Ecclesiastes 9:8b … And let your head lack no oil.
On June 24th, Psalms 23:5 came to mind: He anoints my head with oil. Oil, in the Old Testament, was a qualifier for both priests and kings;
Leviticus 8:12 And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him.
2 Kings 9:6 Then he arose and went into the house. And he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel.
Us not lacking oil means not rejecting the commissioning or consecration that God has already performed on us as kings and priests. It means not doubting that He has already chosen us and crowned us!
How do we reject this oil you may ask.
I remembered when we were younger, and our mother used to pray very early morning. She used to walk up to each child and pour some oil upon their brow as they slept.
If one was alert, they’d awake, even if languidly, and observe. If not, they’d awake with no memory of having been oiled. And being children, one could not be fully convinced unless they had seen it themselves.
Us lacking no oil could mean knowing that we were oiled by God. It’d mean being sure that He — and not man — QUALIFIED us. Qualified us as His children, as His conduits and ambassadors.
Lacking oil is to think you’re not qualified. It is to think you are naked, leaving God asking you ‘who told you ‘you were naked?’ It is to think and act like you’re not a king or priest, and yet God is not a man that He should lie!
How have we acted like we lack oil? By our fallen thoughts, and speech that is contrary to what God has spoken of us!
James 3:2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
We claim we are imperfect, yet God says there’s no spot in us. (Song of Solomon 4:7) We say we are poor, yet Christ became poor that through His poverty we might become rich. (2 Cor 8:9)
Saying such figuratively, paints us shaking the oil off our heads, even if He is constantly oiling us. Remember there is a quality of wealth that follows ‘kings’ and priests. When we do not acknowledge every good thing that is in us in Christ as Philemon 1:6 says, we reject the oil.
Shepherds always oiled their sheep’s heads to prevent fleas and flies — nuisances — from entering their nostrils and eyes making them uneasy. We the sheep will attract all these pests if we reject the oil!
Phillip Keller says that applying the oil once is not enough. It is a process to be repeated. This brings in the aspect of fresh oil. (Psalm 92:10) The fresh application, Keller says, was the effective antidote for the sheep
Unlike the Old Testament when the Spirit came upon and left people, we of the New Covenant have His Spirit staying in us — until the end of age, never leaving nor forsaking us. Even the rest of the trinity came and abode in us, making us moving wells of this oil.
‘The fresh application’ however, still is, having metamorphosed into communing with Him on a daily, receiving new revelation. One comes out refreshed, every time they return from prayer, or a splendid time in the Word.
The other facet to this is the oil representing the Holy Spirit. We reject Him by rejecting His gifts. Many Christians today, instead of desiring some gifts of His, simply indoctrinate and justify the okay-ness of not having them. Some church folk condemn those that tell them if they don’t speak in tongues, they have no Holy Spirit.
I condemn the lying. Both that lie, but also the not desiring such a gift. Tongues according to Acts, were a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Two pictures one has to see: drinking water, and; … drowning in water. Tongues is drowning in the Holy Spirit. Imagine Him as an ocean!
What a spectacular picture!
The sheep has not only received oil on its head. It’s been immersed wholly! Surrounded by the tangible presence of God.
And Jesus said, if we ask of the Father bread, shall He give us stones! Nay! In the same way, if we ask for the baptism, I believe we shall have the baptism! He who speaks in tongues, Paul says, speaks mysteries with God. I found that the hard parts of the Bible I used to encounter, became easily understood, because of this gift.
The Bible is full of symbolism. But this symbolism falls in the category of mystery. If you are not baptized in the Holy Spirit, you will forever dwell on other men’s discoveries and decoding of hidden languages in the Word. You will never decode anything yourself.
Yet Proverbs 25:2 says God is glorious because He conceals matters. And whoever searches them out, to him or her, it is accounted as glory. Now if you never mine these out by yourself, as a miner would mine an ore, there’ll be a certain glory you’ll never experience.
I have just given one example, but we like claiming that the Holy Spirit hasn’t given us the gift of healing as well. So when the sick linger, instead of laying hands, we say ‘God wills it!’ At the end of 1 Corinthians 12, Paul admits that not everyone exhibits the gifts. But in verse 30, He cautions that we should desire earnestly the best gifts. Personally I believe tongues and healing fall in this category…
The key word here is ‘desire.’ Therefore, before you accuse the Holy Spirit of not giving it, check your desirousness.
Lacking oil could also mean, disobeying the Holy Spirit. I’m sure many of you have heard Him say, ‘Go back and pick that trash that you dropped in that wrong place.’ Sometimes we obey. Other times — we turn a deaf ear! But if we can’t obey that, we won’t appreciate His person and voice; and how can He then tell us or use us to go heal the blind and the lame if we disobey the little commands?
Obedience is better than sacrifice His word says! And our obedience of Him, will determine His trust of us to be used for the great exploits we keep praying to be used for.
So I pray for you, and for me; not to breach in speech contrary to His word, and to fully desire ALL of His Spirit, and to love Him so much that we run to obey all He asks. Amen.
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Revelation 1:6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
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