1 Samuel 16 :13 – So 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. And Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
To understand David you have to catch a glimpse of the power and the blessing of the anointing. David was just a child when he was summoned to his house that eventful day by Samuel the prophet. The Lord had told Samuel to go to Jesse’s house and he would be shown who would be the next king of Israel. David was out in the fields watching his father’s sheep when the call came, “David, get to the house, the prophet Samuel is calling for you”. When David came into the house every eye was on him, the Lord said to Samuel, “that’s him”. Samuel anointed the child David with oil and the Holy Spirit came mightily upon David. The Spirit remained on David the rest of his life, this is what made David the great king that he became. Here is how Matthew Henry describes this.
“The advantageous effects of this anointing: the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. The anointing of him was not an empty ceremony but an instituted sign accompanied by divine power, and he found himself inwardly equipped with wisdom, courage, and concern for the community — with all the qualifications of a ruler, although not advanced at all in his outward circumstances. This would fully convince him that his election came from God. The best evidence of our predestination to the kingdom of glory is our being sealed with the Spirit of promise, and our experience of a work of grace in our own hearts. Some think that his courage, by which he killed the lion and the bear, and his extraordinary musical skills were the effects and signs of the Spirit’s coming on him. Be that as it may, he was the sweet psalmist of Israel (2Sa 23:1).”
The same Spirit that had created everything was now resting upon David. You could say that David became a prototype of New Testament Christianity. He was truly a man of the Spirit. He conquered enemies, wrote amazing songs, prophesied of the coming Messiah, and raised up choirs and musicians for twenty-four hour worship at Mount Zion. His worship was different from anything seen in Israel before, God was definitely doing a new thing.
What is our takeaway from the life of David? We all stand in need of the anointing on a daily basis. We need Him to anoint us with His fresh oil everyday until our cup overflows.