Water and Oil: Healing of Body and Spirit

 

Photo by Kui Doraku

Throughout Biblical history, and continuing to modern times, oil  heals and restores both body and spirit. Water and oil used together may have curative properties for our physical and spiritual well-being.

When we have a cold, for example, the healing powers of Mama’s chicken soup are legendary! Not only is the warm liquid a soothing source of fluids, but the oil in chicken fat is thought to loosen chest congestion. Aromatic oils released from oregano and other herbs in the soup also clear stuffiness and have antibacterial properties. And Mom’s special recipe, passed down through generations, prepared lovingly with hours of simmering on a hot stove, symbolizes her tender care that restores our tired, discouraged spirit when we’re feeling sick.

In the Bible, oil represents a rich source of physical and spiritual healing. The Good Samaritan dressed the wounds of the assault victim with oil as well as with wine (Luke 10:34), and Jesus’ disciples used anointing oils to heal the sick (Mark 6:13). James instructs those who are ill to be anointed with oil applied by the church elders (James 5:14).

When God judged the Israelites by sending the plague, Moses instructed Aaron to burn incense as an atonement for the people, and the plague was stayed, or contained (Numbers 16:46-48). Burning incense releases the aromatic, antibacterial oils into the air, which stopped transmission of the plague. Even today, aromatherapy with frankincense, cinnamon, and hyssop is used to prevent disease spread and bolster immunity, as well as to relieve various symptoms.

Moving beyond disease prevention and treatment, oil in Scripture also symbolizes health and an optimal state of well-being. Queen Esther and other women of the Bible anointed themselves with perfumed oils to purify themselves from their menses and to be pleasing to their husbands (Esther 2:12). The Song of Solomon describes the Beloved not only as a well of living waters, but also as a garden of exotic spices (Song of Solomon 4 :6-16).. Frankincense, cinnamon and other spices were often blended into ointment and were highly valued in Bible times to allure and heighten the senses (Proverbs 7:17; Revelation 18:13).

Men used oil on their head as part of their grooming and as a sign of good health, joy and blessing (Psalm 104:15; Isaiah 61:3) Yet during mourning, men would not anoint themselves with oil, to express their sad and downcast state (2 Samuel 14:2).  Even today, men as well as women use scented oils to make themselves more attractive.

The word of God to Jerusalem through His prophet Ezekiel was that He had washed away her bloody sins with water and anointed her with oil as His chosen nation (Ezekiel 16:9). For all who place their faith in His death, burial and resurrection as the only Way to Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; John 14:6), He does the same – washing away our sins with His shed blood (Revelation 1:5), and anointing us with the Holy Spirit!

David praised the Good Shepherd not only for leading him beside still waters, but also for anointing his head with oil (Psalm 23). Praise God that He leads us to the still waters of peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7), and to the joy of His anointing as children of the King and joint heirs with Christ! (Romans 8:14-17)

© 2013 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives

 

I’ll Take the High Road, or Low Road?

 

Photo by Elfea 2009

I dreamed I was in an old tenement section of a city, trying to find my way home. I was making my way from building to building by traveling across the rooftops and at times from one window ledge to the next, even though my path was dangerously narrow. I was afraid I would fall to the concrete below, where broken glass, garbage, and jagged rocks cluttered the ground.

At one point my path across the window ledge and over the roof was blocked, and I realized I had no choice but to climb down before I could resume my journey. I crawled down the side of the wall by placing one foot after another on protruding bricks, made my way on the pavement to the next building, then scaled the wall so I could continue on the high road. It was exhausting, but I was relieved to be on the rooftop again where I felt safer.

Then the scene changed in the dream and I was in the mountains of Ireland, hiking with a group of friends from our church. We started out along the path leading up from the road toward the gentle slope of the hillside. In the distance we could see the craggy peaks of the summit, and my pace quickened, for I yearned to be up there to get a better view.

But then I heard a voice calling me from below and I realized that one of my friends, a young woman, had ventured out on an alternate path from the trail head. It appeared to lead to a short cut and to save time reaching the summit, but it was actually more treacherous because the level stretch led straight through a bog.

From past experience I know that getting your boots stuck in the mud of an Irish bog is a sensation that I imagine is like being in quicksand. On one occasion I actually had to leave a boot behind and hobble back to the path in one boot and one sock, because it was the only way to escape being pulled down further.

The last thing I wanted to do was to leave the exhilarating trail leading upward and to go back, risking getting stuck in the mud. But now my friend’s cries sounded desperate; the others had already disappeared around the bend; and I knew I had no choice. I hurried back down the path, grabbed a few stray branches to pave our way, and helped her out of the bog and back to the main road.

As I awoke, I thought about the parallels between the situations in the dream and detours in our Christian walk. Like other aspects of life, we never remain in the same place – either we are advancing and making progress, or we retrogress and get further away from our desired destination.

We long to find our way home, for we are just strangers in a foreign land (Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:11), and we long to reach the summit where we will see Christ face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). One day we will, if we place our faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6).

When Christ returns for His children at the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 3:13-18), we will instantly be transformed and receive our glorified bodies to be as He is. But until then, we undergo the gradual change of sanctification (1 Thessalonians 3:8-13; 4:1-12), becoming more conformed to His image through prayer, meditation on His Word, and even suffering (Philippians 3:10).

Sometimes what seems like a setback in our Christian walk may actually be a trial God allows into our life to increase our faith in and dependence on Him, to conform us into His image through suffering, and to give us compassion and experience to help others going through similar trials (Romans 8:28).

In the first part of the dream, when I was trying to get home, the path to my destination was narrow and challenging, as is the Way that leads to Heaven (Matthew 7:13-14). When my path across the high ground was blocked, I had to descend downward into danger, but only for a short time before He provided a way back up again.

Even when we are in a deep pit (Job 33:28-30; Psalm 30:3; Isaiah 38:17), or passing through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4), we have no cause to fear, for He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). When obstacles in our path seem insurmountable, He will guide us to the mountain pass leading safely through them.

The second part of the dream was a reminder that God has made divine appointments for us since before the beginning of time (Ephesians 2:10; Romans 8:29-30), although we have the free will to accept or decline them.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37), the Pharisee and the Levite ignored the wounded Samaritan on the side of the road. But no doubt they felt justified in doing so, because to stop would have taken them away from what they thought was their higher calling – namely, fulfilling their religious duties and service. By not stopping they actually showed that their hearts were not with Jesus (Matthew 15:8), Who commanded that we love one another (John 13:34-35).

Yet Jesus said that the true neighbor in the parable was the Samaritan who tended to the dying man at great expense and sacrifice to himself, showing God’s selfless love (John 15:13) and putting His plan above his own personal agenda (Proverbs 3:5-6). May we listen when He calls us (John 10:27) to help others, even though at the time we may have different ideas of how we should be serving Him.

 
May we walk toward the heavenly places He has appointed for us by walking in love (Ephesians 5:2), in the light (1 John 1:7), and in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16,25) until He comes again!

© 2015 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives

Triplets of Stillness: Mary of Bethany Listening at Christ’s Feet

Triplets in Scripture reflecting God as Trinity continue in the three Marys who were close to Christ in His earthly ministry; the three life events the Bible shows us of Mary of Bethany; and her family unit of three siblings, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (John 11:1-5).

One of these three events takes place among three people in Martha’s home, where she as the hostess has invited Jesus to dinner, and Mary is there also (Luke 10: 38-42). Jesus has just told His disciples the parable of the Good Samaritan about being a true neighbor, motivated by love like the Samaritan, instead of by religious service, like the priest, or self-righteousness, like the Levite (Luke 10:29-37). Jesus and His disciples went along their way, until He entered the village of Bethany and visited Martha’s house (v. 38).

Can you imagine having Jesus over for dinner? No doubt you would prepare by cleaning the house, gathering the best foods to serve Him, and making your home as inviting as possible. I’m sure Martha did that, and her sister Mary also, but when Jesus arrived, Martha continued attending to the meal rather than to the Master. Mary chose wisely (v. 42) to spend these precious moments as close to Jesus as she could, sitting at His feet and hearing His Word (v. 39).

In contrast, Martha showed her love for Jesus by taking care of every detail of His visit. Yet her service kept her too busy to appreciate His company, resulting in her accusing Jesus of not caring that she was doing all the work, and demanding that He ask Mary to help her (v. 40).

It makes me wonder how many times, in the name of Christian service, that we lose sight of our love for Christ and one another, complain about how much we are working without recognition, and make demands of those whom we are trying to serve.

Instead of receiving from Jesus a pat on the back, kind word of appreciation, and help enlisted from Mary, Martha must have been shocked to hear Jesus say she was “cumbered,” or preoccupied with her service; “careful,” or anxious that the work would not be completed; and “troubled” about many things (v. 40-41).

No doubt she was hurt, yet Jesus also must have been grieved that Martha focused more on her service than on her Savior, that she was anxious even in the presence of perfect Love Who casts out all fear (1 John 4:18), and troubled even though He urged His followers not to let our hearts be troubled (John 14:1, 27).

Although I wonder how Martha could fail in this way even when in the direct presence of Jesus Christ Himself, I know I am often guilty of her sins. All of us who have been saved by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) through our faith in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) have His Holy Spirit always with us (John 14:16). And yet there are times when doing, serving, and complaining suit us better than just being God’s children, receiving His love, and listening to His Word.

Like Martha, we may feel that the more we do to serve God without being rewarded, the more we are justified in complaining and even accusing Him of not loving us. May we be more like Mary, who recognized that He is all we need (Philippians 4:19), chose to bask in His presence, and was secure that nothing could separate her from Christ’s love (Luke 10: 42; Romans 8:35-39).

Both women loved Jesus dearly and believed He was the Son of God, and Jesus loved them (John 11:1-27). But Martha got caught up in the distraction of religious service, the pride of self-righteousness, and lashing out at our Lord with demanding anger rather than the submissive, tender, self-sacrificing love He so richly deserves.

As we see earlier in Luke, Mary epitomized that kind of love, as she sacrificed her pride, offered her body as a living sacrifice, and gave her earthly treasure to worship Jesus as she anointed Him with precious ointment Luke 7: 37-50). At the dinner in Martha’s house, listening to Jesus was precious to Mary, and she savored every loving smile and tender word He gave her, which could never be taken from her (Luke 10: 39,42).

Mary’s behavior illustrates that God created us for intimate fellowship with Him, for the “good pleasure” of His will, a phrase that the apostle Paul uses three times (Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 1:5,9). Believers today no longer have the blessing of literally sitting at Jesus’ feet, but we can still learn from Him through His Word (Psalm 119); listen for His still, small voice as we pray (1 Kings 19:12); and submit to His perfect will for our lives (Luke 22:42).

As Oswald Chambers said:

You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.

Jesus Himself found time apart from the crowds, His ministry, and His disciples to be alone with His Father (Luke 5:16; Matthew 26:36); to wait for God to speak (Luke 3:22); and to submit to the Father’s perfect will (Luke 22:42). Like Mary of Bethany, may we learn to be still (Psalm 46:10), and know that He is God!

© 2015 Laurie Collett