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To anoint (anointing)

To authorize, or set apart, a person for a particular work or service – Isa 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives”

The anointed person belonged to God in a special sense.

The phrases, "the Lord's anointed," "God's anointed," "My anointed," "Your anointed," or "His anointed" are used of the following people below
Saul – 1 Sam 26:9, 11 but David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless? 11 “The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are his head, and let us go”
David – 2 Sam 22:51 “He is the tower of salvation to his king, and shows mercy to his anointed to David and his descendants forevermore”
Solomon – 2 Chron 6:42 “O Lord God, do not turn away the face of your Anointed; remember the mercies of your servant David”

In the New Testament, all who are Christ's disciples are said to be anointed; they are God's very own, set apart and commissioned for service – 2 Cor 1:21 “Now he who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God.”

Priests, kings, and prophets were anointed.
Oil was poured on the head of the person being anointed – Exodus 29:7 “And you shall take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him”

Kings were set apart through the ritual of anointing, which was performed by a prophet who acted in God's power and authority – 1 Sam 15:1 “Samuel also said to Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the Lord”
The Old Testament also records two instances of the anointing of a prophet – 1 Kings 19:16 “Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place” Isa 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives”

Jesus the Messiah is described as "anointed" This description is found in the psalms of the Old Testament which prophesy the coming of Christ and in the preaching of the apostle Peter in the Book of Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil for God was with him”

In the New Testament, anointing was frequently used in connection with healing.
The Holy Spirit's activities in a believer's life are pictured in terms associated with anointing.

Jesus' disciples anointed the sick – Mark 6:13 “And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them”
And James instructed the elders of the church to anoint the sick with oil – James 5:14 “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord”. This anointing was for the purpose of healing.

Anointing in the New Testament also refers to the anointing of the Holy Spirit, which brings understanding – 1 John 2:20, 27 “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things”

This anointing is not only for kings, priests, and prophets; it is for everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The anointing occurs physically with a substance such as oil, myrrh, or balsam.

But this is also a spiritual anointing, as the Holy Spirit anoints a person's heart and mind with the love and truth of God.

04.09.2007. 15:20

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