Anointing Oil And Their Meanings?

Posted by Karen Fletcher on 2/27/2021 to Free Bible Teachings
THE ANOINTING OILS AND THEIR MEANINGS

SPIKENARD

Nard is mentioned a number of times in the Old Testament. It is mentioned in the biblical love poem, the Song of Solomon (1:12 and 4:13).

During ancient times, Spikenard was the most expensive perfume in the world. A pound was said to cost an entire year’s salary for the average worker. Spikenard was considered a herb of love, thus when Mary of Bethany poured out her perfume without reservation, it became a powerful symbol of abandoned worship. Her extravagant love caused a chain reaction. Those around became indignant but that didn’t stop her from boldly proceeding to anoint the One she loved. Yeshua vindicated her and her name will always be remembered and her fragrant worship spoken of.

Spikenard is a small attractive perennial and is usually found growing on rock ledges and mountain slopes. It is prized for its aromatic rhizomes (roots). The fragrant worshipful adoration that spikenard symbolize, came thus from the root, the very core of the beloved’s being. It’s found growing in the Shulamite Bride’s garden. "Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, henna with nard plants, Nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, along with all the finest spices. Song 4:13-14

Spikenard is, by far, one of the most lovely and powerful symbols of worship. Mary came boldly, humbly, and without fear of man to worship her Lord. Mary cast aside the indignant remarks made about her and set her heart and affection on the Lover of her soul. She anointed Yeshua with the costliest and most valuable thing she possessed. Mary poured out all she had without reservation. As she abandoned herself to the Lord, the house was filled with the fragrance of her worship. This fragrance reminds us to live a lifestyle of EXTRAVAGANT worship poured out upon our Beloved.

FRANKINCENSE & MYRRH

Frankincense is one of the three gifts given to Yeshua at His birth – Gold, frankincense & myrrh (Matt. 2:11).

Myrrh comes from the word, marar, meaning to be grieved, make bitter, trickle, or to drop. The harvesting of myrrh was done by slicing the bark of the myrrh tree so that the precious resin oozes out and hardens into drops called “tears”. Myrrh’s fragrance is sweet to the smell but bitter to the taste which reminds us of the sweetness of our redemption but the bitter price that Yeshua paid to accomplish our salvation. The process of dying to self may at times be grievous and bitter but 2 Cor 4:17 reminds us that “…momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison”.

The aromas of frankincense and myrrh were present in tombs and temples since ancient times. These fragrances link to the dawning of civilized human society. Frankincense and myrrh are familiar botanical products in the east, where they've been used for millennia. Most people in the west are unfamiliar with the true identity of these enigmatic substances -- even though they are frequently mentioned in historical texts, especially scripture, (frankincense is mentioned 22 times in the Bible).

CASSIA

“All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad.” Ps 45:8

Cassia comes from the Hebrew word, “qadad” which means to bow the head, to stoop and to strip off. It is one of the 4 spices in the Holy Anointing Oil. Cassia bark is aromatic, similar to cinnamon. Like cinnamon the leaves of the cassia shrub are first stripped off and then the bark is ground into a fine powder. This portrays clearly Yeshua’s sacrificial laying down of His own life. He was willing to empty Himself out and to be stripped of His deity. He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point death (Phil. 2:3-8) and was crushed for us.

We also should become willing to be stripped of everything that offends God and become like Him in this godly virtue of humility. It’s the humble who enjoys the promises of being led in justice, -taught His way and have His favorable look Isa 66:2b … "But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word." "He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way." Ps 25:9

Two of the oldest known spices in the world are cinnamon and Cassia. Cassia is similar to cinnamon; however, it has a more pungent and less delicate in aroma. It is also known as Chinese Cinnamon.

Cassia is an ingredient in the Holy Anointing Oil and the Temple Incense that was burned daily in the temple. Cassia oil is distilled from the plant's leaves and twigs.

CINNAMON

Cinnamon is one of the principal ingredients in the holy temple anointing oil.

"Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, Exodus 30:23"

Stripped cinnamon barks are carefully packed in layers, one inside the other, to produce long, rolled and layered upright "quills." Ps 23:3b “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” – The paths referred to here, indicates a circular track or path or rampart. This fragrance speaks of “layers” of righteousness, increased holiness. Yeshua’s life is our example of perfect holiness before the Father. Through His holiness we are made holy. He lived and walked blameless in speech and all He did. Titus 1:8 “…he (an overseer) must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.

LILY OF THE VALLEY

The lily is likened to a straight trumpet. The trumpet was used as a signaling instrument and its sound was brought forth with intent. 1 Cor. 14:8-9 mentions the importance of a trumpet’s clear sound. The lily of the valley carries the clear message of sweet, abundant and affectionate conversation and communion with the Lord. It speaks of pure and undefiled intimacy that grows effortlessly in the beauty of holiness. His gospel – the good news of His love and reconciliation needs to drip from our lips as well as be trumpeted to others. This fragrance serves to remind us to communicate the sweetness of our Messiah in uncompromising clarity. “I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.” Song 2:1 "Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens". Song 2:2 "My lover is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies. " Song 2:16 "Your two breasts are like two fawns, like twin fawns of a gazelle that browse among the lilies. " Song 4:5 "His lips are like lilies dripping with myrrh. "Song 5:13b "My lover has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies. I am my lover's and my lover is mine; he browses among the lilies. "Song 6:2,3 "Your waist is a mound of wheat encircled by lilies. " Song 7:2b “I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily.” Hosea 14:5a

Once again the exact identification of "Lily of the Valley" requires the wisdom of Solomon in order to discern. The most commonly accepted candidate for the Lily of the Valley is Narcissus Poeticus. This is a familiar garden flower up to 20 in. high, with long sword-shaped leaves and very fragrant white flowers, having a short yellow trumpet and crisped red edge.

ROSE OF SHARON

"I am the Rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valley" Song of Songs 2:1

The same Hebrew word “chavatstzelet” is also mentioned in Isa 35:1-2 and translated there as crocus - “The wilderness and the desert will be glad, and the Arabah will rejoice and blossom; like the crocus. It will blossom profusely and rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.” The exuberant joy of the new things is enhanced and celebrated by this fragrance. Our Bridegroom “the Rose of Sharon” is able to bring this forth, in our hearts and life’s desert places.

Why Do We Use Them?

The oil throughout scripture typically symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

By using the anointing oil we are breaking the yoke of burden off of others and ourselves that are anointed and leaving the residence of the Holy Spirit.

MYSTERY: Mark 4:11 To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables.

WARFARE: Eph. 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

BREAKING BONDAGES: Isaiah 10:27 It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil (in some Bible versions it just says anointing but anointing in the Strong's for this verse means the rubbing on of oil.)

ANOINTING THE SICK: James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

ANOINTING OF ITEMS: Exodus 30:26 With it you shall anoint the tabernacle of meeting and the ark of the testimony; the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, and the alter of incense.

THE LORD ANOINTS: Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me because the Lord has anointed me. Stong's number 4886 which means to rub with oil. Isaiah 55:8-9 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thought than your thoughts.

ANOINTING CLOTHS: Acts 19:12 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul. So that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

THE ANOINTING BRINGS THE HOLY SPIRIT: 1 Sam. 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.



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