12/5/2018 OIL
Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. [King James translation]
BIBLICAL COMMENTS
Hanukkah is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish religion. Hanukkah is the “Festival of Lights,” an eight-day Jewish holiday beginning at sundown on December 2nd, commemorating the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem (around 165 BC following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks) and the miracle that occurred in the temple when the menorah stayed lit for eight days, even though there was only enough oil for one day.
The Feast of Hanukkah was also called “The Feast of Dedication.” See, John10:22.
The temple menorah was a seven-branch lamp stick with three branches on each side. The construction of the temple menorah is described in Exodus 25:31-37. This was the menorah used in the ancient temple in Jerusalem. It is still a symbol of Judaism and the modern state of Israel.
The Hanukkah menorah is a nine-branch candelabrum used to celebrate the miracle of light, the victory and survival of the Jewish people and the re-dedication of the temple. The eight lower branches, four on each side of the menorah, represent the eight days of light. The middle light is an extra light called the shamash which means “the attendant.” This ninth candle is the candle used to actually light the Hanukkah candles. The ninth candle is raised or lowered to distinguish it from the Hanukkah candles. The attendant candle is not the significant one. The other candles signify the eight-day miracle.
While Christians do not celebrate Hanukkah, we do celebrate GOD’s many miracles and blessings, including the birth of our SAVIOR, JESUS. We also celebrate and acknowledge our need to constantly re-dedicate our lives to HIM.
There are also a number of Biblical verses regarding oil, including one of the most memorized scriptures in the Bible, Psalms 23. In Psalms 23, David says “thou anointest my head with oil.” J. Douglas MacMillan argues that when David talks about GOD anointing his head with oil, David is referring to a shepherd practice called “backliner.” Backliner is the pouring of medicine externally on a freshly shorn sheep to control lice or other parasites. See, J. Douglas MacMillan, The Lord Our Shepherd (Bryntirion Press, 2003) and “Psalm 23,” www.wikipedia.org. For example, the Good Samaritan poured wine and oil on the wounded man along the Jericho road. (Luke 10:34.) James 5:14 states: if anyone is sick he or she should call the elders of the church, they should pray over him/her and anoint him/her with oil in the name of the LORD. Thus, David thanks GOD for being his GOOD SHEPHERD and for blessings him in sickness and in health.