What is it about oil? Why not wine? Or honey? Why were the greatest men of the Bible, kings, prophets, and priests—anointed with oil?
Simple: because oil means purpose.
We’ve turned anointing into something soft, sentimental, even feminine. But when Samuel poured oil over David’s head, it wasn’t a spa treatment. It was a call to arms. It was the moment God declared, “This is My man. He belongs to Me.” When oil ran down the heads of Israel’s chosen, it wasn’t just fragrance—it was fire.
Oil Marks Ownership
In Hebrew, the word for Messiah—Mashiach—literally means “anointed one.” It means someone set apart, chosen, made sacred by God Himself. And how did God mark His man? With oil.
Oil in the Bible isn’t just symbolic. It’s functional. It was used for healing, cooking, lighting, and warfare. So when someone was anointed, they were marked by something useful, costly, and powerful. God didn’t choose random people to be anointed. He chose kings to lead, prophets to speak truth, and priests to stand in the gap between heaven and earth. And He marked them all the same way, with oil.
In Exodus 30, God gave Moses a recipe for sacred anointing oil, and it wasn’t to be used lightly. It was exclusive, holy. If anyone tried to copy it for personal use, they were cut off from the people. That’s how serious this was. This oil was not cosmetic—it was consecration.
“You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve Me as priests.” — Exodus 30:30
That’s the pattern. Oil was poured out, not sprinkled. It saturated. It ran. It soaked into the skin and stayed there. And when that happened, something irreversible took place: heaven said yes.
Kings Weren’t Crowned—They Were Oiled
The world crowns its rulers with gold and diamonds. Israel didn’t. Israel anointed her kings with oil. Why? Because kings didn’t rule by birthright or popularity, they ruled by divine appointment.
When Samuel anointed Saul, it was because God had chosen him. When he later anointed David, it was prophetic. David wasn’t crowned in a palace. He was anointed in the presence of his brothers, forgotten in the field. The oil found him anyway.
“Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.” — 1 Samuel 16:13
Think about that. The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him. Not strolled, not trickled, rushed. That’s what oil does. It opens the door for the Spirit of God to fall in power.
Prophets Carried Oil, Not Popularity
Prophets weren’t influencers. They weren’t fashionable. They were often hated, hunted, and silenced. But they carried oil. When Elijah found Elisha, he didn’t give him a motivational speech, he threw his cloak over him, a symbolic act of anointing.
And when God told Elijah to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha, He was appointing judgment, kingship, and prophetic succession. Oil meant authority. It meant, “This man speaks for God. Don’t mess with him.”
Today, we have too many celebrities and not enough prophets. Too many likes, not enough oil.
(François de Nomé - Samuel Anointing Saul painting)
You Can’t Anoint Yourself
The priest didn’t get to crown himself holy. He didn’t pour his own oil, choose his own calling, or declare his own authority. Someone else had to do it. Someone who already had the authority—Moses. God chose Moses. Moses anointed Aaron. That’s the pattern.
Anointing is never a solo act.
Aaron didn’t strut into the tabernacle because he felt spiritual that day. He had to be washed. He had to be dressed. He had to be anointed with sacred oil—oil so holy, if anyone copied it for their own use, they were cut off from the people (Exodus 30:32–33). Why? Because this oil wasn’t a fragrance. It was God’s mark.
“You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve Me as priests.” — Exodus 30:30
You Need Oil
This isn’t about ancient history. This is about now.
The world is burning. Nations are shaking. We need men and women who are anointed, really anointed.
It’s not about being impressive, it’s about being chosen.
So stop looking for crowns. Look for oil.
And remember this: oil doesn’t fall from the sky. It’s poured. And only the humble receive it.
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