Biblical Definition of “Anointed”

[Christ4Ever]

But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?" 1 Samuel 26:9 NKJV

What or who is “the Lord’s anointed”? Like many biblical questions, we’re often tempted to raise our hands, wave them eagerly smile big and answer, “Jesus!”

In Exodus, Moses received the Lord’s instructions about anointing Aaron, his sons, and other Levites as well as the furniture and fixtures within the tabernacle. In Leviticus, Moses carried out those instructions.

In Judges, Gideon’s youngest son, Jotham, talked about other nations anointing their kings. In 1 Samuel 2:10 (NIV), Hannah ends her prayer of thanksgiving with this declaration: the Most High Lord “will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” This foreshadows the anointing of the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David, which happens in 1 Samuel 10:1 and 16:13.

So significant is “the Lord’s anointed” that David spared Saul’s life in 1 Samuel 24 and again here in 1 Samuel 26. This is true even though Saul earlier had scores of anointed priests slaughtered in 1 Samuel 22. Saul’s terrible wickedness did not give David any justification to execute judgment. The Lord Himself will take care of that.

Best of all? In the end, the Lord Himself became the “Anointed One”—later translated “Messiah” and still later “Christ.”

Prayer: Lord, You want me to reverence and worship Jesus, the ultimate Anointed One. I do!

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?" 1 Samuel 26:9 NKJV

What or who is “the Lord’s anointed”? Like many biblical questions, we’re often tempted to raise our hands, wave them eagerly smile big and answer, “Jesus!”

In Exodus, Moses received the Lord’s instructions about anointing Aaron, his sons, and other Levites as well as the furniture and fixtures within the tabernacle. In Leviticus, Moses carried out those instructions.

In Judges, Gideon’s youngest son, Jotham, talked about other nations anointing their kings. In 1 Samuel 2:10 (NIV), Hannah ends her prayer of thanksgiving with this declaration: the Most High Lord “will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” This foreshadows the anointing of the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David, which happens in 1 Samuel 10:1 and 16:13.

So significant is “the Lord’s anointed” that David spared Saul’s life in 1 Samuel 24 and again here in 1 Samuel 26. This is true even though Saul earlier had scores of anointed priests slaughtered in 1 Samuel 22. Saul’s terrible wickedness did not give David any justification to execute judgment. The Lord Himself will take care of that.

Best of all? In the end, the Lord Himself became the “Anointed One”—later translated “Messiah” and still later “Christ.”

Prayer: Lord, You want me to reverence and worship Jesus, the ultimate Anointed One. I do!

And because of Jesus, You, we are the anointed ones as well.