Anointing מִשְׁחָה

We are in chapter twenty-one of Leviticus with our word for today. מִשְׁחָה anointing, part, portion. It is used 21 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of anointing, the act of applying oil usually to the head especially in order to dedicate a person or object to a particular service or function. Our word is identified as connected to the special oil that was used exclusively for the priests. Exodus 25:6 oil for the lamps, spices for הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. Exodus 30:25, 31 And you shall make of these a sacred מִשְׁחַת anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy מִשְׁחַת anointing oil … And you shall say to the people of Israel, ‘This shall be my holy מִשְׁחַת anointing oil throughout your generations. Exodus 37:29 He made the holy הַמִּשְׁחָה֙ anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense, blended as by the perfumer. Our word is used for the consecration of holy items used in the tabernacle worship. Exodus 40:9 Then you shall take הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy. Leviticus 8:10 Then Moses took הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. Our word is also seen in the consecration of the priests themselves. Exodus 29:7 You shall take הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him. Leviticus 8:12 And he poured some of הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him to consecrate him. This is exactly how our word is used twice in our chapter today. Leviticus 21:10, 12 The priest who is chief among his brothers, on whose head הַמִּשְׁחָה֙ the anointing oil is poured and who has been consecrated to wear the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose nor tear his clothes … He shall not go out of the sanctuary, lest he profane the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the מִשְׁחַ֧ת anointing oil of his God is on him: I am the Lord. This oil was so special that they only wore it when they were performing their sacrificial service. Earlier in Leviticus the consequence was not just profaning God’s sanctuary. Leviticus 10:7 And do not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, lest you die, for the מִשְׁחַ֥ת anointing oil of the Lord is upon you.” And they did according to the word of Moses. This stresses this whole idea of holiness, being set apart for a specific purpose. One of the things God was doing in teaching about holiness was pointing to his son. One of the names connected to the son of God is the Christ. This is the New Testament Greek word for our Hebrew word used in our chapter. Matthew 16:15-16 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. John 4:25-26 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” I’ll close with this great reminder of Jesus ministry as the chosen one to accomplish God’s purpose of salvation and freedom from sin, identified as good news for us. Luke 4:16-21 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”