Through the Storm

The Oil

Read Exodus 27:20-21; Isaiah 11:1-3; Zechariah 4:6.

The most important task for the Victorian lighthouse keeper was to keep the lamp constantly supplied with oil, otherwise it simply could not burn. We have a picture of this in the ministry of Aaron and the Levites within the Tabernacle. The lamp they tended was the seven-branched Menorah, which is often referred to as a candlestick. This is a misnomer because it was actually a massive oil lamp whose light illuminated the whole Tabernacle structure.  

The oil used was pure; pressed from crushed olives. Isaiah’s prophetic description of the Menorah in 11:1-3 confirms this to have been a complete foreshadowing of Jesus Messiah (the Branch from Jesse) and the 7-fold anointing of the ‘Spirit of the Sovereign Lord’ that rested on Him.

He was able to shine and make a difference as the Light of the World because of the extent to which He was covered and bathed in the glory of the Holy Spirit’s oil. Wherever He went He not only carried the light but was Himself the true Light of Life. His spirit was ‘crushed’ in Gethsemane yet the pure ‘oil’ that flowed from His sacrifice truly brought the Light of Life to the whole world.

Wherever He went He not only carried the light but was Himself the true Light of Life.

The Tabernacle was an earthly representation of God’s home with His people. It was a constant reminder to them of the light of His presence, holiness, protection and fellowship. The priests were instructed to keep watch over the lamps because if the oil dried up and the light went out the Tabernacle would have been overwhelmed by darkness - the complete antithesis of God’s intention.

So, every effort had to be made to keep the oil in the lamp and the light from the fires in the seven sconces burning. Zechariah understood that unless there is a constant supply of spiritual oil, everything we do, all of our efforts, are done in human strength and are therefore merely good works. Anything of lasting value for God’s Kingdom needs to flow from the Source of all life by the Spirit of God.

So, we need to ensure we tend our spiritual ‘lamps’ by giving ourselves over as much as practically possible to the spending of time in His presence, positioning ourselves humbly before Him and being filled and refilled with His holy oil.

Additional reading: Matthew 25: 1-13; Luke 4:18-19.

Anything of lasting value for God’s Kingdom needs to flow from the Source of all life by the Spirit of God.

Prayer Time:

Consider that last sentence again alongside the importance of the anointing of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ ministry.

• What might God be saying to you?
• Does your understanding of spiritual oil shed light on the meaning of the oil in the virgins’ lamps; those that had it and those that did not?
• Can you make a link with Zechariah 4:6?

Give the remainder of your time today to fellowship with God.