NO ONE CAN TAKE WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED YOU

There was a definite sense of excited bedlam as Jesse hurried his sons in their preparations; after all this wasn’t just any old middling preacher that had called them to the sacrifice.

This was Samuel.

“Good grief,” Eliab muttered. “Where is that little squirt?”
“Daaavid!”
“What now?” David asked.
“I thought I told you to have this shirt pressed: You call this ironing?”
“What am I, a maid? Do it yourself!”
“What part of sanctified do you not get? Why can’t you get it through that red head of yours that Pastor Samuel told us not to do any ordinary work: One of us is going to be anointed today.”
“Please forgive me, be it far from me to cause the future king to become unsanct….”
“Quit sassing your brother young man. Just why are you not tending those sheep like I told you,” asked Jesse as he fretted with Abinadab’s tie.
“But all I was tryin……”
“Don’t but me son; I am trying to teach you responsibility. As the younger brother to the future King of Israel you’re going to have to learn some manners!”
“O my goodness: It’s time to go—David, go saddle the camels!”

And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2 And Samuel said, How can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. —1 Samuel 16:1-5

Samuel had a clear word from the Lord, “I have chosen one of Jesse’s sons to be King: Go and anoint him.” It is clear from the text that Samuel sent word for Jesse to meet him in Bethlehem in order to have his sons sanctified for the sacrifice. To be sanctified meant among other things to withdraw from ordinary secular work. Where was David in all of this?

Keeping ordinary sheep.

David was overlooked and lightly esteemed, yet chosen by God and heavily anointed. Even Samuel missed it to start off with: “Samuel looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him” (16:6). The word looked is the same word provided: “I have provided me a king among his sons.” David had experienced a face to face encounter with the Lord in which he was commanded to be King of Israel before Samuel ever arrived in Bethlehem. “…the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people…” (13:14).

David had been appointed king before he was anointed king by Samuel: “He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds” (Psalms 78:70). By the time of Saul’s second sin God had given the kingdom to David: “And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou” (1 Samuel 15:28).

The truth is, David did not need Samuel to tell him he was going to be King of Israel: He already knew this from the Lord. Samuel confirmed to David that he would be King. A true prophet does not give direction; he confirms direction—especially in the New Testament. If a “prophet” tells you something that the Lord has not already told you, that prophet is operating in witchcraft.

What great grace has the Lord revealed to you concerning his call on your life? If he has spoken it, he will surly bring it to pass. You may be discounted by all those who know you, but no one can take what God has promised you!