Category: evil

The Smear of the Holy Spirit

“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.”

1 Samuel 16:13, ESV

I’d like to step back a little. Something quite significant happened when the boy David was anointed by the prophet Samuel. David the shepherd boy had been divinely chosen to become the future king of Israel.

This was a big deal.

And yet it was never mentioned again. We do know that David was anointed a second time when he actually became the king and took the throne. (Check out 2 Samuel 2:4.)

Why two, not exactly sure. Maybe the first was done privately, but the second was done publicly. The first was for the boy, David, and his family. The second was done openly in front of the nation.

It seems to me that both events were incredibly significant.

When David the boy was anointed by Samuel it gave him the power and strength to face Goliath. That first event was one of consecration for it gave David confidence and awareness of his destiny. He now operated with a new awareness that the sovereign God was now with him.

“Before we follow any man we should look for the oil on his forehead.”

A.W. Tozer

I believe that these anointings gave David the awareness of the Father’s special presence to be bold and confident. The second anointing not only placed him as king but also assured the people that David was different. People needed to know that this new king had God’s special touch.

Later on David would sin greatly with Bathsheba and Uriah. Sin diminishes the anointing. Compromising with sin does this; it always drains away God’s favor. (We need to understand this.) David would lose much by turning away from his calling.

That is why Psalm 32 and 51 are quite critical in his (and God’s eyes). David frittered away God’s special touch, but he would regain it by his deep repentance.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.“

Psalm 53:10-11

A Human Tank

“Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! 5 He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. 6 He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. 7 The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.”

1 Samuel 17:4-7, NLT

Goliath was like a human tank. First of all, he was almost twice the size of any other man. Secondly, decked out in his armor he was pretty much “bullet proof.”

The giant wore about 140 pounds of bronze armor, his thick spear weighed over 15 lbs. I guess Goliath wanted to keep it somewhat interesting, He “stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites.”

In the book of 1 Samuel 17 we read that the Israelite camp was “terrified.”

“I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!” 11 When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.”

Any infantry officer will tell you that if you can instill fear the battle is pretty much won. The Philistines already had the upper hand. The terror infected the Israel, in spite of some lucrative inducements no one moved–there still were no volunteers.

But here comes the boy David, “a man after God’s own heart.”

Goliath was arrogant and blasphemous. He believed that the Philistine army was superior in every way, and he was the ultimate Philistine.

How do you handle fear? As a believer do you listen to the enemy lies. If you are a believer (and I assume you are), the enemy has a “contract” out on you. Satan has marked you as a threat to his kingdom, and your fear is incredibly useful to him.

“Fear is born of Satan, and if we would only take time to think a moment we would see that everything Satan says is founded upon a falsehood.”

   A.B. Simpson

“But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from satanic attacks of every kind.”

1 Thessalonians 3:2, LB

Lions and Bears

He looked straight in the eyes of the predator. Lions and bears would be faced down, and the lamb would be freed.

“But David said… “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.” (1 Samuel 17:34-25) 

David understood his duty to protect. When he encountered predators he didn’t retreat, rather he faced them down. He protected the flock, even if the bear or the lion attacked his flock. Perhaps David was being trained to be king?

David carried two weapons. He had a cudgel, a hard stick designed to be a club. He also carried a sling, that could be accurate to 100 yards. He most likely trained with both, until he became lethal. Nothing was left to chance or luck.

In the future, David would face Goliath, and he would be ready.

What David faced down is a clear statement of our own situation. Those around us, family maybe or more, are being attacked by the enemy. He comes and wants to seize them. We must stand in this if we want to rescue them.

We must use the weapons that have been assigned to us.

If we resist and attack, we may overcome the predators, and drive him away. That decision is yours. What you perceive or understand will determine your response, what will you do. Maybe your “rod” or your “sling” will determine the reality of their eternity.

Lions and bears. Both will attack, count on it. Will you be ready, or will you even fight against them?

We dare not minimize their strength, so, we must be ready. So much is riding on us. Will we step up, will we attack the enemy? You must decide what you will do.