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Transformed By Grace

DAVID

Grace represents an anointing that comes upon a person from God. It can also be referred to as an unmerited favour given by God that enables one to do what one could not initially do or become what one cannot naturally become, by the Spirit of God. Grace is a function of the Spirit of God upon a person.

We see the grace of God in the life of David, in how he was lifted from an ordinary Shepherd boy to a King of a Nation - Israel.

DAVID'S ANOINTING

The following scriptures tell us the story of how David was anointed. He was hand picked by God to become king.

1Sam.16.1 - Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons."

1Sam.16.11 - And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here."

1Sam.16.12 - So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"

1Sam.16.13 - Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

We see in these scriptures how God used Samuel (as His Judge, Prophet and Priest) to anoint David, out of all His brothers. But, what exactly made him stand out from his brothers? It was obviously not his physical appearance because God instructed Samuel not to look at the outward appearance, that He looks at the heart. I believe that God saw the humility in David's heart and that confirms the scriptures that talk about God lifting up the humble.

David was referred to as A MAN AFTER GOD'S HEART in the scriptures. He was not perfect, as we see many mistakes he committed in his lifetime but one thing was certain: HE LOVED GOD! He always magnified God in every situation, he always sought out ways to please God and of course, he didn't go unnoticed by God. God decided to reward him by pouring his grace upon him and after the specific event of Samuel physically anointing David, we were told that the Spirit of God came upon David and that unleashed a series of events even before he ascended the throne that shows what God's grace upon a man can do.

GOD'S GRACE AT WORK IN DAVID

David's absolute trust in God was one of a kind. We see from his verbal exchange with Goliath that God's grace upon his life gave him boldness. The testimonies of how God (through the Spirit of God in him) has helped him while caring for his father's sheep to overcome the wild animals by giving him strength were enough to propel him to face Goliath with little or no physical weapon, I mean a sling and stones? I wonder how ridiculous he must have looked to everyone, both the Isrealites and the philistines.

When God's grace upon a person's life is at work, God is always glorified. If David had won the battle with more weapons, probably the essence of the miracle of the fall of Goliath would not have been evident enough. But, he came with a sling and with the NAME OF GOD. In other words, it was not David that fought the battle, but God.

God's grace gives one favour with men. After the fall of Goliath, David's name became widespread to the extent that women began to sing comparing him to King Saul and how he was better than the king.

God's anointing on the life of David was also evident when he played his harp, it was able to pacify the spirit troubling King Saul. This same grace upon David's life made Jonathan, Saul's first son to have a soul tie with David, a love so strong that he was willing to lay down his life and throne for David even though traditionally, he was meant to succeed his father's throne.

God's anointing on David made him a threat to King Saul who sought out ways to kill him but God's grace protected Him. Because he was anointed to be king, God protected him from harm and instead delivered King Saul into his hands, a couple of times (I believe to test him) but He never touched the King because he believed he had no right to harm or kill one anointed by God to become King. Do you see where we are going? This shows how right David's heart was and why he continually experienced many levels of God's grace in his lifetime prior to and after becoming king.

DAVID'S LOVE FOR GOD

The love David had for God was doubtless. He knew that without God's anointing upon his life, he was as good as nothing. He could not afford to take pride in himself and lose the anointing as Saul did.

We see evidence of how much he loved God in many scriptures especially in the book of psalms and in the account of his dance when the Ark of God was being returned. Even though he was a king, he danced with careless abandon to the extent that his wife mocked him and ignited God's anger upon her so that He locked her womb and she became barren. This is an evidence of how God does not joke with those upon whom He bestows his Grace and anointing.

David's love for God made him have a repentant heart anytime God showed his displeasure in his actions. An example is his adultery with Bathsheba resulting in him arranging the death of her husband - Uriah, when David got to know that she was pregnant. When God sent the prophet Nathan to let him know that he was angry with Him, instead of being defensive, David was broken and had a contrite heart. Again this emphasises the humility in David's heart and why he continuously enjoyed the grace of God in his life.

LESSON

As the story of David has shown, in contrast to the life of Saul, when we realise God's grace or anointing upon our lives, it is a transformation call to have humility in our hearts and a change in our outlook to life. It is a call to living a life dedicated to pleasing God by being obedient to His instructions. Grace is not given to feed our ego nor relish in fame and in the praise of people. It is given to the Glorifying of God. 

Remember, "Obedience is better than sacrifice."

© Blessing Enofe 2021