Understanding Anointing

The Bible records a lot about anointing, but because of a cultural disconnect, Roslyn found it hard to fully appreciate what that was all about–until she discovered that ceremonial anointing with either oil or balm was also used to commemorate an ascent or rise in one’s legal status or with the emancipation of a slave as a relocation of property. This also included the engagement of a bride and or the legal acknowledgement of a dependent.^[1]

Roslyn found this fascinating, and because she felt the church today needed an awakening or anointing she continued her study.

Webster defines anointing as to smear or rub with oil.

The first time anointing is written about in the Bible is in Genesis 28, when Jacob anointed a pillar after God promised to bless all the families of the earth through his family. A pillar is a symbol for a mainstay, or a tower of strength.

Consecration with anointing appeared again after God instructs Moses on how to anoint the tabernacle, all of the altars, and the vessels with the holy anointing oil.

The holy anointing oil was also used for the consecration of the priests. God instructed Moses to pour it on Aaron’s head, and blood from an animal sacrifice was also smeared on Aaron’s right ear, right thumb, and right toe—specifically for the forgiveness of sin.So blood was also used to anoint the priest.

When King David was anointed by Samuel we read “the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him” (1 Samuel 16:13). We know David received the gift of prophesy when we read the Psalms where he wrote about Jesus (Psalm 2:7 and others).

Reading on in 1 Kings 19:16, Elijah anointed Elisha to succeed himself as a prophet, possibly the only place in Scripture where someone was specifically anointed as a prophet.

Regular, faithful people, both males and females, were also anointed or filled by the Spirit of God.

For example, Simeon, a righteous elderly man, was filled with the Spirit and was waiting for the consolation of Israel, who was the promised one, or the anointed one (Genesis 12:1-3). When Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple, they met Simeon who declared that baby Jesus was “a light for the revelation of the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:32 ESV).

And when Joseph and Mary were leaving the temple they also met Anna, a prophet who never left the temple. When she saw baby Jesus, she thanked God and said He was the “redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).

From these two accounts, we know the righteous faithful were also anointed or filled by the Spirit, but not formally by priests.

In this way we see anointing which was a requirement for the priests was a copy and a shadow of the true anointing of the Holy Spirit.

The more we read about the priesthood’s bloody business of animal sacrifice and the anointing with blood, the more it looks like a copy and a shadow of what the priests would eventually do to Jesus at the crucifixion, unknowingly, and for the forgiveness of sin!

We also know from Scripture that not every king or priest who was formally anointed lived in the fullness of the Spirit, which poses the question: Was Jesus anointed? The requirement of the priesthood was that they were born from the family of Levi, like Moses. Jesus was born from the tribe of Judah so he could not have been formally anointed as a priest. Yet, He is acknowledged as the living Son of God, the Great High Priest, the Anointed One, a Prophet, and the King of Kings.

Why is this? Because Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. From the moment of His conception in the virgin Mary, He was anointed to do the will of the Father.

Luke wrote that Jesus taught the disciples to anoint the sick with oil and to say “the kingdom of heaven has come near,” and many were healed (Luke 10:9).

We know from Scripture that some who were officially anointed were not anointed by the Spirit of God. But at times the faithful who were not formally anointed or even born from the tribe of Levi were anointed by the Spirit.

Consecration of the priests for the forgiveness of sin appeared to be a prophetic act as a copy and a shadow for what was to come in the future of Israel. That future was Jesus!

So let’s ask ourselves, what did the tabernacle (where God dwells), the priest’s sin, the linen garment sprinkled with the sacrificial blood, and the fragrant oil come to mean in God’s depiction of His everlasting covenant with Israel?

The disciples taught us that the blood of Christ was shed for all our sins, and the Spirit anoints us with the joy of our salvation. “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin” (Hebrews 9:21).

Remember how anointing included the engagement of a bride and or the legal acknowledgement of a dependent?^[2] Anointing also affected the way the Hebrews understood adoption as a child of God. Paul wrote:

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship” (Roman 8:14-15).

I hope this study in anointing helps you to understand because of Jesus we are sisters in the Lord and that we should also desire and ask God for the anointing of Spiritual gifts that will build up of the Church!

Written by Roslyn Alexander. 
Roslyn Alexander had a 20-year career in the medical field in Urbana and Springfield, Illinois, where she currently resides with her husband Greg. The last twelve years they served with the International Mission Board in the European Diaspora, living in Toronto, Canada and Bristol, UK. In 2020 Roslyn published Essence of Day, and its evangelical activity booklet Essentials for Sharing the Essence of Day, a free handbook on how to share a fragrance and a Bible story. She enjoys leading workshops and speaking for women’s events on this topic, which is Biblically grounded.  You can find her online on her Facebook page, Essence of Days. And on Amazon.

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^[1] Milgrom, J.; Rabinowitz, L. “Anointing.” Encyclopaedia Judaica. Encyclopedia.com. https://www.encyclopedia.com/places/britain-ireland-france-and-low-countries/british-and-irish-political-geography/unction [Accessed 05-14-2020].

^[2] Milgrom, J.; Rabinowitz, L. “Anointing.” Encyclopaedia Judaica. Encyclopedia.com. https://www.encyclopedia.com/places/britain-ireland-france-and-low-countries/british-and-irish-political-geography/unction [Accessed 05-14-2020].