Between Anointment and Appointment – Part 1

JUST NOT THERE YET

Do you have a dream in your heart, a calling on your life, or an aspiration for your future?

Are you there yet?

If you answered yes to the first question, and no to the second, welcome to the club!

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that there is a big dream, deep in my heart, and while I can see God is guiding me gradually towards it, opening doors and windows to lead the way, I’m not quite there yet.

And that’s OK!

What I’m learning is that the time between dream and reality is actually part of God’s plan!

These “in-between” seasons have become a recurring theme in my time spent with God this year. We have even explored them here on Salt & Grace in the story of Joseph in Genesis; a young boy with a big dream that took 20-years to manifest.

I’m so grateful that God continues to teach me about the nature of the wait and process through different bible stories and scriptures. I’ve come to understand that this time is not an accident; it doesn’t mean that God has forgotten us or that the dream needs to be reevaluated or second-guessed. No way!

God uses this time to prepare us, teach us, mould us, grow us, refine us and position us.

It’s a time we should not wish or pray away.

It’s a time rich with learning and benefits.

Knowing that God doesn’t operate in coincidences, when this theme resurfaced as I was reading the story of David in 1 Samuel, I knew God had something great within the pages that would speak straight to my dreaming, waiting heart.

And boy was I right!

As I read David’s story in those early years after he is anointed as the future king of Israel, from 1 Samuel 16 to 1 Samuel 19, God peeled back layers to reveal gold; deeply encouraging me about the purpose and nature of that time between the birthing of a dream to the point when it becomes your present reality.

If you too find yourself at this point on the journey, or know of someone who is; my prayer is that the words that follow will speak to and encourage your heart to continue to pursue and pioneer.

DAVID: ANOINTED (BUT NOT YET APPOINTED)

In 1 Samuel 16:1-13 we read the story of David, the son of Jesse, anointed as the future King of Judah and Israel by the prophet Samuel.

David was the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons and in these verses, he is described as “ruddy with beautiful eyes and a good appearance.” At this point in the story David was out in the field shepherding Jesse’s flock.

After Samuel anoints David in verse 13, guess what David does…

He goes back to the field; back to tending the flock; back to his everyday work!

Put yourself in David’s shoes for a moment: one day he is out in the field, looking after his father’s flock, playing his lyre. It was a day that started like any other day.

But then someone from his household rushes out to meet him, insisting he return to the house at once. The great prophet, Samuel, was in his house and asking for him.

Intrigued? Confused? Unsure? Scared?

{Perhaps all of the above}

David obeys and returns to his home where Samuel anoints him as the future king over Israel and Judah, in front of his seven older brothers and his father.

The Spirit of the Lord comes on David.

Samuel leaves.

David returns to the field.

The field is the same. The flock is the same. But David is different.

He now has this giant anointing on his life. He is now a future king! But his reality and his circumstances are unchanged.

I wonder how David must have felt at this point in the story, between his anointment as king and his appointment as king; between working in his father’s field to sitting on the throne. Especially when the position of king was currently filled by a man named Saul!

What do you do when there is a divine calling on your life, but you find yourself in a seemingly unimportant field, workplace, stage of life? Or there appear to be insurmountable barriers between you and your dream?

Nothing had changed for David. You could even forgive him for wondering if it was all a dream or a mistake. Perhaps God had changed His mind or Samuel was wrong?

From the outside looking in, David was staying put, stuck in the field. But God was on the move.

Let’s look at what we can learn from David when it comes to the time between anointment and appointment…

1. GOD IS ALWAYS ON THE MOVE

Even if it doesn’t look like it; even if we can’t see it!

We can see in 1 Samuel 16:14-23 that while David was back in the field, God was orchestrating David’s entrance into Saul’s service. God was creating a need in Saul’s team that only David could fill.

In 1 Samuel 16:14 it says that “…the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord terrified him.”

Saul’s servants have the great idea to employ someone to play the lyre for Saul in the hope it would calm him during these fits of fear and rage.

Guess whose name comes up for the job…David’s!

In 1 Samuel 16:18 one of Saul’s servants says, “I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is experienced in playing music, a mighty man of valor, a man of battle, and skilful in words, even a man of fine appearance, and the Lord is with him.”

Interesting.

Despite David being in a seemingly unimportant field, doing a job that was actually among the lowest and least regarded in society (a shepherd), his reputation preceded him because God was with him!

David had been doing his unimportant job so well, protecting the flock from beasts like bears and lions, operating with integrity and with a pure servant heart; and it bode well for him; it opened the door to a role in the king’s house!

See what can happen when we are faithful with the small, seemingly unimportant roles and seasons in life – God moves on our behalf, creating space and positions that he then opens doors to.

So, take heart friend. That job you’re in or that volunteer role you serve in may not seem like much to you. But outwork it and serve in it faithfully and do it to the best of your ability! Because in the background God is working to prepare the next step for you.

It may seem like nothing is happening for you; but God is ALWAYS on the move!

2. GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US

It is famously said of Joseph throughout his story in the book of Genesis that “The Lord was with him.” In fact, it is said seven times!

God was with Joseph and as a result, Joseph had great success wherever he went, whether that was as a servant in Potiphar’s household, or as the manager of a prison he was confined in.

Why am I telling you about Joseph when we’re talking about David?

Well, let’s take a look at what is said of David throughout 1 Samuel:

• 1 Samuel 16:13 “And the Spirit of the Lord came on David from that day forward.”
• 1 Samuel 16:18 “And the Lord is with him [David].”
• 1 Samuel 18:12 “Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him…”
• 1 Samuel 18:28 “When Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David…”

Are you catching my drift?

The Lord was with David, every step of the way. From the moment he was anointed, right through to his appointment as King in 2 Samuel chapter 2. God was with David in the field when he was caring for his father’s flock AND in the palace when he was playing the lyre for Saul.

God was with David.

Similarly, God is with you and me!

The bible reminds us of this truth over and over again:

• Deuteronomy 31:8 “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
• Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
• John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (KJV)
• Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

There are many more, trust me!

So, let me encourage you with this thought: if God was with Joseph and he became second-in-charge over Egypt and saved the Egyptians and surrounding nations from death by famine…

And God was with David and he went on to become the greatest king the scriptures have ever known…

And God is with you…what will you do?!

Need help with your answer? Take a look at what it says in Ephesians 3:20-21 (MSG):

“God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”

So now that you can be confident that God is with you; hang on to Him and trust that what He has ins tore for you will exceed your wildest expectations, and even that dream on your heart!

Sidebar: if you find yourself unsure of what dreams lay in your heart or doubt that there is a divine anointing on your life, take a look at what it says in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22: “He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come…”

Yep! You’re anointed!

 {SELAH} THERE’S MORE TO COME…

I’m going to pause this blog here for now, purely because I want to save your thumb from scrolling.

There’s a few more points to come so let’s pick this up next week. David’s time between anointment and appointment still has much to teach us.

For now, ponder that mighty big question above: God is with you, just like He was with Joseph and David, so I dare you to imagine what He will do with and through you. Consider what that could be; and then prepare to see God exceed it!

Until next time x