Topical Bible: Oil: Failure of, a Severe Calamity

◄ Oil: Failure of, a Severe Calamity ►

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In the biblical context, oil holds significant importance both as a practical commodity and a symbol of spiritual blessing. The failure of oil, therefore, is depicted as a severe calamity, affecting both the physical and spiritual well-being of a community.

Practical Importance of Oil

Oil, particularly olive oil, was a staple in the ancient Near Eastern diet and economy. It was used for cooking, lighting lamps, anointing, and as a base for perfumes and ointments. The abundance of oil was often seen as a sign of prosperity and divine favor. In Deuteronomy 8:8, the Promised Land is described as "a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey." The presence of oil is indicative of the land's fertility and God's provision.

Symbolic Significance of Oil

Beyond its practical uses, oil carries deep symbolic meaning in the Bible. It is frequently associated with anointing, consecration, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed with oil as a sign of their divine appointment and empowerment. In 1 Samuel 16:13, when Samuel anoints David, "the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day forward."

Failure of Oil as a Calamity

The failure of oil production or supply is portrayed as a severe calamity in the Scriptures, often linked to divine judgment or a call to repentance. In Joel 1:10, the prophet laments, "The fields are ruined, the ground mourns; for the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the oil fails." This failure is part of a broader picture of agricultural disaster, symbolizing the withdrawal of God's blessing due to the people's sin.

The lack of oil not only affects daily life but also religious practices. In the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the absence of oil in the lamps of the foolish virgins signifies a lack of spiritual readiness and vigilance, leading to their exclusion from the wedding feast. This underscores the critical nature of spiritual preparedness and the dire consequences of neglect.

Divine Restoration and Hope

Despite the severity of oil's failure, the Bible also offers hope for restoration. In times of repentance and turning back to God, He promises to restore what was lost. Joel 2:19 assures, "The LORD will answer and say to His people, 'Behold, I am sending you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied in full; never again will I make you a reproach among the nations.'" This promise highlights God's mercy and the restoration of His blessings upon His people.

In summary, the failure of oil in the biblical narrative is a multifaceted calamity, affecting both the material and spiritual realms. It serves as a powerful reminder of the dependence on God's provision and the importance of maintaining a faithful relationship with Him.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Haggai 1:11
And I called for a drought on the land, and on the mountains, and on the corn, and on the new wine, and on the oil, and on that which the ground brings forth, and on men, and on cattle, and on all the labor of the hands.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Lives of Faith and Trust
... single penny on hand, it seemed as if failure had come ... her almost continuously to
her bed in severe suffering ... I then knelt and anointed her with oil in the name ...
/.../various/the wonders of prayer/lives of faith and trust.htm

Homiletical.
... are as eager for foreign perfumes as for oil from the ... must be groaning to-day at
the failure of his ... in this little tract with the severe restrictions which ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/basil/basil letters and select works/iv homiletical.htm

The Epistle of St. James
... Calamity is the occasion for valour,' said Seneca (De ... own hands, as though it were
not severe enough), whereas ... do with your faith, and any failure is therefore ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/the epistle of st james.htm

St. Gregory the Great.
... month he allotted portions of corn, wine, oil, cheese, fish ... or you will incur from
us severe punishment."[198 ... bishops and palatines; and after the failure of the ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter v st gregory the.htm

Funeral Oration on the Great S. Basil, Bishop of C??sarea in ...
... There was a famine, the most severe one ever recorded. The city was in distress,
and there was no source of assistance, or relief for the calamity. ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xliii funeral oration on.htm

The Holy See and the Wandering of the Nations.
... Augustine, had been suffering a persecution so severe that no ... them into a land flowing
with oil and wine ... account of this expedition and its failure, see Thierry ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter i the holy see.htm

Another Wonderful Record of 25.
... "'In consequence of failure to obtain my ... destitute; there was no meal in the barrel
nor oil in the ... There had been several severe gales, and some of my friends ...
/.../various/the wonders of prayer/another wonderful record of 25 00.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... Its climate was severe and liable to great extremes of ... upon which he poured libations
of oil, honey, palm ... The expedition was a failure, and Taharqa was greatly ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm