Wednesday, March 28, 2012

The Anointing Oil

Exodus 30:22-33

“Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.” (Exodus 30:22-25) 

The anointing oil was a thick ointment made up of four ground spices mixed with olive oil in a very precise formula, similar to what a chemist or druggist would produce.  When ground together and mixed with a gallon and half of olive oil, it would make a large quantity of fairly stiff sweet smelling lotion.  

“And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot.  And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.  And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.” (Exodus 30:26-30) 

The anointing oil was to be rubbed or poured on every thing used in the worship of God, from the Tabernacle itself, to the ash pans for the brazen altar.  It was also to be placed  on the priests.  Without the anointing oil they were not acceptable, but the oil sanctified them as well as whatever they touched.

The oil portrays the Holy Spirit.  I John 2:27 refers to the Christian's being anointed.  “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”  John 14:27 makes it clear this anointing is with the Holy Spirit.  “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

It was the anointing oil that sanctified the priests.  Romans 8:8-9 makes it clear that the Holy Spirit is essential in our day.  “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  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.”  It is the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us, according to I Corinthians 6:11.  “… but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

Not only does He sanctify the believer, but he also sanctifies whatever the believer touches.  It is why the Christian is not forced to leave an unsaved mate as some have taught, according to I Corinthians 7:12-14.  “…If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.”  They are not sanctified themselves, but only by their connection to the believer.  Each person gives account for himself before the Lord, so they will not be saved by the association as some would like to believe.  Romans 14:12 states, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

“And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.  Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.  Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.” (Exodus 30:31-33) 

Just as the oil could not be placed on anyone except the priests, the Holy Spirit cannot be received by unbelievers, according to John 14:16-17.  “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

Attempts to copy the anointing oil or to misuse it was to result in being dis-fellowshipped. Mark 13:22-23 warns, “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.  But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.”  We are not to fall for the fakery.  I Corinthians 12-14 is devoted to this subject.

I Corinthians 14:20 instructs, “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”  It is pretty arrogant to think we have the right to make up our own rules.  I Corinthians 14:36-38 addresses the attitude.  “What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.  But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.”  Genuinely spiritual people will recognize the importance of the real thing and avoid psychological manipulation and tricks.  Anyone who doesn’t is to be ignored as not knowing what he is talking about.

The Incense
Exodus 30:34-38

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.” (Exodus 30:34-36)

The incense, or perfume as it is called here was composed of equal parts of four spices.  They were to be ground together as a druggist or chemist would mix them.  Some of it was to be ground extra fine for placing on or around the ark of the testimony.

“And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD.  Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.” (Exodus 30:37-38)

Like the anointing oil, the incense was holy and no other could be burned on the altar of incense.  It was not to be used for any other purpose, nor was anything similar to be produced for any purpose.  Doing so was grounds for exclusion from the Congregation of Israel.  Our worship ought be decidedly different than what the world does.  Often, one could not distinguish between the response to “Christian” music at a religious meeting and the response to a song about illicit sex at a rock or country music concert, and sometimes can hardly tell the difference between the music itself.  I wonder how God feels about our efforts to reach the world?

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