Breathingbook

Let’s take a look at the use and phenomenal meaning of olive oil within God’s Word!

First off, although olive oil is mentioned throughout the bible, mostly as a commodity, in the temple services and as an anointing oil, there are two other specific types of oil mentioned in the Messianic prophecies: the Oil of Joy (Isa 61:3) and Oil of Gladness (Psa 45:7; Heb 1:9). These are the focus of this post. Now, both of these scriptures are speaking specifically about an oil of Jesus and since everything believers have comes through Jesus, these two examples unlock the mystery of what oil represents in the bible: anointing oil, oil for our lamps, candlesticks, etc.

It really should come as no surprise that in the Old Testament (written in Hebrew) the word for “joy” and “gladness” in both of these verses (Isa 61:3; Psa 45:7) is just one word – “sasown.” So, though translated into two different words, the original meaning in Hebrew is the same. This is because there’s rarely a single word for a Hebrew (or Greek) word to English translation.

The Oil of Joy/Gladness is when God’s Word (promises or prophecies) are fulfilled. In other words, something God said in His Word is made manifest or complete.

Psa 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the Oil of Gladness above Thy fellows.

In Psa 45:7, the scripture is pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ. It says God has anointed Jesus with the Oil of Gladness above His fellows. What this means is God has given Jesus more manifestation and fulfillment of God’s promises that anyone has ever been given.

We can easily see this is so since Jesus is the Messiah and the Bible is all about Jesus! Every promise and prophecy eventually points to the Messiah and either already has been, or will soon be, fulfilled in Him!

When God says He’s going to do something, and, behold! It’s there before your eyes! That is when one experiences the Joy of the Lord! That is the Oil of Gladness/Joy.

In the Old Testament, when someone was anointed with Oil it meant God was going to do great things with that person. In other words, it meant God was going to use that person in some way to carry out or fulfill His Word or promises.

In the same sense, when God’s promises are fulfilled this brings forth Oil within us! As believers, we rejoice and spin around and dance a good Hallelujah!

That is a part of the reason why believer need to know God’s Word and study it always. When we do this, it makes us more cosciously aware of the promises God’s already fulfilled and tells us what to look for next. Then, when we see what’s next manifesting, our Oil of Gladness/Joy increases and – no matter what happens – we are strengthened, and our faith is increased.

Scripture says that Jesus’ Oil of Gladness/Joy was far above His fellows (Psa 45:7).

The prophecies of the Messiah are far too numerous to be covered in this post. Yet, let it suffice for now to simply point to a few of the well known fulfillments in Jesus’ life. For example:

• Circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth.
• John the Baptist’s witness of Jesus being the Son of God.
• God’s verbal witness at Jesus’ baptism.
• Every time Jesus was given the words to speak by the Father.
• Every time the Father showed Jesus exactly what to do.
• And we can’t forget His resurrection from the dead.

Every time Jesus obeyed the Father, everything went exactly as the Father said it would. These all encouraged Jesus and increased His Oil of Gladness/Joy. Thus, Jesus had a continuous flow of the Oil of Gladness/Joy, because His whole life was a continuous fulfillment of God’s promises! So for us, God’s Word also becomes a continuous flow of Oil of Gladness/Joy as it continues to bare record and witness of our Lord, the fulfilled prophecies concerning Him, and promises yet to be fulfilled.

When things stretch out and time runs long, as we wait on God, the devil often presents us with darkness in this world, so there’s always some kind of darkness to deal with somewhere.

That’s when we take our Oil of Gladness/Joy, burn it brightly, and shine as lights in the midst of this darkened world.

We are to be the light of the world:

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We shine our little lamps and keeping them burning all through the night with that Oil of Gladness/Joy that we have in our reserves, so that what Jesus has done and brought into this world shines ever brightly and gives strength to others.

We shine the Light of what God (Jesus) has done and point to what’s around the corner.

Allow me to illustrate this point by the Two Witnesses of Rev 11:3-12. The main task of the Two Witnesses is defined by how they are addressed: they are two witnesses for Jesus! In other words, they “witness” the gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world. That’s their main job.

The bible says they are the two olive trees (actually, two branches extending from the One Good Olive Tree) and pour the “golden oil” out of themselves into the candlesticks (Zech 4:1-5; 11-14). In the Book of Revelation we see these candlesticks represent the seven churces (Rev 1:20).

The Golden Oil is that Oil of Gladness/Joy, for when the Two Witnesses arrive, they, themselves are manifestations of God’s fulfillment in prophecy about themselves! This brings the Oil of Gladness/Joy to believers in full, because Jesus sent John to tell us what to watch for in the end times. So, as believers, we naturally rejoice at their arrival, because it means Jesus is returning soon.

Jn 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that My Joy might remain in you, and that your Joy might be full.

The Oil of Gladness/Joy, then, gives us endurance in the midst of waiting on the Lord as we come to know Him more and more – even by His fulfilled Word to us!

I hope you will continue to watch for further posts on the Book of Hebrews study as that book in particular covers many of the fulfilled prophecies concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. Hebrews was written for that very reason: to encourage believers who were going through tough times. This post is a part of the upcoming explanation of Heb 1:8,9. Though you may not understand the connection yet, you will later.

May your Oil of Gladness/ Joy also be increased as you Dwell in the Anointing “Oil” of God’s Word.

Peace out!

Loris James