week.  My thoughts galloping ahead of me, ready to jump the hurdles of procrastination, distractions, and what to write—they seem anxious to appear on the page.  But…the topic caused me to reign in and balk. 

                I retreat visiting my favorite distraction, World-of-Solitaire.  I drink the coffee my husband unexpectedly delivered to me.  My mind wrestles with knowing I need to find a canter to my typing and get this project done. 

                The topic is how obedience and anointing are tied together.  First, I want to define what it means to obey and to anoint.   

I am using the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. 

Obey means:

• 1: to follow the commands or guidance of; example–He always obeys his parents.
• 2: to conform to or comply with obey an order; example–Falling objects obey the laws of physics.

Anoint means:  

• 1: to smear or rub with oil or an oily substance
• 2a: to apply oil to as part of a religious ceremony; example–The priest anointed the sick.
• b: to choose by or as if by divine election:  example–anoint him as his successor
• also; to designate as if by a ritual anointment: example–Critics have anointed her as an important new literary figure.

The definition of anointing is an action, applying oil, or choosing.  But as a Christian, anointing actually symbolizes an imparting of the Holy Spirit.  Equally, it signifies a setting apart of a person for God and His purposes.  The prophet Samuel anointed both Saul and David to be king. 

Just because someone has undergone the ceremony of anointing, doesn’t mean that everything that he/she does, or doesn’t do, is acceptable to God.  Real anointing is actually being filled with and subject to the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit whispers the direction of God, and we obey out of love.  However, disobedience will cost us.  We lose our relationship with God.  We lose all that God has promised us.

Saul showed his lack of understanding, his lack of trust in God, by his disobedience.  His first instance of disobedience was in Gilgal.  He saw that the people were beginning to leave.  Instead of waiting for Samuel, Saul offered sacrifice without the prophet.  He was forbidden to do this.  Because of his presumption, Saul lost the kingdom.

 Saul’s second occasion of disobedience was when God instructed him to utterly destroy Amalek.  Instead of killing the king of the Amalekites, he kept him alive.  He also saved all the choice livestock.  Samuel was not amused when he arrived to find Saul justifying the taking of plunder.  Saul excused his choice, saying it was sacrifice. 

It is at this point that Samuel spoke the famous words: “^{22 …} “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.  ²³ For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He also has rejected you from being king.” (1 Samuel 15).

Saul repented, because he got caught.  He didn’t admit that he was wrong. 

After Saul’s first fiasco, Samuel informed him that the Lord had sought out a man after His own heart.  That was the young man, David.  David had a proven record of trust with God.  He was a worshipper of the Lord.  God blessed David’s obedience. 

Yet, David also sinned.  The difference is that David never justified his sin.  He took responsibility for his sin.  “¹⁷ And David said to God, “Was it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, O Lord my God, be against me and my father’s house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.” (1 Chronicles 21)

After David’s liaison with Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan confronted David.  David did not deny his actions.  God asks David, “Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, doing evil?”  To which David replies, “I have sinned against the Lord.”  David was grieved at the results of his sin.  Although David suffered the consequences of his choice, and God’s disciple, David continued to worship God and seek His face. 

I am thankful for the examples I find in the Bible.  They teach me that it is okay to not be perfect.

As I examine my heart and mind, I wish I could say that I am obedient.  Not just obedient, but immediately obedient.  But I must be honest.  There are times that I am just thankful that I am eventually obedient because I experience the empowering of the Holy Spirit in those moments.