Psalms 89:20 Meaning Explained

Psalms 89:20

I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him,

English Standard Version (ESV)

God's choice of David wasn't just about finding a good leader; it was about finding someone "out of the people" to be a humble servant, setting the stage for God's ultimate plan in Christ. The "holy oil" signifies not only the material anointing of earthly kings but also the Spirit's empowerment that qualifies for divine service.

What Psalms 89:20 means

This psalm is a lament over the broken covenant with David's line, so here God reminds the psalmist of His choice of David. God declares He actively sought out and found David, an ordinary shepherd boy, to be His special servant and anointed him to be king with sacred oil. This act set the stage for David's reign and the promises of an enduring dynasty, pointing ultimately to Christ.

God's Active Search for a Servant

We often think of God finding us, but this verse reveals God is actively searching. What does it mean that God 'found' David?

The phrase 'I have found' isn't just a casual discovery. It speaks to God's intentional, proactive pursuit. David wasn't necessarily looking for the throne when God 'found' him, but God saw in him the qualities needed for leadership.

A Deliberate Choice

This 'finding' implies God sought out someone qualified, someone suitable for His purposes. It wasn't a matter of chance, but a deliberate selection from humility (like David tending sheep) to greatness. God looks beyond outward appearances to the heart and potential He has placed within a person.

Holy Oil: Symbol of Divine Appointment

Anointing with oil was a significant act in ancient Israel. What did this 'holy oil' truly signify for David?

The act of anointing David with 'holy oil' was far more than a ceremonial formality. It was a public declaration of divine appointment and empowerment.

More Than Just Oil

This wasn't just any oil; it was holy oil, set apart by God. The oil symbolized:

God's Selection: It marked David as chosen by God for a special purpose.
Empowerment: It represented the anointing of the Holy Spirit, signifying that God would equip David with the necessary wisdom, strength, and grace for kingship.
A Sacred Trust: It underscored that David's authority came from God, not from himself or the people, and that he was accountable to God.

For David, this anointing was a promise of God's presence and power in his reign.

David as a Type of Christ

Understand the original words

Original language

servantעֶבֶד

ʿebed · Hebrew Noun

A person who performs the work of a master, often implying humble submission, obedience, and service to God's mission. In a royal context, it designates one who rules as God's representative.

anointedמָשַׁח

māshaḥ · Hebrew Verb

A symbolic act of pouring oil on a person, representing being set apart, consecrated, and empowered by the Holy Spirit for a specific role or office, such as priest, prophet, or king.

Historical context

Written: Likely composed during the later years of King David's reign or shortly thereafter, perhaps around the 10th century BC, to commemorate the establishment of the Davidic covenant.
Author: Traditionally understood as Asaph, a Levite musician and composer in David's court, though modern scholarship sometimes suggests other Levitical authors or a later compilation.
Location: Likely written from the perspective of the Kingdom of Judah, possibly in Jerusalem.
Genre: Poetry, specifically a royal psalm, characterized by its rich imagery and direct address to God.

Historical background

This verse recalls the foundational moment when God chose and anointed David, a promise that Psalm 89 grapples with amidst the shock of the Davidic kingdom's collapse and exile.

c. 1040 BC— this verse
David Anointed King
The prophet Samuel, under God's direction, secretly anoints a young David as king while Saul still reigns. This marks David as God's chosen successor, though his kingship is not yet realized.
c. 1010 BC
David Becomes King of Israel
After years of persecution and establishing himself as a military leader, David is finally recognized as king over all Israel, uniting the tribes.
c. 1000 BC
David Captures Jerusalem
David conquers the Jebusite city of Jerusalem, making it his capital and establishing it as the political and spiritual center of his kingdom.
c. 970 BC
Death of David
David dies after a long and largely successful reign, leaving behind a united kingdom and a covenant promising an eternal dynasty.

Key themes

01God's sovereign choice
02Divine appointment of leaders
03Anointing for service
04David as God's servant

Cross-references

1 Samuel 16:1

This passage directly recounts God instructing Samuel to find and anoint David, mirroring the divine 'finding' and 'anointing' described in the Psalm.

2 Samuel 7:8

Here, God explicitly tells David, 'I took you from the pasture... and made you ruler over my people Israel,' underscoring the divine initiative in selecting David as His servant and leader.

Acts 13:22

Paul directly quotes God as saying 'I have found David... a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my will,' connecting David's anointing to his divine purpose and character.

Psalm 45:7

This verse speaks of a king being anointed with the oil of gladness, a concept that alludes to the spiritual anointing and favor bestowed upon David, and by extension, on the ultimate King, Christ.

Isaiah 61:1

The prophet Isaiah describes the Spirit of the Lord anointing him to bring good news, echoing the anointing of David and pointing to the Messiah who would be anointed to fulfill God's redemptive mission.

Scholarly commentary

Psalms 89:20: "I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:"

20 . I have found ] Sought out and provided. Cp. 1 Samuel 13:14 ; 1 Samuel 16:1 ; Acts 13:22 . David my servant ] See on Psalm 78:70 , and cp. 2 Samuel 3:18 ; 2 Samuel 7:5 ; 2 Samuel 7:8 . have I anointed him ] 1 Samuel 16:1 ; 1 Samuel 16:12 f.
cambridge

Psalms 89:20: "I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:"

I have found David my servant - That is, I found him among the sheepfolds; in humble life. I saw there one who was qualified for the high office of being the ruler of the nation, and I designated, or set him apart, for that office. The idea is, that there was in him a precious qualification for this work, and that God had seen this, and, in accordance with this, had summoned him to his service. With my holy oil…
barnes

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What Psalms 89:20 means

Original language

servantעֶבֶד

ʿebed · Hebrew Noun

A person who performs the work of a master, often implying humble submission, obedience, and service to God's mission. In a royal context, it designates one who rules as God's representative.

anointedמָשַׁח

māshaḥ · Hebrew Verb

A symbolic act of pouring oil on a person, representing being set apart, consecrated, and empowered by the Holy Spirit for a specific role or office, such as priest, prophet, or king.

Historical context

Written: Likely composed during the later years of King David's reign or shortly thereafter, perhaps around the 10th century BC, to commemorate the establishment of the Davidic covenant.
Author: Traditionally understood as Asaph, a Levite musician and composer in David's court, though modern scholarship sometimes suggests other Levitical authors or a later compilation.
Location: Likely written from the perspective of the Kingdom of Judah, possibly in Jerusalem.
Genre: Poetry, specifically a royal psalm, characterized by its rich imagery and direct address to God.

Historical background

This verse recalls the foundational moment when God chose and anointed David, a promise that Psalm 89 grapples with amidst the shock of the Davidic kingdom's collapse and exile.

c. 1040 BC— this verse

David Anointed King

The prophet Samuel, under God's direction, secretly anoints a young David as king while Saul still reigns. This marks David as God's chosen successor, though his kingship is not yet realized.

c. 1010 BC

David Becomes King of Israel

After years of persecution and establishing himself as a military leader, David is finally recognized as king over all Israel, uniting the tribes.

c. 1000 BC

David Captures Jerusalem

David conquers the Jebusite city of Jerusalem, making it his capital and establishing it as the political and spiritual center of his kingdom.

c. 970 BC

Death of David

David dies after a long and largely successful reign, leaving behind a united kingdom and a covenant promising an eternal dynasty.