In Psalm 45:8, Matthew Henry’s commentary suggests that this
messianic psalm says that the robes of the Messiah king are not necessarily
praised for their looks, but they are praised for the fragrance they are soaked
in and anointed with. How fascinating!
“All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out
of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.” Ps. 45:8
There should come from this particular formula of perfume
several striking points.
First, some of this particular combo is found in the
designer fragrance and anointing oil from God, Himself, that we find in Exodus
30. The specific recipe was only known to the priests, but it included myrrh,
cinnamon, cassia, sweet smelling cane and olive oil. God describes how this
anointing is to be used for consecration in verse 25.
“And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an
ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy
anointing oil.” Ex. 30:25
So, hold up a second! Lets break it down. The anointing oil
God custom designed for His place of meeting with the Children of Israel is
what the robes of the Messiah will be soaked in.
I’d like to pause here to insert the scientific study of
olifactory memory. Scientists have done extensive research into how certain
smells can trigger responses in us of which we may have no longer have
conscious memories. You probably have smells that you can think of that remind
you of certain places or people. That’s how powerful smell is.
Let’s keep going!
One of the other places in Scripture where we find aloe is a
very solemn moment:
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of
Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away
the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body
of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also
came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with
the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place
where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in
which no one had yet been laid. 42 So there they laid Jesus, John 19:38-42
Joseph and Nicodemus soaked the strips of linen in myrrh and
aloe and then bound the body of Jesus with them. Remember Psalm 45:8!
“All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes…”
…. ….. Whoa!
(Side note: Of course, the Messiah’s robes in Psalm 45:8
also smell of cassia, which is the oil of gladness. Thank God for resurrection!)
What does all of this mean?
To me it means, God has woven throughout the Scripture a
very specific love letter/ treasure hunt. I think of those cartoons where the
character is lifted off the ground. They close their eyes and float along
moving only toward the source of the incredible smell. So basically, God said, “This
perfume, it’s Me in a bottle. Anytime you smell it, you’ll know it’s from Me, and
whatever it is on is Mine.”
The psalm says the Messiah will be doused in it, but also
with aloe. Why aloe? We see in John 19 when aloe was added to the scene by
Joseph and Nicodemus. It is because of the ultimate act of love from Jesus
laying down His life. It will never be forgotten. He will carry the fragrance
of sacrifice with Him always. We will always remember His great love for us
when we smell aloe and myrrh upon His robes.
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s
life for his friends.” John 15:13
We will sing to Him as the Shulamite did:
“Because of the fragrance of your good ointments,
Your name is ointment poured forth;
Therefore the virgins love you.
Draw me away!” Songs 1:3-4
I wonder when He returns, will we smell Him before we see
Him?
This is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
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