The Clay Flask And The Rams Horn

Have you ever wanted to be used of God to see revival? Whether it would be in your family, workplace, school, or even your nation, God wants to use you. Now that’s the good news. 

The bad news, or perhaps the more difficult-to-swallow news, is that God doesn’t use just anyone. He uses those that are after His own heart. I want to compare and contrast two different anointings in the Bible and show you a few keys to walking in a pure heart after the Lord. 

When someone was anointed with oil in the Old Testament, they were set apart for God’s purposes. If you’re looking for a great topical study, I would encourage you to study all the times oil is mentioned in the Bible. To summarize that whole study for brevity’s sake, let me tell you this: Oil represents the Holy Spirit. Having oil poured upon you was a prophetic act declaring that God’s Holy Spirit was to fill you and overcome you for a purpose - usually for a purpose of revival.

In the book of 1 Samuel, you see two particular men get anointed to lead the nation of Israel. At this point, Israel did not have a king, and they were desperate to have one. Mainly this was because all the surrounding nations did. They became dissatisfied with God’s plan and wanted to be like everyone else. God gave them over to their desires.

In their search for a king, they found Saul. In short, they picked him because he was handsome and tall. I’d like to think that I meet that criterion as well, but I am not sure that my physical appearance qualifies me to run a nation. Actually, I am positively sure that it does not qualify me - that is a terrible reason to pick a leader. Again God gave His people over to their desires.

When Saul was anointed as king, he was anointed with a clay flask. When prophets, priests, and kings were anointed, it was usually done with a ram’s horn full of oil. So the question stands: Why was Saul anointed with a clay flask?

Simply put: The people pressured God for a leader, and He let them get what they wanted. 

The clay flask represents the pressures and desires people seek in placing a person in leadership. The clay flask would only have a short effect on Saul and would serve to give the people what they wanted. Yes, his anointing was met by wild and radical manifestations, but Scripture never once says that Saul loved the Lord. Actually, within two years, Saul would turn his back on God. The clay flask can never replace a dedicated heart. No experience of the Spirit can replace a dedicated heart. 

I believe it is possible to have a place of influence as a leader and not have a heart for God.

That is a scary place to be.

Now onto David. Saul was rejected as king, and the Lord chose another. He told Samuel to fill his horn with oil and to go to Bethlehem. The Lord told Samuel the following, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God was telling Samuel that His ways are better than ours and that He had found a king for them.

When Samuel came to Jesse’s house, he had all the boys go through the purification ritual. They were all clean while David was in the field dirty. Jesse put out everyone but David. He saw David as insignificant. Unworthy. Too young. Uneducated. However, God did not see this. One by one, all of Davids's brothers were told no. Then when all the brothers were not chosen, Jesse admitted that David was in the fields with the sheep. David had no idea that Samuel was there and his life was about to change drastically.

When David was called and anointed in the midst of his brothers, the spirit of God came mightily upon him. God’s anointing was reserved for the right heart. The ram’s horn represents aggressive strength and authority. A soft heart to the Lord will be met with a powerful anointing that carries the authority of God Himself. David had no wild manifestations like Saul did. This shows me that even the most significant moments of your life can seem insignificant if you judge them based on spectacular manifestations.

Scripture later says that David was a man after God’s own heart. David penned many of the psalms, in sin, in victory, in anguish, and in strength. No matter the circumstance, David always returned to the Lord in penance. 

I believe that now God has two options in front of you: the clay flask and the ram’s horn. 

What do you want? 

Do you want to keep fighting and striving for your desire to lead revival? Or do you want to focus on your heart and on the Lord and let Him anoint you?