“So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.”
(1 Samuel 16:12-13, NIV)
In the Old Testament, there was an intertwined relationship between kings and priests. This was especially demonstrated and displayed by the relationship between David and Samuel. As a high priest, Samuel stood as the nation’s mediator to the God of Israel. He wasn’t carrying a plain-sailing task. He never ceased interceding for the nations’ king, David. In truth, the whole kingdom of Israel was somehow contingent upon Samuel’s standing with God.
What amazes me is the fact that young David actually grasped the supernatural office of Samuel as his priest. Despite the fact that David himself was a godly-established king over all Israel, he knew that his kingdom wouldn’t have stood so strong if it had not been because Samuel was interceding over his life and people. Even though Samuel wasn’t a military man studied in the art of war-strategies, the warrior David never once failed to seek his counsel. That was what distinguished David from the previous king, Saul, who never took Samuel as seriously. David, however, truly accounted Samuel as his leader. Recognizing the integrity, anointing and spiritual authority of Samuel, David viewed this priestly prophet as his spiritual father.
Similar roles of kings and priests still spiritually apply today. This principle still stands. The welfare of our respective “kingdom”—our daily business—is contingent upon how we account and honor our spiritual fathers. These men and women of God carry out the God-given task to be His representatives, to speak His mind and words into the kings’ lives—into our lives! Allow them to watch over our souls, and God’s kingdom will descend upon our business and His plan will supernaturally unfold.
David successfully recognised that God’s anointing was found on Aaron’s head as the chosen priest of his day and it flowed downwards (Psalm 133:2). He prophesied that every pastor, who is called to be a spiritual priest/father to his people, ought to anoint and teach the businessmen and entrepreneurs under his care to love, serve and obey the Lord Jesus Christ, the living God. A pastor must inspire his church to walk in a deeper dimension with the Holy Spirit, in intimacy and faith just as Samuel did. David’s life, every victory he had seized, even the very intimacy he had with the Holy Spirit, he owed to his “pastor”, Samuel, who planted the godly “seeds” since early in David’s life. David’s resilience, perseverance and faithfulness were all the fruits of Samuel’s mentoring and obedience.
If we zoom in on David’s life, we can’t help but discover the key to his success wasn’t a “what” but a “who”, of course firstly being God. Then it was Samuel who faithfully sowed the Lord’s influence on a “field” called David. When both roles work in harmony in your life, when a king and a priest connect in spirit and in truth, nothing would be too great to overcome and no success too impossible to achieve. Breakthrough wouldn’t present itself if we were arrogantly self-sufficed. A true breakthrough only happens as we tap into God’s powerful anointing for us. And that anointing is on the head of a priest!
by Philip Mantofa
