"So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David." (1 Sam 16:13) .
The anointing ritual performed by a prophet was a way of showing that one has been divinely selected and appointed to be the next king. It symbolized legitimacy. Otherwise, how else was one who has no business with the throne supposed to tell people that he is now chosen for the throne? The people will stone him to death on the account of treason. But by the reason of the anointing, he need not say a word.
As soon as he shows up dripping in the anointing oil, the people automatically understood the meaning.
The anointing also served for protection. God said, " touch not my anointed, and do my prophet no harm" (Psa 105:15). As soon as one is anointed, he is protected from attacks. Anyone that dares to harm them would receive a counterattack from God. In the old testament, the anointed usually refers to kings, not priests or prophets.
And lastly, the anointing was a means of announcement. The anointing ritual is often performed in the presence of witnesses. Once anointing, circumstances and events begin to align to bring the person to the throne. As soon as David was anointed, a vacancy opened up at the palace for a musician.
That is the power of the anointing.
PRAYER
Lord, give me the anointing that will announce me to the world. Begin to engineer events and circumstances to work in the favor of my enthronement in Jesus name.