Anointing

What do you know about anointing? Have you heard of anointing? Have you seen someone be anointed? Anointing is not something we see much anymore. We especially do not see it done in the same way it was done in Biblical times with oil. Yet, it does happen.

To anoint someone is to consecrate them, to set them apart for God’s purpose. We may see this today during an ordination ceremony of a pastor. The ceremony may or may not use oil. They will almost certainly include laying on of hands and prayer.

When Samuel anointed David to be the next king of Israel, he poured oil over David’s head. He also likely laid his hands on him and prayed over him. Samuel would have asked God to guide David in all he did; to give him strength, courage, wisdom, and discernment to carry out God’s will and lead the people of Israel.

As we see in Scripture, God poured his Spirit upon David. This is a rare instance in the Old Testament in which we see God’s Spirit come upon someone and stay. The prophets of old typically only had the Spirit come over them for a short period of time to give them the message God wanted spoken to the king or people of Israel. David had the Spirit with him for the remainder of his life.

Though we are not anointed in the same way, we are baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Much like David, God’s Spirit comes to live within us. We may feel the Spirit come upon us during our baptism, especially if we are baptized when we are an adult. It can be a transcendental experience. And, like David, we can listen to God’s Spirit for his guidance.

I pray we all know that God has poured out his Spirit. I pray we know that God’s Spirit lives within us. I pray each one of us seeks to listen to the Holy Spirit and follow his guidance. God has poured out his Spirit. God’s Holy Spirit lives in you. Listen for the Holy Spirit. Follow his guidance.

1 Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.