Best Benediction Ever

“Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.” (Ec 9:8 AV)

 

This verse is a wonderful greeting to all those who love the LORD.  It could be seen as a blessing upon departing as well.  These words are words of well-wishes bestowed upon the one departing.  This is no empty saying.  This saying pretty much sums up what we wish for those who love the LORD.  We wish for them to have clean and white garments as well as a well-anointed head.  These two items are symbolic of the life of the well-traveled saint.  The pilgrim desires to arrive at his destination for his master’s pleasure.  The pilgrim who fights the battle of righteousness and faith will have white garments and his head anointed with oil.  What Solomon wishes for all those who claim the name of Jehovah is for their life to be one of righteousness and the minds led by the Holy Spirit.  If we do these two things, we will have a life that the LORD will recognize as one that pleased Him well.

The Bible clearly teaches a white garment is the symbol of the righteousness of the saint.  Cf. Rev 7:9, 13-14; 16:15; 19:8, 14.  In my study, the LORD revealed by other authors this white rob of righteousness bestowed upon us by our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, will be the foundation of our wedding dress at the marriage supper of the Lamb.  The rewards which we can earn for the glory of Christ; gold, silver, and precious stones; are used in Mid-eastern tradition to adorn the foundation of the white wedding dress.  This is why the Ladaodcean church is counseled to buy gold and white garments that the shame of their nakedness does not appear before all of heaven (Rev. 3:18). The embroidery on that wedding garment will be purchased by our faithful service to the LORD.  This white garment which Solomon eludes to is the righteousness of the saints.  It is purchased by the shed blood of Christ.  It is maintained by the saint’s disciplined life of righteousness.  Therefore, the gracious king wishes the saint a life of righteousness!

Anointing oil symbolized the work of the Holy Spirit on the life of the one receiving the oil.  The priests were required to be anointed with oil before service in the tabernacle (Ex. 25:6). The Tabernacle and ark of the covenant were anointed with oil (Ex. 30:26).  Everything pertaining to the Tabernacle was also anointed (Le. 8:10).  The man who is chosen to reign as king was anointed (1Sam 10:1). In 1Ki 19:16, a man is anointed to serve as a prophet.  Ezekiel 28:14 shows us the Cherubim were anointed.  In the New Testament, anointing the head is more closely associated with a function rather than a responsibility.  Matthew 6:17 is part of Jesus’ sermon on the mount.  He instructs those who fast to anoint their heads with oil rather than to parade around in a show.  An anointing is associated with preaching in Luke 4:18 and is a prophecy spoken of in Isaiah. The saints are anointed in 1Cor 1:21.  And, 1John 2:27 reveals exactly what this anointed us supposed to symbolize.  It symbolizes the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the one being anointed.

When we look at what these two symbols represent, the blessing of Solomon is even more special.  He is wishing the saint a life that pleases God in all things.  He wishes the saint a life of holiness.  He bestows upon the pilgrim the departing blessing of strength, integrity, courage, and faith to carry on according to God’s holy word.  Equally, Solomon wishes his fellow pilgrim the leading and work of the Holy Spirit in every moment of every day.  Our gracious sage wishes there to be no absence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in all that we do, in every place we go, and in all that we think or feel.  When we step back and look at these words, there can be no better blessing which a man of his wisdom and experience could bestow.  Solomon was the richest and wisest king to ever live.  He had anything and everything he could ever wish for.  Materially speaking there was no lack of want or luxury.  As far as his career went, nothing but successful days.  Other than marry strange wives, Solomon was the epitome of human success.  Yet after all this, he wished for his subjects only two things.  Not wealth.  Not long life.  Not large families.  Not a stable home.  What he wished for is unfailing righteousness and the ever-abiding presence of the Holy Spirit!