For 40 Days – Day 18: Intimidation: Concepts

Key Episode Scripture: 1 Samuel chapters 16-18

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 ESVUK)

The challenge was simple. This warfare doesn’t require all of us; it can just be a one-on-one contest. That challenge set an army in retreat daily for 40 days. This episode would introduce to the nation of Israel their new true champion. What are the underlying concepts that make this episode so fascinating, and why cover the chapter before and the chapter after? We noted some contextual factors about the episode before outlining the content. Here are two key concepts to explore.

Leadership Matters

The request for a king showed the people’s lack of trust in God. Yet, it still mattered to God how His people were led. The episode draws contrasts between Saul and David. Indeed, it sets up the issues between the two that would last for years. Saul was the first human king of Israel, and he started well. Now, however, his position was in jeopardy, not because anyone was challenging his position but because he knew he was rejected by the one who called him to be king.

The contrast between Saul at the start of his reign and this stage is fittingly seen in the issue of battle. When a group of people had been looking to intimidate a certain area in Israel, it enraged Saul to the point of threatening anyone who didn’t follow him in going and battling for them. When his army is intimidated by one man, Israel’s king is notable for his absence on the frontline. Saul is giving his people leadership by example in being afraid of the threat. There is a very good reason for that, which we’ll discover later. Meanwhile, it’s intriguing how Saul is depicted before, during and after this episode. Though there are moments of clarity, Saul is usually under the cloud of being tormented. Before the Philistine victory, a spirit from God tormented him. When the Philistines were defeated, David tormented Saul, knowing more and more that David had something that made him special. Something Saul had a good knowledge about.

From the time he was anointed, David’s approach contrasted with Saul’s. He led by an example of going and doing what pleased God. This was recognised by the army, the royal palace and the people. They knew from the time he chopped off the head of the big guy that he was a man of action. He would have great conquests and be known to go out and return victorious wherever he went. This ability to up and do set him well as a leader – as a king – well before the incumbent was eventually removed from the throne. His exemplary leadership by example model made him such a notable figure and began with what he did to end 40 days of intimidation.

Anointing Matters

The aspect of leadership matters also reveals the importance of anointing. The idea of anointing should appeal to those who like to know that people can accomplish what they accomplish because they’ve been selected and equipped to accomplish it.

How God selects is also worth noting. God highlights to Samuel how He chooses plays to a theme frequently presented in the scripture of God choosing the unlikely person to be His chosen. Even Israel as a nation was chosen not because of anything particularly outstanding about them. God chose them to be His beacon to the world largely because it was His opportunity to display His glory through an unlikely small group of seemingly nondescript people. Similarly, while Samuel thought Saul’s successor would be a big, strapping, attractive man like Saul, God focused on internal matters.

Anointing was God establishing who was specifically equipped to accomplish what He desired. It is still important to understand that whatever is done for God is done by those called and equipped by God to do so. That’s particularly evident in David’s approach to ending the 40 days of intimidation. David’s approach reflects what happens when those chosen and equipped by God go and accomplish great feats. It’s noted that David operates on the premise that the battle is God, so He doesn’t need to look like the Soldier of the Year arrayed in armoury and weaponry that sets an army in disarray – God can get the job by rocking this supposed big guy in appointing a man who knew how to get ahead in the world.

This once more made the key distinction between Saul and David. Saul knew what it was to be anointed by God. Saul could recall how to accomplish great deeds by the power of God. Now, Saul knew something very different from God. He knew what it was to be rejected. He knew what it was to hold a position and desire its trappings but lacked God’s power to function effectively in it. His kingdom thrived because the real anointed one was operating in his calling, relying totally on God. Saul’s continued plotting and scheming against a man who only sought to honour him further exposed the difference in the two men’s demeanours and relationship with God. The approach of both men to the intimidating tactics of Goliath also reinforced how those who operate by the power of God differ from those who don’t.

Next, we will draw some conclusions from this episode, highlighting how acknowledging the one true God breaks the power of fear.

For His Name’s Sake

C. L. J. Dryden

Shalom