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Daily Devotionals
Discovering Christ Day by Day
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 15-17
“This is He!”
1 Samuel 16:12
“And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him; for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren.” — Behold, a greater than David is here! As David was singled out from and chosen above his brothers to be the Lord’s anointed, the king of Israel, so the Lord Jesus, of whom David was such a vivid type, is God’s Anointed, his Chosen One, the King of Israel. — “Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found Jesus my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him” (Psalms 89:19-21). — “Behold my Servant, whom I uphold; mine Elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles” (Isaiah 42:1).
Typified in David, we see our dear Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord our Righteousness. And let my soul make this sweet subject the meditation and song of my heart. He who is both David’s son and David’s Lord is the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely.
From Everlasting
“Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One?” His “goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting!” — Behold our dear Emanuel with the eye of faith as coming up from everlasting. He stood forth as our Surety, this glorious One, to be the God-man Mediator, the Christ, for the salvation of his people, whom (even then) he did not disdain to call his brethren. Yonder, in eternity, before ever the worlds were called into existence by his word, our Mediator stood forth, pre-eminent above his fellows, and was appointed to be the Head and King of his church, that vast multitude chosen to be the recipients and beneficiaries of all God’s abounding grace in him. In him, from him, and through him, the Triune Jehovah predestined that they become a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that he might present it to himself in love.
Our Chosen
As our Lord Jesus Christ is God’s Chosen One, so he is the Chosen One of all who are chosen in him, redeemed by him, and called to him. As all the sons of Jesse passed in review before Samuel, had all his redeemed been present to have chosen one to be their head and king, none but Christ could have been chosen. All voices would have echoed Jehovah’s proclamation: “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” Truly, Lord Jesus, “thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee!” He is the heir of all things, the chiefest and first, born in the womb of mercy. “His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed!”
Delight unceasingly in this contemplation of our Savior. God the Father has chosen him. He has anointed him with the holy oil for salvation; and the Spirit was given unto him without measure. Is God’s Chosen your Chosen? Is the Father’s Anointed your Anointed? Is there any in heaven, or upon earth to whom you look for help, or strength, or comfort, or salvation, but to the Lord Jesus Christ? Who but Christ, would you have for a Savior? What object is so desirable as he to claim our love? Witness for me children of light, witness for me angels who see his face and do his pleasure, Jesus Christ, the Son of God is my only beloved, my hope, my portion. Soon, I shall join your assembly, and with you bless and adore him in endless song, the fairest and chiefest among ten thousand!
