Anointed with Gladness

Anointed  with Gladness

This morning my reading took me to the Book of Hebrews. I have loved Hebrews for decades and have read it and studied it more than any other book except The Revelation of Jesus. Today a scripture caught my attention in a way I haven’t seen before:

“YOU [JESUS] HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS.” Hebrews 1:9 

Over the years when I see pain in our world, I have dealt with it by petitioning the Father that He would usher in the New Heavens and New Earth wherein dwell righteousness (2 Peter 3:13). Really, God’s intervention is our only hope for righteousness. Jesus said: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” We all have what we consider to be good intentions, even as Christians, but only God is truly pure and good and righteous in all His thoughts and ways. 

So why did Hebrews 1:9 mess with me today? Jesus loved righteousness and hated lawlessness more than anyone and yet, and because of this, God the Father anointed Him with the oil of gladness above anyone else. Loving righteousness and hating lawlessness, to one who is walking spiritually, should not bring despair or hopelessness. Rather, God has an anointing of gladness which will override the pain and potential despair in which the natural man would sink. 

In these lawless days let’s continue to be people of the Kingdom of God—walking after the Spirit and not according to the course of this world. No matter what lies ahead, Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He will have His way and no one can stop Him.  

…for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17