Section 1: Yehuveh’s Love, Article 13

The Oil of Gladness


“Thou lovest righteousness,
and hatest wickedness:
therefore Elohim, thy Elohim,
hath anointed thee
with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
Psalms 45:7.


W
hat is this oil of gladness with which we are to be anointed? The same two Hebrew words are translated oil of joy in Isaiah 61:1-3: “The Spirit of Yehuveh Elohim is upon me; because Yehuveh hath anointed me . . . to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn
in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yehuveh, that He might be glorified.”
        
Oil carries the connotation of smoothness and fluidity, of being a lubricant that keeps various parts working together, yet this oil is much more than merely an interface between moving parts. This oil brings happiness, courage, trust, cheerfulness, optimism, joy, grace and gladness! Very interesting mixture of symbols in this phrase! The full impact of this word is conveyed well in Jeremiah 33:11: “The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise Yehuveh of hosts: for Yehuveh is good; for His mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of Yehuveh. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith Yehuveh.”
         A few basic questions unlock the full significance of the
oil of gladness or oil of joy. We need to explore some basic questions: What is oil? What is gladness? What is anointing? What happens to us when we are anointed? As with joy itself, I am increasingly convinced that this oil of joy is meant to be our anointing now. I believe Yehuveh intends, in trial, to train us to rest in His care and to even now bring to Him “the sacrifice of praise.” Even in the most challenging situations, we have so much for which to be thankful. If we take our thoughts off the difficulties and anchor them on the goodness and sovereignty of our Father, even now we can exchange “garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”


What is Oil?
         Physical
oil, pressed from olives or other plants, was involved in spiritual appointment and change. Physical oil, poured on a person or object, designated or initiated spiritual appointment. Twice Jacob poured oil on the stone he had used as his pillow: “Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.” “And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.” For what purpose? Was he changed by this dedication or was there any effect on him from the stone? Did his action change the stone? Genesis 28:18; 35:14.


Gael Bataman          
Originally Written:     21 October 2005
Latest Update:           12 October 2009


                                                       
Complete Study Guide to Article 13   

          
What is Gladness?        What is Anointing?        What Happens When We are Anointed?   

       
Return to Zadok Home                Continue Article 13 . . .                    Go to Section 1: Love
 
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