1 Samuel 18:6-8
“Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said:
‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands.’
Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?’”
Saul’s spirit became contaminated and corrupted with the spirit of the enemy that he did not remove when commanded by the Lord through the Prophet Samuel. Thus, he began showing signs of this contamination more and more. This corrupted spirit could not be reproduced in the next generations that could’ve succeeded him in the kingship of Israel.
That is why David was raised by God in the wilderness of testing and came out with the double portion anointing necessary to deal with the level of demonic opposition that rose up in his time. Saul could not fulfill the task of removing Goliath the giant because neither he nor his army which was also influenced by the fear of their leader had the legal right or authority to deal with this enemy.
David, on the other hand, was more than ready to run to the battlefield, confront, and prophesy the downfall and removal of the giant on behalf of the entire army of the living God. David had a heart not only for God but for the restoration of his people. This marks the difference between the motivations that led to the actions and reactions of both King Saul and David.
The proof of the unrighteous character and defiled anointing of King Saul that could not be reproduced in the next generations is revealed in his response to the song the women sang to one another in their frolicking when they came out of their homes to welcome the king and his army from the victory of the battle against the Philistine army with the head of Goliath with them.
The Scripture says in verse 8 that the song of the women made King Saul angry. I would like to add that his insecurity and inferiority complex also contributed to his emotional upheaval and disregard for the life and the success of young David after he heard this song. Sadly, this is a common occurrence among many leaders that do not have the concept of legacy. They blindly believe that they have it all together, and in their jealousy, they obstruct, persecute, and attempt to derail the next generations from reaching their destiny.
Instead of encouraging them to succeed and even surpass them in their knowledge of God and the exploits they can do for the Kingdom, they do everything they can to keep them from succeeding. That is why God removes these leaders from their positions when, not only what they carry (their armor) cannot be used by the next generations, but He trains them in a way that they can succeed without the help of these leaders.
God equips these generations with everything necessary to reach their destiny, even with compassion and mercy for those who would not let them come alongside them with the unique set of gifts and talents they carry to help these leaders create more impact.
By contrast, leaders like Elijah, don’t wait for their successors to come to them, they go after them wherever they are and put their mantle on them through mentoring, encouraging, and pouring them of their anointing and teaching them how not to go through the battles they went through. These leaders become fathers and mothers to those that will stand on their shoulders because that is their standard of the Kingdom.
1 Kings 19:19-21
“So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, ‘First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!’ Elijah replied, ‘Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.’ So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.” NLT
Elijah the Prophet had a pure anointing, worthy of passing down in double form to the generations after him in order for them to defeat what he dealt with in his generation. He dealt with the corruption and idolatry of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who defiled the land of Israel and led the people to idol worship while the queen had ordained the prophets of God to be killed.
It was Elisha’s service and continual fellowship with his mentor and spiritual father that positioned him to learn to deal with any type of opposition. While the corruption and its propagation through Ahab and Jezebel’s false prophets were done away with in Elijah’s time, it was the double portion of anointing Elisha received before Elijah’s departure that gave way for him and the two kings anointed at God’s command to Elijah —Hazael and Jehu— that led to the manifestation of Elijah’s prophecy that the entire house of Ahab and Jezebel would be destroyed.
1 Kings 19:15-17
“Then the Lord told him, ‘Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha!” NLT
We also see in 2 Kings 2:1-13 the understanding Elisha had of his role as Elisha’s mentee and spiritual son. His willingness to be by his spiritual father’s side and continue to serve him was so great, that when encouraged to separate from him three times, Elisha refused the offer and stayed with Elijah until the chariot of fire picked him up. It was his faithfulness that granted him this needed double portion anointing. It ensured that there would not be any issues with the wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel while he fulfilled his calling.
Therefore, the miracles he was able to perform from then on were twice as many as Elijah’s and with twice as much power, and twice his influence. He had the mantle but not the same fight. Elisha also received twice the favor and benefits of this anointing. Many more people were willing to come to Him with lavish gifts and even a place was prepared for him to abide whenever he came to the town of Shunem (See 2 Kings 4:10).
This is what as leaders we’re to endeavor to do on behalf of the next generations of leaders. We need to reach out to them, teach them, encourage them, and equip them to do more than we have been able to accomplish in our lifetime. Jesus also demonstrated for us this standard of the Kingdom. He ministered for three years and served, mentored, and empowered His disciples to become apostles (sent ones in the power of His Spirit and their particular anointing), and we read of all the great exploits they were able to achieve to establish, expand, advance, and call on God to defend His Kingdom so they could continue in His plan for them with boldness.
Matthew 4:18-22
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” NIV
Acts 4:29-31
“And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.” NLT
To God Alone be all the Glory*
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