Weekly Drash - Ki Tisa

Compliments of First Fruits of Zion
reprinted by permission of FFOZ

Parashat Hashavuah

Ki Tisa – כי תשא : “When you take”
Torah : Exodus 30:11–34:35
Haftarah : 1 Kings 18:1–39
Gospel : Mark 13–14

Oil of Gladness

Thought for the Week:

The Sages teach that in the month of Adar, joy increases. This week is the festival of Purim, a happy time of joy and gladness, as it is written [in Esther 8:17], “There was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a holiday!” Joy is one of the foundations of our messianic faith. What better time to celebrate our joy in Messiah than in the joyous month of Adar at the joyous festival of Purim!

Commentary:

You shall make of these a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixture, the work of a perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. (Exodus 30:25)

In this week’s Torah portion, the LORD commanded the Israelites to make oil for anointing the priests and the Tabernacle. The oil is called the shemen haMashiach (שמן המשיח); i.e., “oil of the anointing.” We could also call it “the oil of Messiah.” According to Jewish tradition, the kings of Israel were initiated into office by being anointed with the shemen haMashiach. The word Mashiach (Messiah) means “anointed one.” That is why the Messiah is called the Messiah! Similarly, the Greek word Chistos means “anointed one.” That’s where we get the word “Christ.”

Psalm 45:7 refers to the anointing oil poured out upon the king as the “oil of joy.” The writer of the book of Hebrews quotes this passage when speaking of Messiah:

But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of his kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions.” (Hebrews 1:8–9, quoting Psalm 45:6–7)

The Sages also read Psalm 45:6–7 as a referring to the anointing of King Messiah. In the future to come, they taught, King Messiah will be anointed with the “oil of gladness.” The Sages read the verse to mean, “Messiah has loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, His God, has anointed Him with the oil of gladness.”

Does this mean that Yeshua will actually have a physical anointing with the shemen haMashiach in the future? Why not? Just as John the Immerser was privileged to see Him spiritually anointed with the Holy Spirit of God, may we all be privileged to see Him physically anointed with the holy oil of the Tabernacle. In that day, the oil of Messiah’s anointing will truly be the oil of gladness.

Until then, we His disciples share a portion of His anointing even now. The anointing Spirit of God is upon us, the very oil of gladness and joy. Therefore, we keep the commandments, as Yeshua says in John 15:11, so that His joy may be in us, and our joy may be made full.

Shavuah Tov!  Have a Good Week!

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