Oil Part 2D

Exodus 27:20 NKJV

"And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually.

It took a lot of resources to make olive oil - 10 lb. of olives for 4 cups of oil. Then you had to use the right utensils to get and collect the oil. 

Spiritual parallel: We must be willing to give our time and resources to get what we need. The value we place on the end product will determine what we are willing to give to get it. How do we compare what we give with what we are getting in return? King David was an example of putting value on an offering to God. In 2 Samuel 24:24 he said, "......I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing..." 

Olives were valuable. The trees and the oil were listed among the things that made the Promised Land so valuable.

Deuteronomy 6:11 NKJV

houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant.......

Deuteronomy 8:7-8 NKJV

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;

Even the wood from the tree was valuable. See how it was used in the construction of the famous temple built by King Solomon.

1 Kings 6:23,31-33 NKJV

[23] Inside the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.

[31] For the entrance of the inner sanctuary he made doors of olive wood; the lintel and doorposts were one-fifth of the wall. [32] The two doors were of olive wood; and he carved on them figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees. [33] So for the door of the sanctuary he also made doorposts of olive wood, one-fourth of the wall.

The olive tree and the oil from it are mentioned a number of other times in the scripture, each time revealing the value of this tree and its products.

Oil Part 2C

Exodus 27:20 NKJV

"And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually.

Pruning had to take place to get the most abundant harvest to ensure the largest quantity of oil possible. 

Spiritual parallel: Pruning is getting rid of hindrances. Look at a quote from the author of Hebrews. "......let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us......"(Hebrews 12:1 NKJV)

Now let's see some quotes from letters written by the apostle Paul.  Romans 13:12 NKJV:

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Ephesians 4:22 NKJV: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

Colossians 3:8 NKJV:  But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

Look at what Jesus said. Matthew 5:29-30 NKJV: If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Of course this is symbolic text. Jesus was talking about how serious we need to be about getting rid of things that are hurting us spiritually. He is talking about pruning.

Oil Part 2B

Exodus 27:20 NKJV

"And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you PURE oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually.

Let's continue to look at how this verse can help us grow in our relationship with God and be valuable to His kingdom.

PURE indicates care had to be taken in the process. It could not be haphazard. The oil had to come from pressed olives. This took time and effort. A sense of value for the end product had to be in the hearts of those who produced it.

Mediterranean olive oil - one of the best, for example, requires a lot of time. The olive tree must mature for several years. In the mean time, pruning takes place to enable the tree to be most productive.

Spiritual parallel: We must wait for the Lord. We cannot be in a hurry to get what we want. It always takes time to get quality. Gourmet food takes longer to prepare than "fast" junk food. God does not operate a drive-thru. He has no junk to offer us. His restaurant is a fine dining institution. We must be prepared to sit and wait patiently as each course is prepared carefully with excellence. It is not the kind of place you eat in a hurry and run out. It is the kind of place you go to and expect to spend some time, not just because it takes time to receive what you want, but you want to enjoy the experience. It's not the average joint. You take time to dress up for this place, so you stay long enough to enjoy the food, the service and the ambiance.

Oil Part 2

Exodus 27:20 NKJV

"And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually.

God instructed Israel to bring oil. It had to be pure and from the olive fruit. They had to bring plenty because it would be used for lamps that were to burn continually. We are the light of the world. Jesus compared us to lamps. Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV says, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

God wants us to engage with the oil of the Holy Spirit and the anointing continually so we may burn continually. When the level of oil gets low, we must refill. Ephesians 5:18-20 says, ”And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” So when we see ourselves operating more with our natural minds we must begin to speak to each other – psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. We must sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord. We must, as representatives of the Lord Jesus, start thanking God for all He has done for us. We must do these and other things until we can tell the oil is replenished and we are burning bright again.

Oil - Part 1

Exodus 25:6 NKJV

oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense;

Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit has come to teach us and guide us into all truth. Hence we see "oil for light." We see that oil was also symbolic of the anointing. The anointing was associated with the Holy Spirit, but more specifically, it represents authorization, office or position and sanctification. 

1 John 2:20 says, "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things."

May we take advantage of the Holy Spirit and the anointing that has been given to us today.

The Goodness of God Part 21

Psalm 107:8 NKJV

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

Let us continually give thanks to God for His goodness. It will help us to remember His goodness and it will help improve our health.