Christian/Religion Studies

Anoint - Anointing::

People would rub their body with oils or grease. With time came the perfumed oils which would have been more in favour especially in the heat. These oils would have been soft on the skin and would have soothed sunburnt and the skin that was uncovered and the sun, sand and wind had dealt with harshly. People could be anointed for health reasons because people believed in the healing powers of the oil used. Luke chapter 7, verse 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. This verse tells of anointing the guest. The people who could not afford much of the special oils would have only reserved it for special occasions such as in Ruth: Ruth chapter 3, verse 3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. Of course oils were good for cracked skin and other skin healing, like keeping the skin moist much as we have oils and ointments for today. Perfumed oils reminds us of the perfumes used today by women. Anointing as a religious rite was practised in the world in the past. People were anointed with sacred oils. There was a sacred custom of smearing of sacred fat on an alter. Here we have a verse from the Old Testament: Genesis chapter 31, verse 13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar... So here we have an object rather than a person anointed. The "Lord's anointed" were thought of as kings. The king was anointed at the coronation. People spoke of "the anointed one" etc, which gave the impression of a very important person and someone that God blessed and thought greatly of. Here we have an example from the Bible: Isaiah chapter 61, verse 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up... Today we would think of "the anointed" as Christ.