doctor's life support

9th September: My Shepherd (9)

Thou anointest my head with oil. Psalm 23:5

Oil in scripture was multipurpose: for consecration of people and things, for cooking, for fuel or to signify joy. It is hard to see how most of this relates to sheep!

We get nearer to David's meaning by recalling our Lord's reproachful words to Simon the Pharisee, 'You did not anoint my head with oil' (Lk 7:46). A thoughtful host would have offered this service to refresh his guests on arrival. The Good Samaritan knew the soothing property of oil. Both as refreshment and ointment, oil can spell relief.

Oily liniment is used by shepherds to relieve the infection and infestation of a sheep by parasitic flies, buzzing round or burrowing into face and head. Some veterinary ung. emulsificans helps to heal superficial scratches or sores. Oil soothes and heals. How often I, too, need these ministrations of the Shepherd. As sheep can be driven nearly mad by the constant pestering of flies, so can I be irritated by little things. Perhaps the telephone or my 'bleep' act as flies to me, or the unfortunate nurse or relative who innocently says, 'Can I just ask you ...?' and is astonished to be swiped at rather than assisted. My feelings, too, may be hurt or emotions lacerated by the day's happenings. Sheep may catch each other's disorders by rubbing their heads together. Under pressure I may pick up bad practices, language or ideas and need the Shepherd to alert me as to what is happening. I may clash with others and need grace to apologise or to pour oil on troubled waters.

Sheep are not noted for great thoughts; for them the shepherd's oil is for external application only. But the Good Shepherd applies his oil to both mind and heart (Phil 4:7). He does it by the outpouring of his Spirit in our lives, affecting emotions, mind and will: 'He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts' (2 Cor 1:21-22 NIV).

We need his daily anointing and recommissioning, to soothe, heal, bear fruit and endow with gifts.

As doctors we have knowledge, but one of our greatest needs is for wisdom in applying it. In making diagnoses, selecting and carrying out treatment, deciding what to tell to our patients and their families, and how to tell it, we all need wisdom, particularly as technology poses new ethical dilemmas. The same Spirit helps here, too: 'You have been anointed by the Holy One .... his anointing teaches you about everything' (1 Jn 2:20,27), for 'we have the mind of Christ' (1 Cor 2:16). The offer is there. We can only say to him 'You did not anoint my head with oil', if we have avoided or rejected the Shepherd's prescription.

Sun shall not pain them no burning will torture,
Jesus the Lamb is their Shepherd and Guide.

C M Idle

Further reading: Eph 3;14-21. 1 Cor 1:26-31.

JG