David's Three Anointings

Scripture tells us that King David was anointed three times.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. I Samuel 16:13 (NKJV)

This is the first anointing of David. It is interesting that David, who wasn’t even considered and was overlooked by man, was chosen by God. According the Bible, it appears to be the one and only time that the Prophet Samuel anointed him. God gave David recognition before his family. After this, David faced and conquered Goliath. Satan will challenge God’s anointing on us, but we must face him down and take him down in the anointing of the Lord. Then, David had ongoing trouble with Saul, yet he behaved wisely. Saul pursued David for years, trying to kill him, but God protected David, His anointed one. There is protection in the anointing.

Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.” II Samuel 2:4 (NKJV)

This is the second anointing of David, which occurred after Saul’s death. The tribe of Judah recognized David as God’s choice for their king. David ruled over Judah and waited for God to bring him to the throne of all of Israel at a later time. Seven and a half years passed until that happened. God was still training David. We are constantly in training- at all times and at all levels of our walk. For David, each anointing brought battles, tests, maturing, growth in leadership, and so forth. And his anointing increased at each level. it takes God’s anointing- His power and ability- on our lives for us to be and do what God has for us.

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ” Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. II Samuel 5:1-4 (NKJV)

Finally, Israel anoints David to be king. David was anointed here at age 30, which is the same age that Jesus was anointed into His earhtly ministry. Just like David, Jesus was anointed as King, Priest, and Prophet. Once David was anointed as king over all the tribes, the Philistines came out against him. Opposition came with each anointing. However, he had an anointing to fight and win- and so do we. David defeated the Philistines.

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, II Corinthians 1:21 (NKJV)

God anointed David three times. In addition, David was actually anointed in three offices. In similar fashion, we have been anointed in those same offices as kings, priests, and prophets.

• Kings: We rule in life (Revelation 5:10, Romans 5:17).

• Priests: We minister to God and others (Revelation 5:10)

• Prophets: We are the prophets of our own lives, speaking God’s Word (II Corinthians 4:13, Romans 4:17, 23-24)

Like David, and like Jesus, we are anointed and appointed!