VERSE 5 (CONTINUED)
The practice of anointing is frequently spoken of in Scripture. The holy oil was largely used in the Jewish worship. Their prophets, priests and kings were consecrated and inaugurated with it. It formed an important ingredient in the offerings; even the vessels of the tabernacle were to be anointed with the "holy anointing oil." Ex. 30:25. As compounded according to divine directions it was, no doubt, an expressive type of the Holy Spirit in His many and various operations; and in its noiseless flow through the golden pipes (Zech. 4:12) may represent His silent, unseen working in the soul.
But the anointing of the head, as in our beautiful Psalm, is more the emblem of a personal blessing than of a ceremonial observance. The man of God in the beginning of the Psalm, under the similitude of the sheep and its shepherd, speaks of his perfect confidence in Jehovah; and that confidence never fails him: it characterizes this Psalm. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." He is led forth by his Shepherd's hand to the green pastures and beside the still waters. But a day comes when a dark cloud passes over the whole scene. He goes through sorrow and suffering, though the hand that strikes may be unseen. Death crosses his path and leaves its dark shadow behind. The once joyous, peaceful, happy scene is turned into a vale of tears. Still, the Lord is there and His presence is enjoyed. "Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me." And now the figure is changed—changed from the emblem of a sheep confiding in a Shepherd to an invited guest at the King's entertainment.
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." The "table" may be the symbol of the soul's communion with the Lord Himself. It may be employed here to set forth a richer, fuller character of communion with Him. As He says elsewhere, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20.
The anointing of the head seems to partake more of an open, public expression of the Lord's favor; and, in this distinguishing blessing, the anointed one is brought into blessed fellowship with the Master Himself. He was anointed, not with the oil of the sanctuary, but with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him." Matt. 3:16. We elsewhere read that "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power." Acts 10:38. And again, "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows." Heb. 1:9.
Most marvelous, indeed, is the blessing to our souls that shines under the emblem of anointing. Here we are said to be the "fellows" of Christ; and as man, we know, He is addressed as the "fellow" of the Jehovah of hosts! (Zech. 13:7.) What a link! Thou mayest well exclaim, O my soul, what a link between us and the living God! It is also said of all Christians, "But ye have an unction from the Holy One." 1 John 2:20. (See also 2 Cor. 1:21.) True, most true, He is anointed with the oil of gladness above His "fellows"; still we are His "fellows." The Spirit of truth affirms it, we believe it and the day will declare it.
As the anointed kings and priests of our God and Father we shall, ere long, be associated with our blessed Lord in His dominion and glory. We shall then be the public companions of Him under whose hand will be the whole government of the heavens and the earth. "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them.... They shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." Rev. 20:4,6. But let it not be thought that our reigning, or companionship, with Christ terminates with the thousand years. True, that will be the end of the time-period of the reign; and then Christ will deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. "For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet." 1 Cor. 15:25. But our reigning with Christ will just be, as it were, commencing then; for we "shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:17. Our eternal life and our reign with Christ are coequal.
Blessed Lord! What love! What a prospect! What can we say? Oh, give us to walk worthy of the holy oil of our God that is upon us! Meantime, we can only worship and adore in the presence of such grace. In truth we may say, "My cup runneth over.”
“Hail to the Lord's Anointed,
Great David's greater Son;
When, to the time appointed,
The rolling years have run.
“He comes to break oppression,
To set the captive free;
To take away transgression,
And rule in equity.
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“For Him shall praise unceasing,
And daily vows ascend,
His kingdom still increasing—
A kingdom without end.
“The tide of time shall never
His covenant remove;
His name shall stand forever,
His great, best name of love.”