In my study about Joy, which was my focus for February, I came across a few things that got me thinking and I just couldn't let them pass without sharing cause it made me kinda excited. Now if there's one thing I truly enjoy it's a good visual aid and example when it comes to learning and grasping a new concept. I've always learnt better by watching someone do a thing and then copying it afterwards. I also enjoy just browsing, looking at things and people I'm just a visual kind of girl I guess. If there's one aspect I love about our God it is he seems to like a good visual aid as much as the rest of us when it comes to teaching us through His word. As I studied the word Joy throughout the scriptures I ran across this phrase, "oil of joy", and "oil of gladness". I was intrigued, oil was a valuable possession in Bible days and its uses were many..so where then is the correlation then to Joy?
The three verses with these phrases are...
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 the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3
Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Psalm 45:7
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Hebrews 1:9
Near as I can figure there are three main uses for oil used in the Scriptures...
1. It was used for Light- Oil was the main source of fuel for light in the Tabernacle, in peoples homes, and in the Temple. Oil was what gave light in the darkness so it was a daily essential.
2. It was used for Anointing- Oil played a very special part when it came to anointing priests and kings in the Old Testament. The oil was a way of cleansing and signifying to all those around that that person was holy and set apart to do a special work for God. Oil was also used for offerings made at the Tabernacle and Temple, it was an important part of sacrifice and worship.
3. It was used for Cooking- Oil was a vital part of meal preparation. Do you remember the story of the prophet Elijah and the widow of Zarephath? There was a famine going on in Israel due to an evil king and Queen and the people were suffering. This poor woman was out gathering sticks so she could go home, build a small fire and use her last little bit of flour and oil to prepare her and her son one last meal. Things weren't looking good, then God sent Elijah her way. He found her gathering sticks and asked her to make him a cake first then make something for her and her son. Imagine if you will what a huge sacrifice that was for her, what a leap of faith it took for her to trust the word of this stranger...and yet she obeyed and what a miracle!! 1 Kings 17:15-16 says,"And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah." Her simple act of faith and kindness brought a miracle which affected not only her but her family and I have to believe a great number of other lives. She already proved in the above story she was hospitable so you have to think she also sustained and saved many others through the famine with her oil and flour.
So....what does all this have to do with Joy ??? Well, if we look at it through the three above examples we learn God meant for our joy to....
1. Be a light! -Our joy should illuminate our homes, our face, our words. It is meant to bring light into the darkness around us. It should bring warmth and comfort just like the oil lamps people used in their homes. There is nothing sweeter than sharing laughter with those you love at home. The sound of music filling our rooms, the peace in dwelling in a place of refuge and love. What a gift is home, may it ever be a joy filled place!!
2. Set us apart- Just as that anointing oil, God wants to anoint us with His joy. He has a work for us to do, He wants us to be holy, set apart for His service. His desire is that His joy would be our strength and delight. Our joy should make the things we say and do different from the world. His joy was made to play a huge part in the purpose and plan for our life. Our lives were meant to touch others, for us to be walking, talking reflections of God's love and also His joy. May we follow in His footsteps and be Creator's of joy in our jobs, at the store, anywhere and everywhere!
3. It should Nurture and Satisfy -God wants joy to be a part of our daily lives, as normal and necessary to our well being as the food we put in our mouth. Like the widow who used her oil to make those cakes for the prophet and then her family, our joy was meant to nurture and satisfy our spirit. And just like that story I think God can miraculously help us to have new oil, fresh oil without fail for each day. This world can be a rough, dry place but God can do miracles and He wants to fill our lives with the kind of joy that can satisfy our spirit, mind and body.
So I guess I only have one thing left to say dear reader, here's my prayer for you and I today, "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." Romans 15:1❤