OIL OF JOY

June 16, 2022

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joyH8342. All your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces of ivory the harps make you gladH8055. All glorious is the princess in her chamber; her gown is embroidered with gold. In colorful garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions are brought before you. They are led in with joyH8057 and gladnessH1524; they enter the palace of the king.

Psalm 45:7-8, 13-15

This is a wedding song for a king, but it is also a messianic prophecy. Kings were anointed at their inauguration and grooms at their weddings. The bride would leave her parents’ home to move into a place the groom had prepared for her at his father’s house. The bride of Christ leaves all to follow Him, and Jesus is now preparing a place for us in His Father’s house.  When Jesus ascended to Heaven, God showered Him with the oil of joy. Other kings were anointed with joy, but Jesus had a rushing waterfall of glad tidings and exuberant celebration recognizing Him as the King of all kings. Because Jesus walked on earth in a spirit of humility and complete obedience to His Father, God elevated the Son to the highest position of authority.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:8-11

Our Groom, Jesus, eagerly awaits the joyful reunion with His bride, the church, when we will share in His overwhelming delight forever. Are you longing to be with your First Love in His Father’s house eternally? Have you studied, as a believer, about where you will be for eternity? If not, look in God’s instruction manual, the Bible, to see what He says about the place He is creating for you. Look up “heaven” in a good concordance. Here are a couple of passages to get you started: John 14:1-6 and Revelation 21:19-25. We also recommend the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn.

Father, we eagerly anticipate the day we will stand before Jesus and be welcomed into our forever home. Meanwhile, help us to follow His example of humility and obedience while we are faithfully serving You in this world. Anoint us with the oil of Your joy as a witness to those who do not yet know Jesus.

Worship opportunity with Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, and friends. A little out of our norm but couldn’t resist it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VShyvXuJBQ0