Tag: anointing oil
Day 4–The Community of Unity
Scripture reading for March 26: Psalm 133:1,3 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! . . .For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”
John 17:22-23“The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are One, I in them, and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and that I loved them even as You loved Me.”
For anyone that has worked on a team, the importance of unity is undisputable. Working together in harmony and sharing common goals and valuing the other team members makes work enjoyable. Good teamwork is developed by skilled leadership and willing followers. Unity is maintained by allowing God’s Spirit to flow to each member of the team through example of the leadership and humility of each member.
The psalmist who wrote Psalm 133 was describing the pleasure and goodness of the Israelite people when they worked and worshipped together in unity with each other and with God. If you read this whole psalm, it is interesting that unity starts with the precious anointing oil poured on head of the high priest, Aaron. This psalm teaches that the anointing of God’s Spirit starts with leaders who have been called and appointed by God. These leaders then stand firm and the anointing flows down from the head and even drips off the priestly garment. It is also likened to dew that settles on the thirsty ground and brings refreshing.
It is when brothers and sisters are in unity that God commands the blessing of His presence and anointing. Jesus gathered His disciples for the last time and prayed over them for the unity that comes from allowing Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Jesus modeled this oneness and prayed us into it. From it, the world knows the Father’s love revealed in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Father God, I can only say ‘Amen’ to Jesus’ prayer for our unity with You and Him. Forgive me for disrupting that unity when I focus on myself and my flesh. As I work with teams of responders, help me to maintain the unity of the Spirit and bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3) Amen.
Bestowed blessing!
Scripture reading for June 28: Psalms 128-134
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like the precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.” Psalm 133:1-3
Psalm 133 is the next to the last of the songs of ascents and speaks of an important aspect of life in the family and city of God. Living together with others in a state of unity and harmony is not something that comes naturally. Each person has different desires, likes, attitudes, temperaments and ideas of what makes for a peaceful life. Selfishness causes fighting, strife and complaining. Unity is an elusive quality in any home, community, state, or nation. It has been impossible in most!
The psalm states that it is good and pleasant when brothers live together in unity. Jesus picked twelve disciples and they had a hard time keeping peace. They loved to argue and dispute among themselves about who would be the greatest disciple. Jesus taught them that the way to keep peace and unity was to take the lowest place and to find joy in serving. At the Last Supper, He took a towel and washed their feet and taught them by example that humility and serving brings unity. (John 13:12-17) Later that same night, Jesus prayed that His disciples would be kept in complete unity that the world might believe that Jesus was sent by the Father! (John 17:20-23)
The unity of brothers is likened to the anointing of the High Priest. Oil was poured on his head as a symbol of blessing from above. The oil would flow from the head down to beard and drip onto the collar of the robe. This anointing oil brought the enablement of the Spirit of God to pray and intercede on behalf of the people. Jesus Christ is our High Priest and intercessor! He was anointed by His Father and is praying for us now. That anointing to pray and walk in peace flows from our High Priest today.
The last analogy is that of dew dropping on Mt. Hermon. Dew is moisture that comes in the cool of the evening on grass, rocks, and trees. It brings refreshing and helps all life prepare for another day. Unity is like the dew from heaven refreshing us each evening as we rest in God’s community of unity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Their perfect unity permeates our souls and brings blessing–life forever more!
Even life forever more!
Scripture reading for June 29th: Psalms 128-134
“How good and pleasant it is when brother live together in unity! It is like the precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.” Psalm 133:1-3
Psalm 133 is one of the next to the last of the songs of ascents and speaks of an important aspect of life in the family and city of God. Living together with others in harmony is not something that comes naturally. Each person has different desires, likes, attitudes, and temperaments. Selfishness often causes fighting, strife and complaining. Unity is an elusive quality in most homes, churches, and nations.
Jesus picked twelve disciples and they struggled with unity. They argued and disputed among themselves about who would be the greatest. Two of them got their mother to intercede for them! (Matthew 20:20-23) Jesus taught them that the way to unity was to take the lowest place and serve. At the Last Supper, He took a towel and washed their feet, teaching them by example. (John 13:12-17) Later that same night, Jesus prayed that they would be kept in complete unity so the world might believe that Jesus was sent by the Father! (John 17:20-23) Unity was an essential quality to spreading the Gospel in Christ’s Church!
The unity of brothers was likened to the anointing of the High Priest. Oil was poured on his head as a symbol of special blessing from above. The oil would flow from the head down to beard and drip onto the collar of the robe. This anointing brought the enablement of the Spirit of God to pray and intercede on behalf of the people. Jesus Christ is our High Priest! He was anointed by the Father and has prayed for us. That anointing to pray and walk in peace flows from our High Priest to us today!
The last analogy is that of dew on Mt. Hermon. Dew comes in the cool of the evening on grass, rocks, and trees. It brings refreshing and helps the plant life prepare for another day. Salvation brings us into God’s community of unity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Their perfect unity permeates our souls and brings blessing–life forever more!
The Holy Garments
Scripture reading for January 29th: Exodus 28-31
One of the main duties of a priest is to represent men before God. A priest must care for people and their needs and be able to help them connect with God. Without help, we as humans are in a difficult position with our Creator. We are born in sin and darkness, caring only about ourselves. Our sins separate us from God and we have no way in ourselves to approach God. (Isaiah 59:2) But a priest who understands and knows God and is trained and equipped to contact God for us can bridge the gap! God provided such a Priest in Jesus Christ!
The Levitical priesthood was to have special clothes made of fine linen. These clothes were designed to give them dignity and honor before God and man. (Exodus 28:2) They must be properly dressed and their clothes were designed to help them with their work. The first piece of clothing was the ephod made of gold, blue, purple and scarlet yarn. This ephod was to be made by a skilled craftsman and fashioned to fit the priests. Two black onyx stones engraved with the names of the twelve sons of Israel were to be fastened on the shoulder pieces of the ephod. Aaron, the high priest, was to bear these as a memorial before the Lord. (Exodus 28: 12)
In addition to the ephod, a breastpiece was also part of the clothing. This breastpiece was to be made like the ephod of the same kind of colored yarn. It was to have twelve precious stones mounted on it in four rows of three stones each. These stones each represented one of the sons of Israel and their offspring. The priest was to bear these stones on his chest, symbolically carrying them on his heart before the Lord. (Exodus 28:29)
Jesus Christ is now our High Priest. He knows how we feel and represents our needs before God, His Father. (Hebrews 4:14-16) He carried our black sins on His shoulders to the altar of the cross. He carries each person as a precious jewel on his heart before the Father. He is now dressed in robes of perfect righteousness because of perfect obedience. He enables all who trust in Him to become priests as well! He dresses us in His holy garments! We become the righteousness of God in Him! (2nd Corinthians 5:21)