More on Anointing Oil
Oil in the Bible is the physical representation of a spiritual reality.
Hebrews 9:23-24 refers to such things as a type or "copy” of true things in the heavenlies.
Setting Apart -> In Exodus 30:25-29 and Exodus 40:9, Moses is commanded by God to anoint the tabernacle and it's furnishing "that they may be most holy." The tabernacle represents us today - each of us is the holy temple of God. Anoint and pray, asking God to make us "holy".
Freedom from Bondage -> Isaiah 10:27 tells us that the yoke, a symbol of the bondage and oppression of our enemies, will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.
Preparation -> Anoint and pray to prepare yourself and others for God's purpose. In Matt 26:6-12 a woman pours a fragrant oil upon Jesus' head as preparation for his death and burial.
Other biblical references-
Sign of joy (Isaiah 61:3, Hebrews 1:9)
Joy when mourning has ended (1 Samuel 12:20-23)
For readiness (Matthew 5:7-13)
Physical healing (Mark 6:13, James 5:14-15)
Adoration (Luke 7:16-30)
Honour a guest (Luke 7:38,46)
When preparing to meet the king (Ruth 3:3)
For cleansing (Leviticus14: 15-18, Ezekiel 16:9)
For burial Mark 14:8)
Medicine for wounds (Luke 10:34)
For disease Jeremiah 8:22)
Some other references to Anointing Oil that I found. Yes, quite a few points are repetitions, but I wanted to put the quotes up regardless as they expand on the points made earlier on and in a previous post. I also felt that they help give a fuller scriptural understanding to the anointing oil. =D
TERMINOLOGY: To be “anointed” is, among other things, to be made sacred (consecrated); to be set apart and dedicated to serve God; to be endowed with enabling gifts and grace; to be divinely designated, inaugurated, or chosen for some purpose. We know this subject is important to God because the words anoint, anointed, and anointing appear in more than 150 Spirit-inspired Bible verses, including 22 New Testament Scriptures. Indeed, the English word anoint derives from the ancient Latin inunctus, meaning “smear with oil.”
CONNECTION TO OIL: The Bible Dictionary mentions only two types of anointing: with oil or the Holy Ghost. In short, anointing and oil are much more integrally related than most people realize, which explains why Bible translators sometimes use anoint and oil interchangeably as synonymous verbs (e.g., Isa. 21:5).
THE ANOINTED ONE: Both the ancient Hebrew form of Messiah and the ancient Greek form of Christ literally mean “anointed”; thus, “Jesus Christ” is more accurately rendered “Jesus the Anointed” (or as “Jesus, the Anointed One”, or “Jesus, His Anointed”). This is one of the reasons our Savior first publicly announced Himself as the divine Messiah [Luke 4:18] by quoting Isaiah 61:1: “The Spirit of Adonai ELOHIM is upon me, because ADONAI has anointed me…” It’s why Peter and John and the followers with them, inspired by the Holy Spirit, publicly refer to Jesus (Yeshua) as the “Anointed One” [Acts 4:26, NIV] and NKJ, NIV, and NAS Biblical versions translate: “Your holy Servant Jesus, whom you anointed”.
THE LAMPSTAND: In Biblical times light was usually provided by oil lamps (or menorahs, a Hebrew word translated “lampstands”, “lamps”, or, less accurately, “candlesticks”). Often made of clay, brass, silver, or gold, these simple “lamps” slowly burned oil – typically olive oil. This explains verses such as Exodus 27:20 (“…order the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pounded olives for the light, to keep a lamp burning continually”); Exodus 35:14 (“…the menorah for the light, … and the oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense…”); and Exodus 35:28 (“…oil for the light, and for the anointing oil…”). It also deepens our understanding of the parable of the wise and foolish virgins [Mat. 25:1-12].DAVID’S ANOINTING: David, the “man after God’s own heart,” is officially anointed with oil (by others) not once but three times [1Sa. 16:12-13; 2Sa. 2:4; 2Sa. 5:3]. In Psalm 23:5, he says to God, “You anoint my head with oil.” This is confirmed by Psalm 89:20-21, wherein God declares, “I have found David my servant and anointed him with My holy oil. My hand will always be with him.” In addition, David anoints himself while trying to shake off grief over the death of his child and just before entering the Temple to worship God [1Sa. 12:20].
MARY OF BETHANY & SPIKENARD OIL: One of Scripture’s most poignant, bittersweet scenes [Mat. 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:3-5] memorializes Mary of Bethany: A woman with an alabaster jar filled with very expensive perfume (pure spikenard oil worth an average laborer’s annual wage) approaches Yeshua, breaks the jar, and begins pouring the precious oil over His head and feet. As the house fills with the oil’s pungent fragrance, the Lord says to those nearby: “She has done a beautiful thing for me…She poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial…I tell you that throughout the whole world…what she has done will be told in her memory.” Obviously, our Lord was deeply touched by Mary’s unselfish, thoughtful, heartfelt, sacrificial expression of devotion and profound love. Some Bible commentators deem Mary’s faithful act as the utmost example of what God desires in believers.
YESHUA’S COMMAND: According to Revelation 3:18 (NAS), Yeshua Himself says to the believing community in Laodicea: “I advise you to buy from Me gold…white garments…and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.” Speaking of “white garments”, consider the advice of King Solomon: “Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.” [Ecc. 9:8, NIV]
BELIEVERS ARE ANOINTED: Believers are “in Yeshua”(Jesus) and He is “in us”; thus we, too, have been and are divinely anointed, as affirmed by both 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (“…it is God who sets…us…in firm union with the Messiah; He has anointed us, put His seal on us, and given us His Spirit”) and 1 John 2:20, 27 (“…you have received the Messiah’s anointing…the Messianic anointing you received from the Father remains in you…His Messianic anointing continues to teach you about all things…so remain united with Him.”)
OTHERS CAN & SHOULD BE ANOINTED: Some believe oil should be used to anoint only kings and priests; according to Scripture, however, believers in Yeshua as the divine Son of God and as their Savior and Lord are “priests” [1Pe. 2:5,9]; they are kings (by virtue of having the King of Kings “in them” [Gal. 2:20]); and they may justifiably view their being anointed with oil as a physical manifestation of their being filled continuously with the Holy Spirit [1Jn. 2:20; 2Co. 1:21-22]. Indeed, according to most Bible scholars, in God’s Word anointing oil typically symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, “ordinary” ancient Israelites anointed themselves and each other with oil [Ruth 3:3; 2Ch. 28:15; Dan. 10:3; Amos 6:6], and the B’rit Hadashah (Hebrew forNew Covenant) actually directs “ordinary believers” to do this [Mat. 6:17; James 5:14].
It is interesting to note that to abstain from anointing with Oil is a symbol of mourning (2 Samuel 14:2).
Frankincense: used on the Altar of Incense in temple times, one of the 3 gifts brought to Messiah (intercession) Song of Songs 3:6, Isaiah 53:5, Hebrews 3:24
Myrrh: Queen Esther bathed in oil of myrrh for six months before her presentation to the King (purification, dying to self, and preparation for the KING) Esther 2:12, Song of Songs 1:13
"Holy Fire"/Hyssop: exotic Biblical plant used in cleansing rituals and in certain sacrifices of the Hebrews (cleansing, purification) Psalm 51:7
Cedars of Lebanon: fragrant wood used to build Temple and also to anoint a restored leper’s house (strength, permanence, wholeness, restoration) Psalm 92:12
Pomegranate: highly prized fruit from ancient times, its motif was used to decorate the temple and was embroidered on high priest’s garment (fruitfulness, abundance, blessings, favor of God) Numbers 13:23
Spikenard: fragrant oil used by Mary to anoint head & feet of Jesus (intimacy, extravagant worship) John 12:2-3
Rose of Sharon: flower depicting the beloved (beauty of the bride) Song of Songs 2:1
Lily of the Valley: white delicate flower (honor & purity of heart) Song of Songs 2:1
Comments
Post a Comment