The
human mind and heart are a mystery; but God will loose an arrow at them, and
suddenly they will be wounded. Psalm 64:7
So once again in my early morning…is it
randomness…or is the Spirit indeed visiting me here in front of the fireplace
with just a few tiny remaining but still crackling coals…the thought of the
wounded heart led me to the twenty-third psalm, where my thoughts often go.
Because I seem to remember from Sunday School and A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm that the anointing of
oil was for healing. And for getting rid of little annoying bugs that settled
in the sheep’s eyes and throat.
And while there were a few commentaries
talking about the use of olive oil being poured into aching wounds for healing,
and of course the If any of you are sick,
have the elders gather around and anoint you with oil and pray for healing
admonition, most of the other references were to the anointing that is part of
a grand table being prepared, even in the midst of my enemies.
And this is old Charles Spurgeon: Just as a servant does when she unfolds the
damask cloth and displays the ornaments of the feast on an ordinary, peaceful
occasion. Nothing is hurried, there is no confusion, no disturbance, the enemy
is at the door and yet God prepares a table, and the Christian sits down and
eats as if everything were in perfect peace. Oh! The peace which Jehovah gives
to His people even in the midst of the most trying circumstances!
And somehow in this wounding, there is
the oil of gladness.
He gives me beauty for ashes,
the
oil of joy for mourning,
a
garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness.
I
am a tree of righteousness,
a
planting of the LORD;
May
Jesus be glorified.
And sometimes, well, pretty much all of
the time, my heart and mind are a mystery. But pretty much just chugging along,
pulling up my own britches as I march up the steep rocky inclines, settling for
poverty-strickeness and scrimping and tightening up my belt one more notch and
sleeping on the hard ground of life.
And sometimes He needs to whack me on the side of the head.
Stop.
He will loose an arrow. Pause.
Stand back.
I have come that you
might have life, and have it abundantly.
An overflowing cup at the table set before me. My head anointed
with oil.
And maybe it is about those little nasty bugs as well that
torment me. Instead of His glorious Spirit pouring down, dribbling truth and
life all around.
Beloved, the time has
come to pour out a new measure of the Spirit into your life. The time has come
to anoint you with oil in a whole new way. All those little things the enemy
has sent, those little thoughts about your lack of worth, adequacy and
importance to the Kingdom are coming to an end. I am anointing you with a whole
new understanding of your identity. You shall not lack.
I anoint you with
sweet fragrant oil today. I am pouring it fresh to invigorate your heart and
your life. I am softening your heart to My way of thinking and doing instead of
you were tromping along on your own. The Balm of Gilead is being poured into
your life. Healing and restoration is come. I anoint your head, your mind, and
your thoughts, both conscious and subconscious, with liberating oil. Behold I
stand at the door and knock. Hear My voice. Come and dine with Me.
Selah.
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