Saul becomes the first anti-anointed one due to his conflict with God and lack of responsibility.
David demonstrates patience, trust, and obedience as God's anointed, contrasting with Saul's failures.
David's victories over Goliath and refusal to harm Saul highlight his faithfulness and loyalty as God's anointed.
Deep dives
The Anointed One in Israel's History
The podcast explores the concept of anointing and focuses on the anointed kings of Israel, Saul and David. Saul, the first anointed king, becomes the first anti-anointed in the Bible. David is anointed to be the replacement, and an important theme emerges that the anointed one must trust in God's word patiently, even in the face of suffering. David succeeds where Saul failed, and the story highlights the importance of trusting in God's wisdom and waiting for God's timing.
The Rivalry Between Saul and David
The rivalry between Saul and David is explored, as Saul turns into the anti-anointed one. David is anointed privately and goes on to face tests and temptations. While Saul fails his tests, David remains faithful. The story emphasizes the importance of honoring God's anointed one, even in the face of conflict and jealousy. David shows patience and trust in God's plan, while Saul's downfall is a result of his own choices and lack of trust in God's word.
David's Victories Over the Snake and Saul
The stories of David's victories over Goliath and Saul highlight his faith and loyalty to God. David kills the giant snake-like Goliath and refuses to crush Saul, who has become the anti-anointed one. These victories demonstrate David's obedience to God's will and his trust that God will bring about justice. David's actions contrast with Saul's failure to trust in God's word, and the stories highlight the importance of patience, faith, and waiting for God's timing.
The Test of the Anointed Ones
The stories of Saul and David serve as tests of the anointed ones. While both are anointed, David successfully passes his tests, displaying trust and obedience to God, while Saul fails his tests through fear and disobedience. David's victories over the snake-like Goliath and the temptation to harm Saul show his faithfulness and respect for God's anointed. The stories highlight the challenges and responsibilities that come with being anointed and the need to remain faithful to God's word.
Lessons from David's Story
David's story provides insights into the concept of the anointed one and the importance of trusting in God's plan. The narrative shows that being anointed comes with tests and challenges that require faith, patience, and obedience. David's victories and show of mercy towards Saul highlight the qualities of a true anointed one. The story emphasizes the need to honor God's anointed and to wait for God's timing, as well as the consequences of disobedience. David's story serves as a model for future anointed ones and points towards the ultimate anointed one, Jesus.
Israel’s first anointed king, Saul, consistently makes choices that put him in conflict with God and the responsibilities God has entrusted to him. This turns Saul into the first anti-anointed one—or put another way, the first antichrist. In this episode, Tim and Jon explore the theme of anointing in the stories of Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David.
You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.
Show Music
“Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
“Never Felt the Same” by Sleepy Fish
“Excellent” by Propaganda
“Evening Flight” by Sam Stewart
Show produced by Cooper Peltz with Associate Producer Lindsey Ponder, Lead Editor Dan Gummel, and Editors Tyler Bailey and Frank Garza. Mixed by Tyler Bailey. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by Hannah Woo.
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