After watching a bible movie the other night with our boys, Isaac asked why Samuel was pouring oil over David’s head. The Lord prompted me to inquire scriptures. I was so touched by the history of the ancient shepherding and treatment of the sheep with oil. How God used that shepherding to apply to His own Shepherding and anointing oil throughout the pages of scriptures, that we made it a study for the next day.
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Anointing Oil
Symbolizes
Blessing, Protection, Empowerment
Oil anointing came from the ancient days of shepherding. Oil was used to pour over the sheep’s heads. The oil started at the head and ran over the body covering the wool with an oily substance. This protected the sheep from insects going into it’s ears and nose. The covering of oil made it impossible for the nasty, icky, bugs to enter the sheep. A sheep not covered in the oil, was traumatized by the horrible infestation. They would run about frantic, frustrated, distressed. When the oil was poured over their heads, a transformation in behavior took place as the sheep became calm, peaceful and content. The sheep received blessing, protection, and power to be still and content when the Shepherd poured out the oil over them.
In the bible:
Oil was used to anoint Kings, Prophets, buildings, things consecrated to God.
Set apart for His service.
As well as
used to anoint people before praying for their healing and deliverance.
There is nothing powerful in the oil itself. Only a symbol of God’s anointing power. There were reasons in the Old Testament, that God specifically required obedience in the anointing with oil. Even New Testament refers to this use of the oil. We know Jesus eventually came, and He is the Anointed One.
God gave Moses a Recipe for the Holy Anointing Oil
Exodus 30:22-25 says:
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take the following fine spices:
500 shekels of liquid myrrh
half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon
250 shekels of fragrant cane
500 shekels of cassia
A Hin of olive oil.
Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer.
It will be the sacred anointing oil.
(shekels a weight measurement. Hin a liquid measurement equivalent to about 8 qts. Also, note the math God involved. 500 and half of that. I love the presence of the Lord in our education)
Anointed also means: Chosen one
Anointing is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit
All Christians are anointed. We are BLESSED, PROTECTED, and EMPOWERED by the Holy Spirit. Like the actual sheep, we are God’s sheep. We receive peace and contentment from Him. THE GREAT SHEPHERD, the HOLY SPIRIT came upon us, when we believed unto Salvation. Anointed by Him. CHOSEN for a specific purpose, set apart in service to Him in furthering the kingdom.
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
1 John 2:20
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
1 Cor. 1:21-22
In the Psalms we read of this oil that was poured on the head, flowing down into Aaron’s beard and onward covering his garments. What a beautiful picture of the covering and protection of our Savior upon our lives.
~This Oil is also referred to as the OIL of GLADNESS~
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the OIL OF GLADNESS
Psalm 45:7
The oil of gladness that saves us. Brings joy! Keeps us from corrupt things, coming upon us and entering our lives. The oil that purges out the yuck, sanctifies us, and continues to cleanse.
We had the most special OIL of GLADNESS study. As we took turns, anointing each other with oil, remembering this was the GREAT symbol of the HOLY SPIRIT poured out on us, giving us all we need. What beauty to anoint each other and pray for one another. It was also special for the boys to present the oil as their dad reclined back when he arrived home from work, offering him an oral report of our studies. Each of us then, dipping into the oil and praying for him.
This morning, I awoke with some issues causing me anxiety, fear, and a lack of peace. I think I was acting like those sheep without the oil treatment. Yuck entered me, and was struggling to shake it. Recognizing I was not peaceful. The Holy Spirit reminded me, of the OIL OF GLADNESS study. I began to thank Him that HE BLESSES, PROTECTS, AND EMPOWERS ME. Ha! Amazing! Guess what happened. I once again had peace. I was that sheep, touched by the cleansing oil of the Holy Spirit, coming again to peace, joy, and contentment. He is a mighty God.
“Thank You Lord for Your oil of gladness. Poured upon Your people running down from Christ the Head onto the Body of Believers, covering us. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit within us Who cleanses, blesses, protects, and empowers Your people. May we live in greater joy, boldness, unity and faith. In Jesus, name, Amen”
How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
Psalm 133
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the OIL OF JOY instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:1-3
