Garments White and Head Anointed

From: Bible Treasury: Volume N4 By:

Ecclesiastes 9:8 • 6 min. read • grade level: 7

We take these words spiritually, as an exhortation to personal holiness, and to personal joy. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness (1 Thess. 4:7⁷For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. (1 Thessalonians 4:7)). Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord (Heb. 12:14¹⁴Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: (Hebrews 12:14)). They are not for such as are yet in their sins of scarlet and crimson (Isa. 1:18¹⁸Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)), but for those who, once in that guilty condition, have accepted the invitation there given, and are now white as snow. They have heard the Savior's voice (Matt. 11:28²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)), and have laid their heavy burden down, “down at Jesus' feet,” and now rest in Him by faith through His all-atoning work. “And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11¹¹And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11)). For both He that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one; for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren (Heb. 2:11¹¹For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, (Hebrews 2:11)).

The great apostle says, For to me to live is Christ (Phil. 1:21²¹For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)). Alas! the inconsistency of many professing Christians has been since his day a cause of scorn and stumbling. Those outside read our daily lives, and are influenced more thereby than by what we say. The apostle could always point to himself: take an example among others from Phil. 4:9⁹Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:9), Those things, which ye hath both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you. Weak as we are, by continually looking to Jesus, we may be strong. “My grace is sufficient.” Otherwise we walk as men, careless, thoughtless, watchless, prayerless, selfish, and worldly. Thus we defile our garments. Like “little children weak,” we often fall down. Is it not so? “And let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed, lest he fall.”

May the desire of all God's children then be for garments always white. White is an emblem of purity. Pure religion, and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, to keep himself unspotted from the world (James 1:27²⁷Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)). Let us hate even the garment spotted by the flesh (Jude 23²³And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Jude 23)). Spots are plain on a white garment. Hence the Lord counsels us “to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed” (Rev. 3:18¹⁸I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18)). Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame (Rev. 16:15¹⁵Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (Revelation 16:15)).

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word (Psa. 119:9⁹BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psalm 119:9)).

The Lord not only washed all believers from their sins in His blood (Rev. 1:5⁵And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5)), but He lives for us as our High Priest on high where He is also Advocate for one, if he sin. In John 13 we see Him rising from supper laying aside His garments, taking the towel and the basin, girding Himself, and washing the disciples' feet. What an act of humility and condescension on His part! But this is not all: “Know ye what I have done unto you?” His prayer to the Father was, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth” (John 17:17-19¹⁷Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. ¹⁸As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. ¹⁹And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (John 17:17‑19)). He that is washed (or bathed) needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit. Washed from our sins in His blood once for all, we continually need the word applied by the Spirit to our walk and ways. For Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish (Eph. 5:25-27²⁵Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25‑27)). By the Holy Ghost He brings home to every attentive believer His word, whereby we are led to confess the sins of our walk, when we fail in communion; and we obtain forgiveness of God our Father in His government of our souls day by day (Matt. 6:15¹⁵But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:15), John 15:2²Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15:2), 1 Peter 1:17¹⁷And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: (1 Peter 1:17)). So 1 John 1:9⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) is good for both saint and sinner. “Little children, these things write I unto you that ye sin not. And if any one sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:1, 2¹My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: ²And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1‑2)). Let thy garments be always white.

II. Let thy head lack no ointment.

Ointment, or oil, in the O. T. is typical of the Holy Ghost in the New. Kings and priests were anointed with oil: both are fulfilled in Christ. Such is the order in the N. T.: first quickening, then salvation, and with it the sealing and indwelling of the Holy Ghost. “After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13¹³In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)). “Ye also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ “; yea more “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:5-9⁵Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. ⁶Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. ⁷Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, ⁸And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. ⁹But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:5‑9)). What true and constant cause for holy joy! Even in fasting the Lord says, Thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face etc. (Matt. 6:16¹⁶Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (Matthew 6:16)).

Salvation then through the accepted work of our Lord Jesus Christ is meant to fill us with joy from above. “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” For how long? Is it less settled and lasting than for restored Israel in the coming day? “And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance forever.” “These things I speak in the world, that they (His own) might have my joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13¹³And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. (John 17:13)). Was it for the apostles only to enjoy? The last was given to say to God's family, “these things write we unto you that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:4⁴And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. (1 John 1:4)); as another had written long before when a prisoner in Rome, “Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be not anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:4-7⁴Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. ⁵Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. ⁶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4‑7)).

Let thy garments be always white for His sake.

Let thy head lack no oil for our own portion in His grace.

May God bless these words of His more fully to the writer, and to all readers. T.

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