1 Chronicles 27:25-34

THE MAN WHO KEPT THE OIL

Intro: These verses present a list of the officers who served in David's court, along with the duties for which each officer was responsible. It would have been a great honor to be chosen by the king for any place of service. The closet we can come to that today would be for a person to be chosen to serve the President or the Governor. Most people would consider that kind of position a great honor.

 

Of course, we are not going to spend our time here today talking about service to a human king, or some other leader of human government. We are going to talk about the Lord and our service to Him.

 

Just as David chose a special group of people to serve him, the Lord chooses people to serve Him? According to His Word, He has given every believer a place of service in the body of Christ.

•  “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them,” Eph. 2:10.

•  “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal,” 1 Cor. 12:7.

•  “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will,” 1 Cor. 12:11.

 

What a blessing it is to be used of the Lord! It is a blessing beyond compare to be chosen, gifted and used by the Lord.

 

This list of officials from David’s kingdom can teach us some lessons about serving the Lord. 

•  Each Person Had A Place Of Special Service - God chooses what we do, where we do it and to what extent it is done. No one else can do the job you have been specifically designed to do but you!

•  Each Person Was Called By Name - God knows each of you by name. He cares for you. He keeps up with you. He knows where you are. It may appear at times that He has forgotten about you. In reality, He can’t forget you! You are engraved on the palms of His hands, Isa. 49:16. “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows,” Matt. 10:29–32.

•  Each Person Served In Different Capacities - God puts us where we are. “Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven,” John 3:25–27. We are to grow where He plants us!

•  Each Person Was Placed Where The King Wanted Them - Wherever the Lord places you is a special place of service. He knows where He can best use your gifts for His glory and for the edification of the whole church. Eph. 4:10-13; 1 Cor. 12:7; Eph. 4:16, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

 

We could spend time talking about each of these duties assigned in these verses, but I want to concentrate on verse 28. I want to look at the man named Joash, who was the keeper of the “cellars of oil”. Here is a man who was in a place of special service to the king. His job was not flashy. It was not a job that attracted a lot of attention.

•  He served his king, but he did so in a dark, damp and deserted cellar.

•  He served his king, but he did so in isolation, away from the glamor and glory of the court.

•  He served his king, but he did so in a place that was out of sight and out of mind.

 

You might wonder what we can glean from a text like this. We can learn much about being faithfulness to the Lord, and about keeping what He has committed to us. Joash represents most people in the church. Like Joash, many Christians serve the Lord in obscurity. While they may be little known as far as the world is concerned, the service they provide is absolutely essential to the life of the church, and to the spread of the Gospel.

 

Let’s look in on the life of this man named Joash. I want you to see the lessons Joash teaches us about duty, faithfulness, and obedience. I want to speak to you for a few minutes about The Man Who Kept The Oil.

 

  I.  THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF HIS JOB

A.  His Job Was To Keep The Oil - The oil referred to here is olive oil. Olive oil was extremely important in the Jewish society of that day. It had many uses in that society. Consider the following uses:

•  Oil was used in the Jewish religion.

-   Oil was used in the “meat offering,” Lev. 2:1.

-   Oil was used in the “trespass offering,” Lev. 7.

-   Oil was used in the ceremonial cleansing of a leper, Lev. 14.

-   Oil was used in the anointing ritual for the priesthood, Ex. 29.

•  OIl was used to anoint kings, 1 Sam. 16:13.

•  Oil was used as lamp fuel - “And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always,” Ex. 27:20. Oil was used both in the House of God, and in the homes of ordinary people.

•  Oil was used as an item of commerce - 1 Kings 5:11; 2 Kings 4.

•  Oil was used as a medicine, Luke 10:34, James 5:14.

•  Oil was used for cooking, 1 Kings 17.

•  Oil was used as a base for cosmetics. 

 

There were many other ways in which oil was used. As you can see, oil was extremely important in that culture.

 

What we need to understand today is that oil is also a symbol. In the Bible, oil represents the Holy Spirit! Just as oil was used for healing, for comfort, for illumination, and for anointing to specific purposes, the Holy Spirit also heals, comforts, illuminates, and consecrates.

 

•  We need some people who will keep the oil today! We need to remember that when we were saved, we became the “temple of the Holy Ghost,” 1 Cor. 6:19. Just as Joash was given charge over the oil in David’s Kingdom, we have been entrusted with the precious Holy Spirit.

•  The church need people who are committed to keeping alive all the Spirit of God represents. Holiness, encouragement, illumination, the presence and glory of God, are all the products of the Spirit’s presence.

•  We need some who will keep old-fashioned preaching, praying, praising the Lord and personal holiness alive in our day.

•  We need some people who will stand in the gap in this dark hour and let the light of the Spirit shine through their lives, Matt. 5:16.

•  In that day, the keeper of the oil literally kept the lights on in Israel. We need some people who will keep the lights on at the house of God in our day!

•  We need some saints of God who are filled with the Spirit of God, and who are making a difference in the world today for the glory of God!

 

•  When we are filled with the Spirit, He will control us - Eph. 5:18

•  When we are filled with the Spirit, He will consecrate us - Gal. 5:16-21

•  When we are filled with the Spirit, He will confirm His presence in us - Gal. 5:22-25

•  When we are filled with the Spirit, He will confess His Gospel through us - Acts 1:18

 

We need to keep the Oil! We need to maintain the presence and power of the Holy Ghost among us in the dark days!

 

How do we keep the lights on at the house of God?

•  We do it consistent giving, and by clean living.

•  We do by plain preaching and by public teaching.

•  We do it through a solid witness, and through spiritual fitness.

•  We do it by singing and shouting. We do it by praying and praising.

•  We do it by loving the Savior, by loving the saint, and by loving the sinner.

•  We do it by faithfulness.

•  We do it by forgiving.

•  We do it by faith.

•  We do it by keeping the oil of the Spirit flowing in us, through us and to us!

 

B.  His Job Was To Remain At His Post - It must have been hard for Joash to stay in that cellar keeping up with a bunch of olive oil, while other had far more prestigious duties! But, that was his job! That was what the king sent him to do!

 

•  If you want to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord just be faithful to Him to serve Him where He has placed you - 1 Cor. 4:2.

•  If you want to always be in the will of the Lord, then keep on doing the last thing the Lord told you to do until He tells you to do something else.

 

No one may see or appreciate the things you do, but there is a God in Heaven Who sees! He watches. He cares. And, He will be certain to reward you for all you do for Him!

 

C.  His Job Was To Guard The Oil - He was to keep an inventory of that oil and be sure none came up missing. Part of Joash’s duty was to see that not an ounce of that oil was missing.

 

We need some today who will commit themselves to guarding the precious Oil we have been given by the Lord! We need some people who are wide awake, with their eyes wide open. We some who are ever ensuring that the oil of the Spirit is not stolen by the thieves of complacency, apathy, worldliness or popularity.

 

Ancient cities had watchmen stationed on the walls. Their responsibility was to sound a warning if an enemy approached, 2 Kings 9:17; Ezek. 33:2-3. Vineyards and fields also had watchmen, especially during harvest. Their responsibility was to guard the produce from animals and thieves. If the watchman did not do his job, the penalty was death. We need people with that same kind of commitment today! We need people who will be faithful to do what the Lord has called them to do to the point of being willing to die for the faith! Ill. 1 Cor. 16:13, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

 

Ill. Some would take our oil. Ill. The ancient city of Sardis. It sat on top of a plateau some 1,500 feet high. Sardis a very wealthy and powerful city that became complacent in their wealth, their power and their city’s apparent invincibility. When Sardis came under attack by Cyrus the Persian, the king and the people retreated to their city, believing they were safe. One night, a Persian soldiers saw one of the Sardinian soldiers accidentally drop his helmet over the wall of the city. He watched as that soldier followed a hidden path down the side of the mountain to retrieve his helmet. When nightfall came, Cyrus and his troops followed the hidden path up the side of the mountain, entered the city while the guards slept and conquered Sardis. The church there was also cautioned to “watch,” Rev. 3:1-2. It didn’t, and like the city before it, the church in Sardis fell into the hands of the enemy while the saints slept. The same thing can happen right here!

 

We must not allow the enemy to take what little oil we have left. If we are not careful, there will be nothing to pass down to the next generation. Let’s give them a living faith, not just a few memories of the glory days. If we are not watchful, the enemy will take everything we have. That is his mission, and he is succeeding far to well in most places, 1 Pet. 5:8.

 

  I.  The Responsibilities Of His Job

 

 II.  THE REALITIES OF HIS JOB

Joash was faithfully serving King David, but that does not mean that his job was without difficulty. There were certain problems Joash had to overcome to remain faithful to the assignment he had been given by the king.

A.  His Work Was Unnoticed - Ill. Being a cellar dwelt can be thankless work! I wonder if Joash ever heard about the accolades, achievements and advancements made by other men in the king’s service? I wonder if he ever felt left out as others received praise, when there was none for him?

 

That is all speculation, but that’s how we are! Sometimes the enemy will perch on our shoulder and whisper in our ear that others are doing better than we are. He will point out the fact that others are advancing while you seem to be moving backward. He will show you others who have more, get more and do more than you. He will do everything he can to discourage you in your work for the King.

 

I want to encourage you to do what you do for the King. Don’t do it for the applause of men. Don’t do it for the recognition of others. Don’t do it for the glory. If you do it for those things, you have all the reward you are ever going to get, Matt. 6:1-6. Just do what you do for the King, and for Him alone! He sees every thing you do. One day, of you have lived to obey and serve HIm, you will hear Him say, “well done,” Matt. 25:21. Ill. Payday is coming, Gal. 6:9, Rev.22:12.

 

Beloved, keep the oil!

 

B.  His Work Was Uncomfortable - Joash served in a “cellar.” It must have been a dark, damp, dreary, dismal place.

 

This is just a reminder that all of God's assignments are not pleasant! The Lord never promised us that we would have an easy path through life. He never promised us that every day would be everything we wanted it to be. He never promised us that our walk with Him would be a dream. In fact, there are tines when it more closely resembles a nightmare. But, He did promise us that He would “never leave” us or “forsake” us. He did promise us that He would give us sufficient grace to face whatever came our way in life. That grace also includes hard assignments!

 

Sometimes the Lord will put us in a hard, uncomfortable place. Sometimes, He will leave us there! When He does, our duty is to deny self and obey the Lord, Matt. 16:24!

 

Beloved, keep the oil!

 

C.  His Work Was Lonely - I wonder if Joash ever had any days when he saw no one. Do you think he ever felt alone in the “cellars of oil?”

 

Sometimes the Lord's work is lonely work! There will be times when you will be misunderstood and misrepresented. Every now and then, the King will come by to visit with just you! When He does, even the most uncomfortable, lonely place becomes a place of blessing, joy and glory.

 

Notice how Mephibosheth reacted to the presence of King David, 2 Sam. 19:24-30. Why did Mephibosheth feel this way? The answer is in 2 Sam. 9:1-13. Mephibosheth is just overjoyed and overwhelmed to be in the presence of his redeemer.

 

All is well and the job worth every cost when the King comes to visit!

 

Beloved, keep the oil!

 

  I.  The Responsibilities Of His Job

 II.  The Realities Of His Job

 

III.  THE REQUIREMENTS OF HIS JOB

For Joash to accomplish his assignment, there were only a few requirements he needed to keep in mind. The same requirements are are in place you us as well.

A.  Stay Until The King Calls - Be faithful until He calls you home, or He changes your assignment. Our job is only to be faithful!

 

B.  Don't Come Out For Any Reason - If you are serving the Lord, you are doing the greatest work in the world! Anything else is a step down!

 

Ill. Nehemiah - Neh. 6:1-4 Ill. Say “Oh no!” when the devil says “Come down.”) 

 

It takes a very special person to just stay put and serve the Lord, even when there is harassment, difficulty, and fatigue. It takes a very special person to stay on the job when they are unappreciated, misrepresented and ignored. It takes someone who cares more about serving the Lord than they do about themselves! It takes a person who is Spirit-filled and Spirit-led! By the way, the name Joash means, “Jehovah-fired.” The person energized by God will keep the oil!

 

C.  Obey The King - There is only One Person in the universe you need to live to please. That person is God. Just keep the oil and He will be pleased! God wants our obedience and our love above all other things, 1 Sam. 15:22; John 14:15.

 

Conc:  Are you keeping the oil? Are you faithfully fulfilling your duties before the Lord?

 

There are a couple of facts that we need to hear concerning this type of servant.

1.  They are Humble. They are willing to do any job they are asked to do. King David was willing to be a doorkeeper - Psa. 84:10.

2.  They are Helpful. They are not interested in what they want or think they need. Their primary goal is the good of all. Ill. Hur - Ex. 17:12

3.  They are Hopeful - They know they will be rewarded for faithfulness to their King!  It doesn’t matter to them if others see or notice what they do. They know they are where the King has placed them and they just keep the oil, knowing their King sees and takes notice of their service! They do it all out of love for their King.

 

Beloved, keep the oil!

 

I know that I have been preaching to people in all kinds of spiritual places. Some here are saved. Some here are lost. Regardless of where you are, there is help and hope for you today.

 

•  If you are saved, you can and should be faithfully serving the Lord. If you are not serving Him like you should, you need to come before HIm and get that fixed up today. If you are serving HIm faithfully, you need to come ask Him to help you to remain faithful to His will.

•   If you are not saved, you need to know that the Lord can give your life meaning. He can save your soul. He can change your eternity. If you will come to Jesus Christ for salvation, the Lord will save you, cleanse you and help you to become the person He created you to be.