Anointed with oil

The theme of the ‘anointing oil’ is rich with symbolism and has much to teach us. The psalmist proclaimed, ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head’. Psa 133:2. He was speaking of the ‘anointing oil’ that was poured over the head of the high priest when he was ordained for the Lord’s service.

The notion of ‘anointing’ is not the exclusive domain of the moving of the Spirit in a church meeting. The real purpose of the anointing oil is that it figuratively pours down over your head, over your face, and into your eyes. It causes the face to shine and brings illumination to the eyes of your heart. It is the aroma of Christ. The oil of the apothecary, the perfumer’s oil, enables us to manifest the aroma of Christ in every place. We’ll recall the words of Paul, ‘Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place’.
2 Cor 2:14.

The symbolism of the Scripture works this way. Like the priests of old, the Lord wants to anoint us. The anointing that comes to us is like the oil that anointed and ordained Aaron. The first evidence of our anointing is that we are dwelling together in love, and living together in unity. If you and I will maintain harmony of relationship, true friendship, true brotherhood in Christ, then the anointing oil will be there. Not because we are united in Christ, but because we dwell together in love and we continue choosing to love.

Secondly, it is the anointing oil that opens the eyes of your understanding and gives you insight. I know that the one thing that I want in my life is insight. I’m quite taken by the statement in the book of Daniel that says, ‘Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever’. Dan 12:3. When the Scripture speaks of insight, it is not referring to some form of mental process of reasoning. Insight is the capacity to see, and particularly to see into the heavenly places to know what God is doing. It speaks of our spiritual sight, the ‘eyes of our heart’. The apostle Paul prayed earnestly for the Ephesian church ‘so that the eyes of your heart would be enlightened’. Eph 1:18.

Thirdly, the anointing is upon us to give life to others. Jesus Himself was called ‘the anointed of God’. Acts 10:38. And as the anointed of God, ‘He went about  doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him’. Acts 10:38. If anointing is our portion, then we can walk in the Spirit of Christ and bring life and healing to others.

David Falk

Return to top

Feature Articles
September 2008

Searching out a man

The new birth

Signs of the times

The national anthem

Overcoming fear & anxiety

Anointed with oil

Compassion that restores

The success formula

Desire to be known

At ease in your youth

The mother of all wars