Bible Study

Anointing with Oil in Hard Times

By Philip Keller

“YOU ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL” PSALM 23:5 (NIV)

In Bible times, shepherds anointed their sheep with oil for two purposes:

(1) To repel insects. If insects are allowed to deposit their eggs in the soft membrane of the sheep's nose, the eggs become wormlike larvae, driving the sheep insane. The ewes stop milking and the lambs stop growing. So the shepherd anoints the sheep's head with an oil-like repellant that keeps the enemy at bay and the flock at peace.

(2) To heal wounds. Most wounds result from living with the flock. Thorns prick, rocks cut, or a sheep rubs its head too hard against a tree. The shepherd regularly inspects them because he doesn't want today's wound to become tomorrow's infection. So he pours on the healing oil. Are you getting the picture? Whether circumstances are driving you crazy, or you've just been wounded as a result of living with the flock, there are two things you need to do:

First, go to the Shepherd. Before you go to anybody else, go to God. Why?
Because 'He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds' (Ps. 147:3, NIV).

Second, bow before Him. To be anointed, the sheep must lower their heads and let the shepherd apply the oil. Humble yourself. Call on the Lord. 'God will always give what is right to His people who cry to Him ... He will not be slow to answer them' (Luke 18:7, NCV).

Sheep don't understand how the oil works; but they don't have to. It's enough to know that something happens in the presence of their shepherd that happens nowhere else. So get into His presence today!

More info on this from A Shepherd's Look at Psalm 23 by Philip Keller