ANOINTED FOR SERVICE
A Prophecy of Jesus
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of lJesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. (Isaiah 11:1, ESV)
It was from the humble household of Jesse that Israel’s earthly king, chosen by God would emerge. From this Davidic lineage, a root from the stump of Jesse, our Messiah King would also, in the fullness of time come. The majestic and noteworthy reign of David would, in the passage of time be long faded and assigned to the pages of the Chronicles of Kings in Jewish history. Many centuries later what was foretold of the rightful eternal Messiah King came to past. Jesus was born into a lowly Jewish family. He did not emerge into any of the grandeur of past royal households nor did He benefit from any of the trappings from the Courts of King David. Jesus was an enigma, a symbol of a lowly suffering servant. Misunderstood and rejected by humankind He moved ominously against the course of temple life, always at odds with the leaders. “He was despised and rejected by mankind, “a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem” (Isaiah 53:3).
His eternal Kingly mission was to set up His Kingdom reign in the hearts of men. It was a strategic mandate to reconcile mankind back to God the Father. The eternal blood covenant would necessitate the sacrificing of our Lord, heaven’s Pascal Lamb. Though docile and willing, the time would come when our Lord would rise in His Kingly authority to destroy the opposers of His Kingdom rule. “He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.” (Isaiah 11:4, BSB). His Messianic authority would shatter kings and bring to ruin the lineage of ruthless mighty kingdoms intent on destroying the Testimony of Jesus. The prophecies concerning our Lord’s earthly mandate came to pass as He read the scrolls handed to Him in the temple. He announced His mission to redeem, deliver and heal His people. “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,” (Luke 4:18, BSB)
Chosen By God
Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”
Here we have the account of Samuel the prophet sent to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem, to consecrate him and his sons who were invited to a banquet, as directed by the Lord. The rejection of King Saul would make way for David, enabling the fulfilment of the prophecy concerning Jesus’ heritage coming out of Jessie’s ancestral root. “Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.” (Isaiah 11:1, BSB). King Saul was never God’s choice but he was anointed on the demands made by the people of Israel for a king. Israel was a nation without an earthly king. They demanded to be like the surrounding nations with their kings and God permitted them King Saul..
Long before this scene is played out in Jesse’ house, God had determined that David would be the first king of His choice over Israel. Saul was a substitute-king occupying a position in the meantime. God makes it clear that David was His choice to look over His people. He loved David’s heart as he lovingly watched over and cared for his father’s sheep. The qualities that God looks for in the heart of His chosen servant is not always seen or appreciated by others. In fact, it is usually those very qualities that causes other to show contempt and jealousy towards that chosen individual.
The Flask of Oil
“Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over His people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies.” (1 Samuel 10:1, ESV).
The anointing oil used to anoint Saul flowed from a flask. The Hebrew word (H6378) ‘pak’ gives us a ‘vial’ or ‘flask’. The original word of ‘pak’ comprises the Hebrews letters ‘Kaph’ and ‘Pey’. To bring a broader context to ‘flask or vial’, let us briefly unpack these two letters. ‘Kaph’ is the 11th letter of the Hebrew Alphabet with a numerical value of 20. Firstly, 20 biblically is a completion or fulfilment of a period. Usually it can denote the end of suffering or a tested period. For Israel, the time of being without a king being mocked by the hostile nations was ending. It was a season of national transition. ’Kaph’ also means ‘palm-grip’ or better explained, to be in the palm of God’s hand. Kaph’s reference to a ‘spoon’ indicates to ‘bend over’ in submission and humility to a higher power. The reference to a ‘crown’ offers the idea of ‘kingship’ A carrier of such authority is required to be compassionate and understanding without showing contempt for the people. Further, the position of authority requires reverential fear and submission first to the Eternal God.
‘Pey’. Is the 17th letter of Hebrew gematria with a numerical value of 80 meaning ‘leadership and strength of character’. ‘Pey’ translates ‘mouth’, to ‘pour forth’ or to ‘speak’. It provides us with revelatory knowledge that gives enlightenment . ‘Pey’ is a prophetic letter, hence why in this prophetic decade of ‘Pey’ the world is being transformed by the Spirit of Prophecy. We see in this verse the Spirit of the prophetic ministry at work for Saul. “Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be transformed into a different person. (7) When these signs have come, do as the occasion demands, for God is with you” (1 Samuel 10 6-7, BSB). In the company of the prophesying prophets, Saul was spiritually elevated and transformed by the Holy Spirit. A prophetic impartation in the company of prophesying prophets would change Saul in readiness for his kingly reign. He poured forth from his mouth the prophetic utterances as he was rapturously caught up in the glorious atmospheric transforming experience. There is no higher calling or honour than to be chosen and anointed by God for service. It is to be held in high esteem in a lowly posture of grateful praise and thanksgiving.
The Ram’s Horn of Oil
Strong’s (H7161) ‘qeren’ gives us a ‘horn’. There is also translations of ‘strength’ and ‘might’. A collection of the root letters of ‘Nun’, is ‘Resh’ and ‘Qoph’. ‘Qoph’ is thought to be a foreign translation meaning ‘monkey’. More appropriately it is synonymous with ’falsehood’ or to ‘mimic’. ‘Resh’ means ‘head’ and ‘poverty’. The letter ‘Nun’ enlightens one with ‘kingship, ‘miracle’ and ‘deceit’.
The ram’s horn is called a shofar and is made from a ram or a similar bible animal. Blowing a shofar is associated with Jewish festivals, particularly Rosh Hashanah. At the yearly Feast of Tabernacle the Priests would blow the shofar to signal the commencing of the Festival. . In Bible times the shofar was also sounded on the announcing of a new king. From the collection of words above we see that the horn represents strength and might, The ram’s horns were situated at the altar in the Temple. The ram is a depiction of our Lord denoting His strength and might to deliver His people to overcome the enemy. Jesus our eternal High Priest is the one who anoints for service. The oil is poured out of the Eternal Vessel. A ceaseless emission from a virtuous eternal flow. Temple worshippers longed to reach the altars of God where they would take hold of the horns for strength, an analogy of clinging closely onto our Lord..
Heart of a King
“When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.” “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” (Samuel 16:6-7, BSB)
I believe a learning point can be emphasised from the vessels containing the anointing oil. Vessels of different measure and value were placed in the tabernacle. Under the Law every vessel and temple utensil was consecrated for use. Both King Saul and King David were blessed by anointment. In my understanding I see the vessels of flask and the ram’s horn as drawing a reference to the characters of these two individuals,. As living beings they are vessels being consecrated for God’s service. The Lord said to Samuel that He looked at the heart of a person and not the outward appearance. He who knows the innermost being knows a word before it is uttered. “Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD.” (Psalms 139:4, BSB)
When Saul was anointed as King of Israel. by the prophet Samuel, he was given precise instructions to be followed in order to be blessed by the company of prophets. Obedience to God’s timely instructions is the key to obtaining the favour for purpose. We are never worthy of what God imparts to us for His service.
Saul was an evil king during his tenure of service. He was fundamentally flawed in his character and it would only be a matter of time when the seeds of disobedience would reap fruits of destruction, affecting the nation’s fragile peace. An account of disobedience to God is recorded in (1st Samuel 28) when Saul failed to annihilate the Amalekites and their possessions as God instructed. The Amalekites were a ruthless evil nation. They had no regard for God and were Baal worshippers with a penchant for prolific indulgence in sorcery. During his kingly tenure, Saul had removed the sorcerers and mediums from the land as God desired. “Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.” (1 Samuel 28:3, BSB) Yet it was to sorcery that Saul turned to consult the spirit of Samuel after his death. The releasing mantle that was upon Samuel as Israel’s prophet had a positive nurturing effect on Saul. Bereft of losing Samuel’s influence he sought the services of the sorceress to make contact with the deceased prophet. The practice of consulting the dead was forbidden under the Torah Law.
David however was a man after God’s own heart, yet he was not without sin, failings and weaknesses. What God loved about him was his penitent disposition when he failed God. What I have noted with the chosen servants of God is that their training for service is done facing their daily challenges, long before they are called to God’s service.. David was prepared for purpose looking after his father’s sheep. David, like many other chosen prophets of Israel served faithfully in their family’s businesses. Through their daily, often laborious tasks they learnt to manage resources, work with integrity and develop their character in isolation, drawing on inner strength from their faith.. Under the auspices of God they demonstrated the capacity to serve faithfully. It would set them up for promotion. The state of the heart was pleasing to God to be trusted with serving His people. Spiritual integrity counts and is noted by God. When others cannot see your heart God sees it and is pleased that under challenges and great testing you do not waver. You remain the same person regardless of the challenges faced. Endurance under spiritual challenges brings out the best in you. Spiritual integrity forged in the fire of testing is what God looks for in choosing His servants.
Tying Up The Loose Ends
What do I mean by tying up the loose ends? Well, there has always been a pattern to my dreams. God has not made things complicated in the interpretation of my dreams. Simply because it would be the way He would give me the assurance and confidence to bring about a No.7, strategic end time global prophetic healing ministry. His way with me is incredibly awesome. Tying up loose ends implies alignment to the fullness of the call. As my time bears down on me I have gone through different stages of alignment. In this season, since the ending of Sukkot I have been urged to release dreams that I had over that amazing revelatory decade of ‘Ayin’, They are relevant to what is taking place now, to bring me and many others to a complete and perfect release. It is the Year of Release (Shmita) and therefore the Year of the Lord’s Favour. (Isaiah 61).
Dream – An Impartation
I will now share a dream that I had sometime in 2010/11. It is pertinent for this time as I am exponentially shifting into my full aligning for purpose. There are three scenes to the full dream which I will outline accordingly.
Scene 1:
I was sitting in a confined space behind a platform at a Conference in a Town Hall. I was hidden behind heavy curtains peeping out as I watched Jesus speaking to an audience on a large stage. It was dark in the area where I sat. I then quietly said, ‘Lord when are you going to remember me?’ Immediately as I spoke those words the heavenly being strode across the long stage and reached behind the curtain taking hold of my hand and brought me to the centre of the stage where He stood. As He let go of my hand I fell face down to the floor at His feet. He continued to speak to the sparsely attended group as I laid there. I immediately knew He was saying to me that I should stay at His feet as it was not yet my time of exposure.
Scene 2:
The scene changes and I was seen walking into a make-over studio. I noticed a woman sitting on a long white fleeced bench with no sides. I was ushered to a seat by the make-over attendant and I sat down. The woman sitting on the white fleeced bench turned to me, legs crossed, reclining on her arms and mockingly said, ‘Your sitting in the wrong seat.’ She proceeded to threw back her head and laughed at me. I then realised how small and uncomfortable the hard red leather chair with high back and sides was. The seat was tight and I felt blocked in. It was very confined as I tried to shift myself into a comfortable position. The woman that was making me over, on hearing the spiteful retort in the other woman, said to me, ‘Don’t you worry Gwendolyn, you stay just where you are and I am going to make you over.’ ‘Everything is going to be alright’.
Scene 3:
The scene changes and I was now leaving the make over parlour, made over with change of clothes, new hair-do and confidently making strides back to a Conference Hall. I walked into the grand foyer that was light, bright and spacious. The Conference setting was a contrast to the dark Town Hall where I first met Jesus. My eyes were immediately drawn to Jesus who was walking up a grand ballroom type stairs. There were a few male leaders following Him up the stairs. As I walked across the foyer smiling, it was as if Jesus knew I had returned to the Conference Hall. In that moment He looked back at me and did a full turn around at the top of the stairs. Immediately, in an effortlessly flowing motion, He made His way down the long stairs and moved hastily across the foyer floor to me. The men remained on the stairs watching intently. What my spirit was being fed was that the leaders were desiring something from Him. They wanted something that He had. Jesus flowed over to me and I was struck at the glow and serenity on His face. He was heavenly and smiled as our eyes were fixed on each other. He stood in front of me and slowly, and deliberately He drew up every ounce of breath in Him and slowly, intentionally He blew everything into me. It was impactful and awesome as I lingered in His presence.
Dream Thoughts::
I am convinced that the urgency and compelling way in which I was required to write this blog indicates to me that I am in the moment of God’s divine favour. I am being released into my long awaited purpose. God has watched over my night of departure from this place of waiting. The ‘out of Egypt’ deliverance promised me in 2015 is about to break into its fullness. It has been the loneliest and most misunderstood journey one could ever travel. i can now appreciate that this strategic mantle was for the end-time’s New Order, hence the timing. There are no words to describe the last ten years of testing and preparation for purpose. The anointing for service is upon me and however God chooses to release and favour me, it will be taking place now.
GWENDOLYN SMITH. ‹NEWPENTECOST. 11th OCTOBER 2021