Exodus 27:20-21 ESV [20] “You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn. [21] In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel.
The beaten oil
In these verses, we are told of the extraction of olive oil. It is a meticulous process that echoes through the annals of biblical history. The ancient technique involved in obtaining olive oil serves as a poignant backdrop for understanding the profound symbolism it carries in our collective spiritual journey. As we delve into the multifaceted significance of this sacred substance, let us first step into the olive groves of biblical times, where the process of pressing and beating olives unfolds as a metaphor for our spiritual refinement.
The Pressing Process in Biblical Times
In the agricultural landscapes of biblical times, the extraction of olive oil was a laborious and intentional undertaking. Plucked from the branches, Olives were gathered and meticulously crushed or pressed to release their precious oil. This process involved the use of large stones or presses, a visual reminder of the weighty pressures borne by these humble fruits.
How the olive oil was used in the Tabernacle
Anointing Oil: Olive oil was also a component of the sacred anointing oil used to consecrate and sanctify various items and individuals associated with the Tabernacle, including the priests and certain furnishings. The recipe for the anointing oil is given in Exodus 30:22-33, and it includes ingredients such as myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, and olive oil. This anointing oil was used to consecrate the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, the altar, and the priests.”Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane, and 500 of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil.” (Exodus 30:23-24, ESV)
Lighting the Menorah: Another significant use of olive oil was for the illumination of the golden lampstand. The priests were instructed to bring pure olive oil to keep the lamps burning continuously: “Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.”The menorah had seven branches, and the lamps were to be lit every evening and tended to by the priests to ensure a perpetual light.
The olive oil was used in the meal offering (also known as the grain offering or cereal offering)
Described in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Leviticus. The meal offering was one of the various offerings presented in the Tabernacle and later the Temple as part of the religious rituals and ceremonies. The specific instructions for the meal offering can be found in Leviticus 2. Olive oil was one of the essential components of the meal offering, and it had a specific purpose in the ritual. Here is an excerpt from Leviticus 2:1-2 (ESV) that mentions the use of olive oil in the meal offering:
“When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.” The use of olive oil in the meal offering symbolized consecration and dedication to God. It was a way of presenting a portion of the produce of the land back to the Lord as a gesture of thanksgiving and acknowledgment of God’s provision. The combination of fine flour, oil, and frankincense was offered on the altar, and the aroma was considered pleasing to the Lord.
The crushing of the Olives represents Jesus’ crushing sacrifice
As we reflect on the crushing of olives for their oil, we find a profound parallel in the sacrificial journey of Jesus. His life, marked by the weight of the cross, mirrors the pressing agony experienced in the olive groves. The crushing not only yields precious oil but becomes a metaphor for the transformative anointing that emanates from His sacrificial love.
Philippians 2:8 (ESV)”And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” Isa 53:5
Jesus crushed for you and me. Jesus pressed beyond measure. Jesus bruised and beaten like an oil so the precious Oil could flow into us. The oil of His Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit’s Purity and Anointing
The pure olive oil extracted through this ancient process also symbolizes the Holy Spirit’s purity and anointing within us as believers. Just as the olives yielded their essence to produce sacred oil, we receive the Holy Spirit, empowering and enlightening our journey, akin to the oil that fueled the lamp’s flame in the ancient Tabernacle.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (ESV)”And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
The Lamp and Our Collective Journey
The lamp, tended by the priests of our collective soul, becomes a profound symbol of our responsibility to nurture the light of Christ within. Our lives, like lamps, should be filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit, ensuring a continually burning flame that dispels the darkness surrounding us. Our lives are anointed as kings and priests to our God. We are set apart, sanctified, for the master’s use. The anointed bread is consumed by us as believers as we enjoy a steady diet of the Bread of Life in Jesus and his word.
Matthew 5:16 (ESV) In the same way, let our light shine before others, so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven.
The Multifaceted Ministry of the Holy Spirit
As New Testament believers, our lives are not only illuminated but enriched by the multifaceted ministry of the Holy Spirit. He is the Oil in our lamp. He is the Oil in our bread. He is the anointing Oil
The Spirit serves as our Convictor, revealing truth and righteousness. Converting our souls at the moment we are saved. We are born of the Spirit.
Eph 4:30 (ESV) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
As Counselor, He guides and advises us along our journey.
In times of distress, He assumes the role of Comforter, providing solace and peace.
Moreover, the Holy Spirit empowers, guides, teaches, enables, and converts, enriching our lives with divine wisdom and strength. He is the power of Almighty God with the believer, He is our resource of all that is necessary to live Godly. He is God. The third personage of the Trinty. God in us!
John 16:13 (ESV) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
The Impact of the Oil
Our lives, akin to olives in the pressing process, yield not only the precious oil of the Holy Spirit but also the rich fruit of His multifaceted ministry. It is crucial for us to regularly replenish our spiritual oil through prayer, worship, and communion with God. Just as the ancient priests tended the lamp in the Tabernacle, we are called to keep our spiritual flame burning brightly, relying on the Holy Spirit’s multifaceted ministry to guide and empower us.
The symbolism of olive oil in our collective tabernacle transcends ancient rituals, offering timeless lessons for our journey today. Just as the olive is pressed to release its valuable oil, our lives, marked by challenges and trials, can become vessels of God’s anointing. May we, as bearers of the Holy Spirit, tend to the lamp of our collective heart, keeping it ablaze with the transformative light of Christ in transparent humility and reliance on His multifaceted ministry.