It is amazing how when you search into the scripture and seek Jesus the neat things He shows you. I’ve finally realized that in order to understand the Bible, I need to study as if I were there, in the Jewish culture, and once I understand it from the Jewish point of view, I can more accurately apply it to my life now. For example, I recently read about the lighting used in Biblical times. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven,” (Matthew 5, NIV). I admit when I, a Gentile, hear these words, I automatically think of a light bulb or a candle. However, my idea of a lamp doesn’t even begin to illustrate the point Jesus was making.
Jesus said in John 8:12 "I am the light of the world . Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Do you think all of the listeners standing there were just afraid of the dark or is it possible they understood the necessity of light? To be without a light was not only considered a sign of utter poverty but also a sign of judgement. In Job 18:5-8 it says, "The lamp of the wicked is snuffed out; the flame of his fire stops burning. The light in his tent becomes dark; the lamp beside him goes out. The vigor of his step is weakened; his own schemes throw him down.” King David prayed in Ps 18:28-29 “You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.”
Lighting during Bible times was originally by an open, earthenware saucer-type vessel made with one end pinched together to hold the wick. The vessels were filled with olive oil and because the container was open, spilling was a common occurrence. Therefore, a somewhat closed container was designed of the same earthenware with two openings, one for the wick and the other for the oil. After being filled with oil and set aflame, the lights were placed on top of a bowl (bushel measure) or stand to give light to the whole room. Placing a light under a bowl for any length of time would eventually cause the light to burn out without oxygen and the light would be of no use. When the oil was low, the wick would smolder indicating the need for a fuel refill, which was kept in a separate larger container of oil.
With this insight, like those listening to Jesus at the time, we can understand that believers are breakable, clay vessels open in design for people to see that inside of each of us is power from God (the Oil Container). Not only was Paul described as God’s chosen vessel (Acts 9:15, NKJV), Paul described all believers as “jars of clay” in 2 Corinthians 4:6 – 7 (NIV). “For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Like these lights that required oil to burn, it is essential in order to be a light for Christ that believers have the oil of the Spirit of Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:21 – 22 says, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” Once we are set on fire, just as the lamps were filled regularly with olive oil, we are to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit, which Jesus explained with his parable of the wise virgins who had plenty of oil for their lamps, (Matthew 25). Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:18 “…Instead, be filled with the Spirit,” meaning “continuously” or “keep on being filled” with the Spirit of Christ. We can’t expect to fan into flame the gifts of God if we don’t regularly meet with the Oil Supplier, who is Christ. Just as the design of the lamps made spills common, we are designed so that the Spirit will regularly overflow onto those around us. And as lights of the world, we are to shine brightly into the darkness and not hide under a bowl where our flames will eventually burn out. In Isaiah 42:1- 3 it says, "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” If your flame is barely flickering, be encouraged because even a smoldering wick God is able to breathe on until it is a flame, but without oil the lamp is of no use to Him.
As the children's song goes...."Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning. Give me oil in my lamp I pray. Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning, burning, burning. Keep me burning til' the light of Day!
Mandy
