Anointing in the Bible

Anointing with oil in Biblical times.

God's Anointing

The Anointing
The Bible reveals that in Old Testament times the Holy Spirit did not dwell inside people as he does today. Prophets, and priests, and people in the Old Testament were not born again, not until Jesus rose from the grave and conquered death. In Old Testament times the Holy Spirit would sometimes come upon certain people at certain times for a specific purpose. God told the prophet Samuel to take a horn of oil and go to the city of Bethlehem to the house of a man named Jesse and anoint one of his sons as the next king of Israel. Samuel anointed David with oil, a beautiful symbol of the Holy Spirit. Zadok the priest also took a rams horn full of oil and anointed Solomon king of Israel. Prophets were anointed with olive oil, for example God told Elijah to go and anoint Elisha to be a prophet in Israel. Priests were also anointed with olive oil to minister in the service of God. But what was it that was so special about the anointing with olive oil?

Olive Oil
Olive oil had many uses in the ancient world, and anyone who had a lot of it was considered very wealthy. Olive oil was used as an energy source for lamps to provide light, it was used for medicinal purposes including healing wounds, it was used to cleanse the body, and it was a staple of the Mediterranean diet, a good fat, which provides many powerful health benefits. But God chose olive oil to be the symbol of his anointing because it typified the work of the Holy Spirit, who illuminates and empowers, and brings light, and warmth, and health, and healing, and cleansing, and purity, and holiness, and all the good things that God brings to every person who seeks after him. Daniel prophesied about the Messiah calling him the “Anointed One”, and even the very word “Messiah” means “to smear” or “to be anointed,” the very essence of the word Messiah means “the One who is Anointed With the Holy Oil of God”. Olive oil is a beautiful representation of the Holy Spirit.

God‘s Anointing
Smear some olive oil on yourself and see how it clings to you. Pour some on your hands. It feels smooth and reduces friction. It softens the skin and makes it shiny. It is not coming off easily. It makes light where there is darkness. It goes well with food and provides many powerful health benefits.

What a beautiful substance to liken the Holy Spirit‘s anointing and relationship with His people. Clinging, abiding, softening, healing, friction reducing and as we know today, healthy. In the Gospel of John Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (a Comforter, an Advocate, an Intercessor, a Counselor, a Strengthener, a Standby), to be with you forever… The beautiful oil of God. He looks good on you and in you and is nothing but good for you. There is nothing better than God‘s anointing, God‘s anointing is wonderful. Taste and see that the Lord is good.

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