THE PRECIOUS OIL
A. J. Gaskin
There is something special about the precious oil of which David speaks in Psalm 133, for it was that which anointed the whole tabernacle system, and in particular the priest in all his suitability as appearing in God’s presence. It is said in Exodus 30 to be a holy anointing oil, compounded of myrrh, a resin which bleeds out of the plant in drops and is bitter in taste, a symbol of suffering; sweet cinnamon and myrtle, fragrant drugs, in half quantity, and cassia in full measure for fragrant perfume. In this psalm, near the end of the Songs of degrees, a climax would have been reached as the singers were about to enter the temple, a scene of restful mutuality and brotherly love which marks the enjoyment of eternal life. The psalmist is looking on to Christ, typified by Aaron in Leviticus 8, brought near and clothed in his garments as high priest. Moses put on him the checkered vest and he girds him with the girdle bearing witness to his inner purity. Next he is clothed with the cloak all of blue as is suited to the heavenly Man of which the hem is adorned with the varied coloured pomegranates speaking of fruitfulness and the golden bells whose chimes rang out at each footstep of
his movements. Over this was the priestly garment, the ephod of gold, blue, purple and scarlet, and twined byssus. Who but Christ Himself could bear those colours—the divine glory and what speaks of imperial, kingly and heavenly worth, and His perfect ability to fill out everything for His people and the satisfaction and glory of His God. All this in the devotion, of His love is bound on Him by the curious girdle of the ephod. Thus clothed the breastplate is put on, where the saints are all carried on His heart—“Now to appear before the face of God for us”, it says in Hebrews. And there the Urim and the Thummim are placed, the lights and perfections that reveal the mind of God; and upon his head the dignity of the turban with the golden diadem with the title ‘Holiness to Jehovah’. There the high priest stands in all his dignity and glory as filling out all these features and is to be anointed with the precious oil. It comes on his head, flows down his beard marking his maturity, and flows even to the hem of his garments. How fully the blessed Spirit identifies Himself with Christ, “As the dew of Hermon on the mountains of Zion”. And how close to humanity that blessed Man has come! The woman with the issue of blood knew about it, the “hem of his garment”, was within her reach. Jesus knowing that power had gone out from Him, said, “Be of good courage daughter; thy faith has healed thee; go in peace”. There was no stint of the precious oil. Moses poured of it on Aaron’s head to hallow him, and it ran down to the hem of his garments. It was at His baptism that the Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove upon Jesus, and the Father’s voice said, “Thou art my beloved Son in thee I have found my delight”. From that moment until He “By the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God”, the Spirit was fully identified with Christ in all His movements down here as Man. We can well understand that He is the One who is worthy that God should anoint Him with the oil of gladness above His companions.
Aberdeen