Last week, in Wilderness Instructions, Part 7, we are reminded from taking a close look at the golden lampstand of our need for God’s Spirit to illuminate the rest for us, so we can see the proof of God’s presence, His power in our lives, His provision, and His guidance. We are reminded that we need God’s Spirit to be continually illuminating scripture, opening our spiritual eyes so that we can recognize where God is already at work and join Him. And we are reminded that we desperately need to never let that Oil of Your Spirit run dry! For it if does, we will be immediately overtaken by spiritual darkness.
But where did the oil come from? Did God miraculously “supply” it?
Today’s study actually jump ahead a few verses, to the final verses of Exodus 27, where we find instruction on bringing oil for keeping the lamps burning: “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning.” (Exodus 27:20 NIV).
Interestingly, this is the first time in the wilderness instructions that there has been a human agent mentioned in regards to the building of the wilderness tabernacle: “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil…” Thus, it is up to the people to furnish the oil.
Immediately after this verse is the second instruction involving a human agent: “In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning…“ (Exodus 27:21 NIV)
It was the responsibility of the priests to keep the lamps burning, but it was not their responsibility to supply the oil! Neither was it God’s responsibility to supply the oil. This was to be done by the people!
As we saw last week, in Wilderness Instructions, Part 7, throughout Scripture oil is often used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. We are given some foresight into the importance of oil and of keeping lamps burning in a parable told by Jesus in Matthew 25. Ten virgins went to meet the bridegroom. Each had a lamp, and the lamp of each was burning. However the bridegroom didn’t come when the ladies thought he would, and they all fell asleep. As a result, their lamps ran dry of oil, and their lights went out.
Fortunately for 5 of the ladies, they had an extra supply of oil. They were able to restoke their lamps, and they were ready when the bridegroom actually did arrive. Not so with the other 5 ladies, known as the “foolish virgins”. These girls had to go into town and try to buy some more oil. They succeeded, but this took time, and while they were out searching for their oil, the bridegroom came and went into the banquet hall with the five “wise virgins”. And…Here comes the sad part of the story: “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.'” (Matthew 25:11-12 NIV)
We are then given perhaps one of the most important words of caution in scripture: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matt 25:13 NIV)
This is the important lesson for today. Though many would like to put the responsibility of keeping the light of our churches burning on our pastors, this isn’t what the Bible teach us! In the Wilderness Instructions, the priests were to keep the lamps burning, yes, but it was up to the people to supply the oil! In Jesus’ parable, it wasn’t the teachers of the law who were responsible for keeping the lamps of the virgins burning. No, it was up to the virgins to supply their own oil! And in the same way, it is our responsibility to keep a steady supply of God’s Spirit in order to feed the lamps of our churches, to feed the lamps of our heart-temples!
How can we do this? After all, there aren’t any “Holy Spirit” stores in our towns. We can’t just go and “buy” more!
No there aren’t. Fortunately for us, God’s Spirit is free and readily available.
So what keeps us from having a full supply?
Our own lack of diligence in taking it!
But wait a minute. You’re speaking in riddles!
Am I? Think about it. God’s Spirit is free for the asking, and the only reason we don’t have it, or we don’t have enough of it, is that we don’t ask! Isn’t this what the book of James, authored by the brother of Jesus Christ, tells us? “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.“ (James 4:2 NKJV)
Thus, the wilderness instructions regarding the obtaining of the oil to keep the lamps perpetually burning, reminds us that it is our responsibility to have enough oil to keep our spiritual lamps burning. We must have that steady supply! And God, who is not asking us to do anything difficult here, is simply waits for us to ask for more and more of His Spirit!
Please join us next week for Wilderness Instructions, Part 9, the Altar of Burnt Incense.
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries.
** Archaeological Study Bible, Copyright 2005 by the Zondervan Corporation, p. 153, The Tabernacle and the Ark and p. 133, Commentary on Vs. 25:37.
(To access the entire “Wilderness Instructions” mini-series, please click here.)