I am delighted to be studying the 23rd Psalm for the next couple of weeks. This week, the verse I got to take a deeper look at was:
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.”
This, as with many of the Psalms, is an adoration of God and a translation of what God is doing for—in this case, David—and in the grand scheme of things, for all of us.
For a month or more, my little family has celebrated the Sabbath with a special dinner, candles, prayers, special food, and anointing with oil. I know the kids especially love the candles and the anointing with oil, as smiles go from ear to ear, eyes twinkle, and they hang on every word of the blessing and declaration of my love for them.
The oil we use is a special oil brought back from the Holy Land, a combination of frankincense and myrrh. It is warm and tingles on the surface of the skin. It is beautifully fragrant and reminds me of the gift for baby Jesus from the three wise men.
There are so many references to anointing with oil in scripture. Anointing with oil was a blessing when entering a home and was a lovely practice for more common daily remembrance of God’s love for us.
I think about baptism – in our faith, there is the washing away of sins with water, followed by the anointing with oil to consecrate the child or adult to Christ.
We see anointing with oil throughout the Old Testament as a rite done for kings and rulers. It was used in healing and on the deathbed as well. It was used in blessing and forgiveness, to become aware and be set free. It was considered a gesture of generosity and honor.
One thing that particularly touched me in my studies is that with anointing done for a specific consecration, the Holy Spirit would come onto that individual and never leave, staying for the duration of the consecrated person’s life.
I was asked, “Can I anoint myself?” Anointing is done from one to another, part of Holy Communion awareness.
Holy Communion Awareness
The dialogue we are able to experience with other God-created ones
The purpose of this is to be in conversation with those loved and cherished by God
To share wisdom, brilliance, light, and frequency
Which God has infused in us from the beginning
Holy Communion is an active part of my awareness
God meant for all His creation to know and rejoice in
the bounty and diversity of His own
This communion was meant to help us develop together in His creation
To experience each other’s brilliance
To be a powerful rippling light
God has given me the ability to shift and match those I share space with.
If I am sharing time with lower-frequency, non-God-aligned people,
My potential to match and lower is great.
I myself can also share my brightness with them
and be the impetus for their shift upward.
My nature and heart song were naturally to be
brilliant, light, and wise; they were to be of high frequency.
I would, in my nature, want to be with complementary energies.
You can bless yourself with oil, definitely. The act of anointing infers one person anointing another. It is one person calling out a special blessing, a special future vision for another.
Here are a few references if you would like to look up some verses on anointing: Leviticus 8:12, 1 Samuel 16:13, Isaiah 61:1, Luke 7:46, Acts 10:38, James 5:14, 1 John 2:20 & 27.
Wishing you all the blessings and joy this week has in store!
