“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, ‘Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.’
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, ‘Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ But he answered and said, ‘Verily I say unto you, I know you not.’
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.” Matthew 25:1-13 (KJB)
Oil
Christmas Day Two Hundred and Eighteen
My wife and I went to spend some time with our son in Arkansas, and to celebrate the fifth birthday of their youngest daughter. I had intended to do some post automatically, but I went off and forgot; so that is why there has been no Christmas countdown on Friday May 20, or Saturday May 21. Back to the countdown.
What do I want for Christmas?
This is another LORD’S Day; so I want Jesus to always be my treasure, and for nothing to come between my love for Him.
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.” Proverbs 21:20 (KJV)
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” [Jesus] Matthew 6:21
A Widow Challenged by the Prophet
The brook Cherith to which the LORD had supplied for Elijah was dried up due to the drought which Elijah had prayed for, received, and was supplied for by God. Could God have not kept the stream flowing, water coming just for Elijah, rather than moving him on somewhere else? He could have, but He chose not to do so. There was a widow woman, with a son who was about to come to terms with the possibility of starving to death; so the LORD sent the prophet to her.
Zarephath is the place where she lived, and to which Elijah went. According to Strong’s it means “Refinery”; so there may have been some sort of oil refining going on in that location. This widow woman, unnamed, has a young son she is providing for, and she is about to fix their last meal; and the LORD sends Elijah to her, and he presents her with a challenge,
“So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, ‘Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.’ And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, ‘Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.'” 1 Kings 17:10-11 (KJV)
Does Elijah know this woman is in dire straits? He probably knows she is needy, that this woman needs some hope, and God sent him to help her. Do you ever notice the circumstances God brings into our lives, good and bad, are often the means by which God shows Himself strong, and at work in His people’s lives? This woman tells Elijah,
“As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” verse 12
The economy stinks. It has not rained in months, maybe a year or two, and this woman has great need. Some would say; and I know they would because I have heard it; “How dare a man of God to ask a widow down to her last bit of food, feed him first”. Who does this man think he is? First of all he is a prophet of God. Not the first one, or the last one, but he is one who is faithful to the LORD. This widow was about to be blessed and provided for throughout the final months and days of the drought. The prophet believed God would provide.
The prophet uses two of the greatest words you will find in Scripture to speak to the woman,
“And Elijah said unto her, ‘Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, ‘The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.’ And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.” 17:13-16
We are not told how Elijah knew to speak these words to the woman. I think it could be possible that Elijah was walking with God, he knew the heart of God, and God knew Elijah’s heart, that anything Elijah would speak that glorified the LORD would come to pass. No man walking with God will speak contrary to the will or glory of God.
Would to God that had that walk. That is my prayer. How about you?
Walking with God is possible only through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit who comes to live within is always with you, and leads you in your walk with God, to glorify Him.
-Tim A. Blankenship
…A Good Work On Me…
After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. 2 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people. Mark 14:1-2 (KJV)
You will notice the season of the year. It was the time of the Passover when the Hebrews would remember the deliverance of the nation from Egypt by the hand and will of God. It was also the time for the Feast of Unleavened Bread. These two events took place during the same week each year. You could even say they took place simultaneously.
The Passover was instituted when God commanded – through Moses – for each home to sacrifice a lamb and spread its blood on the door post and lintel of their home. Exodus chapter 12 gives the details of this event. It even tells us that this was to be the beginning of their year (EX. 12:2).
This conspiracy to kill Jesus has a political, popularity angle to it. These “Religious” leaders want it to be done after all the multitudes of people have gone. They know that with a lot of the people Jesus is very popular. These “Leaders” see Him as a threat to their positions and to their religion.
In the heart and mind of God the Father the Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread was the perfect time for His Lamb to die for the sins of mankind. These “Religious leaders” plotted and planned the death of Jesus, but to no avail in getting it done in their time slot. God rules in the affairs of men, and if men think not to let God rule, He overrules. Psalm 2:1-4 helps us better understand the minds and workings of man against God, and how God overrules their plans.
And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. 4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. Mark 14:3-9 (KJV)
In the minds of some who were at this gathering with Jesus the anointing of Jesus with this oil was an extravagant waste. Matthew 26:8 tells us, “But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, To what purpose is this waste? “. John wrote,
” Then said one of His disciples (Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who was to betray Him) Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
The murmuring of it must have come from the disciples, but Judas was the only one who spoke, and it was not because he cared for the poor, but “because he was a thief, and held the money bag” (John 12:6).
The value of this ointment was around a years wages. It was quite valuable, but we must ask the question, “Of how much worth is Jesus?” This woman, Mary, who was probably not a wealthy woman, did “All she could” for Jesus. How many of us could honestly say “We have done all we could for Jesus”? How many of us could have Jesus say of us “She has done what she could”?
Who was this woman? John identifies her as Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus [whom Jesus raised from death after four days in the tomb]. It seems she and others knew of Jesus’ approaching death. That is how Jesus describes her anointing His feet, “She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for the burying.” (v. 8).
“Spikenard” according to John MacArthur Study Bible, quote,
“This actually represents two words in the Greek that could be translated ‘pure nard’. The oil was derived from the nard plant, which was native to India. That it was pure meant it was genuine and unadulterated, which is what made it so costly”.
The “Flask” – again from John MacArthur Study Bible –
“This long-necked bottle was made out of a special variety of marble, a material which proved to be the best container for preserving expensive perfumes and oils”. (Page 1493).
The flask being made from marble which was mined in Egypt would be very expensive itself. Thus, Mary’s breaking of the flask made the offering that much more expensive.
In our daily lives we spend and spend and spend on things which really do not matter for eternity. What have we really sacrificed for our Lord and Savior who gave His life for us? We may not have much, but we must surrender it all to Him. He bought us with the price of His blood.
In Luke chapter 7 there is another incident of a woman having an alabaster box and washing Jesus’s feet with her tears, wiping them with the hairs of her head, then anointing His feet with the oil. This must be a completely different occasion. It takes place in a Pharisees home, the woman is evidently a woman of disrepute, and the Pharisee’s comment sets it apart too. The time, also, is earlier in the ministry of Jesus.
As born again children of the King of kings it is in our hearts to do all we can for His name and glory. If it cost nothing it is not a sacrifice.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Fire and Hammer 