Christ in all the scriptures Anointing by the holy oil

 Christ in all the scriptures

Anointing by the holy oil   Exodus 30v22-33

We come now to the third principle of worship, which is the vital role of the Holy Spirit in our worship.  To understand this we must take knowledge of the principle of anointing and its relevance today.  It is important, since every Prophet was anointed into service for God; every King before he accessed the throne; and every Priest as he functioned in holy service.  The anointing is linked with the Holy Spirit of God; in particular King David was anointed, "and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him from that day forward"-1st Samuel 16v23.  Christ, Himself, was anointed for service-Acts 10v38, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, healing all that were oppressed by the devil for God was with Him".  Also we, the believers, are anointed "Ye have an unction (an anointing) from the Holy One, and ye know all things"-1st John 2v20 and v27.   John was writing to all the churches, and included spiritual infants and young and spiritual fathers in his statements, so this applies to all no matter the level of their spiritual growth.  Indeed Paul states that ALL BELIEVERS have the Holy Spirit-Romans 8v9, "But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His".  Also in Ephesians 1v13, he says it is on believing (the construction of the text demands this-not after ye believed, but on believing) ye were sealed by the holy Spirit of promise, the guarantee that bodily we will be changed.  It is obvious, since no one is saved without the action of the Spirit (John 3v5v8).  This anointing of the Spirit takes place at our spiritual birth.  From birth to death or glorification, He will never leave us-John 14v16; He is the Comforter, the One who inspires us, rebukes us, restrains us, refreshes us, consoles us, assists us.  He is with us 24/7, it is as if Jesus Himself is with us at all times.  The subject is huge, and the task for us is to hear Him as He guides us through life.  Never has there been a time like this when ordinary human beings experience the real Divine presence.  The holy anointing oil reveals so much of this truth.  We can study it from three perspectives: COMPOSITION, APPLICATION, LIMITATION.

Composition  Exodus 30v22-25  The ointment was a blend of olive oil with four named spices in exact proportion.  We know that the olive oil is symbolic of the Spirit of the Lord, and reference to a host of scriptures reveal that the spices are symbolic of Christ.  Myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, and cassia, are all traceable throughout scripture and it is evident they refer to Christ.  Reference to the following confirm: Psalm 45v8; Proverbs 7v17; Song of Solomon 1v3; 1v13; 3v6; 4v14; 5v5; 5v13.  In the N/T myrrh is associated with His birth-Matthew 2v11; His death-Mark 15v23; His burial- John 19v39.  So we have here an illustration of the Spirit revealing Christ to us-as it says in John 16v14, "He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you".   It was to be "principal spices"-30v23; the word can be translated finest-only the best will do for God.  The myrrh was to be pure, it means "free flowing", not forced or obtained by incision of the bark, but that which flowed spontaneously.  Apparently this was the best quality myrrh, which is said to be bitter to the taste and sweet to the smell.  The cinnamon and calamus were sweet, and speak of the fragrance of that perfect life.  The cassia has healing and aphrodisiac qualities, which we can readily apply to Christ.  The Spirit of God takes the things of Christ and reveals them to us.  He does so with grace and gentleness and with patience, for we are sometimes hard to teach.  We have human teachers but He is the real teacher-refer 1st John 2v27.  The way it works is this, and I can testify this is how it works for me.  I am doing some bible reading, sometimes without understanding; I listen to a preacher, sometimes good, sometimes not so; I attend a bible discussion, and find plenty of controversy and confusion.  I return home and in the stillness of home the Divine Spirit takes what I have heard and distils it for me.  This may take hours, or maybe even days, or even weeks, but His word inside me always comes, and when it happens like that it is manna from heaven.    I remember my late uncle William Neilly, known for his wise, pithy words, said to me, "The word of the Lord doesn't burst upon us, it dawns upon us"!  Gently, and without any external interference, the Spirit reveals Christ to us through the word, and it is sweet.  It comes to us just like the dawn dispels the darkness, and brings the light, and just as quietly and gently.

Application  Exodus 30v26-30  The holy anointing oil was applied to the entire tabernacle of the congregation; to the ark of the testimony; to the table and vessels; to the lampstand and vessels; to the altar of incense; to the altar of burnt offering and vessels; to the laver and his foot.  Thus they were sanctified for service, and most holy.  Any one who touched them was holy.  Aaron and his sons were anointed to minister to the Lord in the priest's office.  This proclaims the all-pervading presidency of the Holy Spirit in the things of God, and the N/T is replete with this truth.  There is not an aspect in the worship of God where He is not Lord.  A few references will suffice. 

Acts 20v28 He has appointed overseers in the churches-"over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers".  This assumes they are qualified and actively doing the work attached to the calling".   Romans 15v16 Sanctifying the worship of the corporate church.  Romans 8v9v16, confirming individual salvation.  1st Corinthians 2v13, inspiring and energising preachers.  1st Corinthians 3v16 and 6v19, Indwelling individual believers.  1st Corinthians 12 Distributing and exercising the gifts in the churches (note the order in v28).  2nd Corinthians 6v16 and Ephesians 3v16 Strengthening believers in the struggle.  2nd Corinthians 12v14 Fellowship with all the saints.  Galatians 4v6 Intimacy in worship.  Galatians 5v16 and 25 Guiding us into good paths.  Ephesians 1v13 Securing our future.  Ephesians 2v18 Access to the Father.  Revelation 2/3 Instructions to the churches.

Limitation  30v31-33  It is a holy anointing oil for all generations, it is not for common or carnal use.  

"Upon man's flesh it shall not be poured..."  The Spirit and the flesh are contrary the one to the other-    Galatians 5v17.  Symbolically Amalek in the Bible is symbolic of the flesh, and it is said of them, "The Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with  Amalek from generation to generation"-Exodus 17v16.

"Neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy and it shall be holy unto you".  The composition was of the finest materials and design and was not to be copied or given to a stranger.  It was not for commercial use or publication.  The modern trend of desecrating holy things is to be avoided, and God's people can have nothing to do with those who profane the sacred things of God.  In Hebrews 10v29 the text speaks of those who "have counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing (a common thing or profane thing), and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace".  Such people have never been saved.  There are many copycat beliefs and practices out there.

Footnote

The title "Christ", applied to the Lord Jesus, literally means "the anointed One"; and so Christians are "anointed ones".  Let us rejoice and live it!