December 13

December 13

Ornament with horn dripping oil

Today’s ornament is a horn dripping oil.  Do you know why someone would have a horn dripping with oil?  It was used to anoint people, or pour oil, to symbolize the person being set apart.  Today we are going to talk about Samuel, and how God worked through his life.

First of all, tell me everything you know about Samuel:

(Hannah’s son; heard God’s voice; speak Lord, for your servant is listening, told Eli his sons were wicked; priest when Saul was king; hacked Agag to pieces; told Saul kingdom had been ripped from him; anointed David as next king)

Our reading for today is from 1 Samuel 16:1-13:

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.” 2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.” 4 So Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?” 5 He said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”

12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

Samuel is not in the list of Jesus’ descendants, but this ornament is included in most lists of Jesse Tree ornaments.  Can anyone guess why?  Because God used Samuel and his ram’s horn of oil to anoint the king, foreshadowing the coming King, our Messiah.

Samuel went against King Saul by traveling to Bethlehem, but he was guided by faith and obedience.  The scene is like that of a fairy tale.  The oldest, most handsome sons are paraded by.  Surely God would choose one of the oldest or biggest or strongest!  Each time, God says, “Not this one.”  After SEVEN sons go by, Samuel asks, “Is this all?  Is there another son somewhere?”  David, the youngest, was not even invited to the sacrifice; he was left in the field to tend the sheep!   

Once again, God chose an unlikely candidate for His work.  David was the youngest brother, and honor usually went to the oldest.  He was still a boy, and he was a shepherd!  

This is a reminder that God does not see as we see.  We tend to look at outward appearances, but God looks at the heart.  David’s heart wasn’t perfect, but God did see the same faith which was present in Rahab and Ruth and Abraham.  It was credited to him as righteousness.  

Raising his horn, Samuel pours the thick oil over David’s head, ceremonially and spiritually consecrating this child for God’s holy work.  A shepherd king was anointed, symbolizing the future Shepherd King, the Ancient of Days.