1 The Spirit [Ruach] of Adonai Yahweh is upon Me [(Moshiach)]; because Yahweh hath anointed [mashach] Me to preach good tidings [besurah] unto the meek [anavim]; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted [nishberei lev], to proclaim liberty [deror] to the captives [for the shevuyim], and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

à The Holy Oil.--The testimony is that Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows (Heb. 1:9). This was the Spirit, as Peter declares: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit, and with power" (Acts 10:38). It was not enough that he should be the sinless seed of David according to the flesh: it was needful that "the Spirit of the Lord God should be upon him" (Isa. 61:1), by which he should be "anointed to preach good tidings to the meek", as Jesus declared was fulfilled in him (Luke 4:18-21).

This was a further extension of the Spirit's work beyond the work symbolized by the washing of Aaron with water. The Spirit not only begat Jesus, but when he was 30 years of age, it decended upon him in a visible shape, and abode upon him (John 1:32-33), and remained with him in measureless fulness (John 3:34), enabling him to say, "The Father dwelleth in me", Without this, he would not have been able to do the works which bore witness of him that the Father had sent him (John 5:36): for as he said "of mine own self, I can do nothing" (John 5:30).

The anointing of the Spirit was essential to the completion of his priesthood in other respects: how otherwise could he "through the eternal Spirit have offered himself without spot unto God"? (Heb. 9:14). How otherwise could he have known for whom to intercede? (Rom. 8:26). How otherwise could he have "searched the reins and hearts, to give every man according to his works"? (Rev. 2:23).

The holy oil was also sprinkled upon "the Tabernacle and all that was therein", and upon "the altar and all his vessels", and upon "the laver and his foot" (Lev. 8:10-11). The proximate and Mosaic purpose of this was "to sanctify them", The antitypical significance was the same as the anointing of Aaron; for all the elements of the Tabernacle and its furniture represented some phase or other of the work of God in Christ, as we have seen: and therefore all had to be anointed with the typical oil to fill in the "pattern".

Law of Moses Ch 18

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of Yahweh [Shnat Ratzon L'Hashem (the year of the L-rd's favor and grace)], and the day of vengeance of our Elohim[Yom Nakam L'Eloheinu]; to comfort all that mourn [avelim];

à"Thus saith Yahweh of armies," who, as Moses saith, "is a Man of War" and "a Jealous Power," "I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great jealousy. And I am very sore displeased with the nations at ease; for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction."

Now, if this were the state of Yahweh's mind in the days of Zechariah, what must be the intensity of his jealousy for Jerusalem and Zion at this day! The Chaldeans destroyed Jerusalem, and burned the temple, and overturned the kingdom and throne of David; and he punished the Chaldean Babylon with the loss of empire, and a conversion into heaps of ruins as at this day.

The Roman nations followed in their steps; and have aggravated the affliction and their own guilt, by great cruelty towards Israel, and slaughters, or rather torments inflicted upon the brethren of Jesus, the Saints. The Little Horn Babylon, therefore, of our times, will be subjected to a more terrible vengeance than hitherto experienced by any power, or confederacy of powers, hostile to the Jews.

The decree of Yahweh concerning Jerusalem and Zion hath gone forth; and he commanded Zechariah to proclaim it, saying, "Thus saith Yahweh of armies, My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and Yahweh shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem."

Eureka 1.1.5.

3 To appoint [grant] unto them that mourn in Zion [Avelei Tziyon] , to give unto them beauty [ a flower wreath] for ashes [instead of], the oil of joy [shemen sasson] for mourning, the garment of praise [tehillah] for the spirit of heaviness [ ruach of keheh]; that they might be called trees of righteousness [Eilei HaTzedek (Oaks of Righteousness)], the planting of Yahweh, that HE might be glorified.

These palm-bearing ELOHIM are the goodly trees, the palm trees, the fig trees, and the willows of the brook; the Trees of Righteousness, whose leaves are unfading; "the planting of Yahweh on either side of the pure river of water of life clear as crystal;" the great forest of evergreens filling the earth with their perfume, to the glory of his Name (Isa. lxi. 3; Psa. i. 3; Apoc. xxii. 1,2).

But, before they could figure, as stately palm trees in the concourse of nations, they had to "drink of the brook by the way." In this relation of things they were "willows of the brook;" and this is the reason why afterwards, they exalt their heads above the peoples in this great Feast of Tabernacles, as lofty palms.

The Captain of their salvation who leads them to glory, was himself once "a willow of the brook" -- a weeping willow -- "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." As the Christ-Spirit in David predicted in Psa. cx. 7, concerning David's Son and Lord, so it was verified in Jesus -- "he drank of the brook by the way, THEREFORE he shall exalt the head:" "He was obedient unto death, therefore he was crowned with glory and honour."

....Out of the great tribulation which precedes their resurrection from the dead. And, because they held fast the Name and the Faith, and defiled not their garments, and were faithful unto death; "therefore they are before the throne of the Deity, and serve him day and night in His temple." Yahweh Elohim the almighty, is the temple, even the Lamb (Rev xxi. 22): being, therefore, constituents of Yahweh Elohim, they are living stones of the temple, and serving the Father continually, "who hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their Deity, and they shall be my people" (2 Cor. vi. 16): and because it is so written, the Elder added, "and he that is sitting on the throne shall pitch his tent over them.

They shall hunger no more, neither shall they thirst any more, neither shall the sun," with which the Woman was clothed, "smite them, nor any heat," or oppression. "Because the Lamb in the very midst of the throne shall tend them, and lead them to living fountains of waters, and the Deity shall wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Eureka 7.12.

6 But ye shall be named the Priests of Yahweh: men shall call you the Ministers of our Elohim: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

'eat the riches of the Gentiles' ...that is, increase in wealth at the expense of the latter

Are we harassed and overborne with the difficulties and the complications and the vexations incident to the present form of human life on earth? There is peace and rest and tranquillity and joy in store when Christ comes to take his brethren to his bosom, overshadowing them with his love and harbouring them in his Father's house-the glorious kingdom of the age to come.

Are we poor and despised and of no account among men?...Are we lonely and famished of spirit for want of the society of intelligence and nobility and worth?

The day of the manifestation of the sons of God will introduce us to a multitude that no man can number of the choicest of mankind, made perfect in their glorification-men of clear eye, and quick intelligent interest, and strong faith, and devout adoration of God-men whom Yahweh Himself styles "my jewels" (Mal. 3:17).

Such society will be a perpetual fountain of living waters in which we shall bathe and disport ourselves with joy unspeakable and full of glory. There is no good thing to be conceived or desired but what is contained in the hope laid up for us in heaven with Christ, who will bring it unto us at his glorious revelation (1 Pet. 1:13).

With such a "joy set before us," does it not become easy, when we realise it, to endure the evil of present experience, and to submit to the deprivation connected with the profession of our hope? There is but one answer. It would be madness to turn aside. There is but one wise course, and that is to take Paul's advice:

"Cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward."

Seasons 1.85