Fragrance

“Your anointing oils have a wonderful fragrance; Your Name is like anointing oil poured out.” [Song of Songs 1:3] 

The Lord initiated the fragrant anointing oil and incense, to usher in His Holiness!

Moses assembled the whole community of Israel to give them the Lord’s instructions to take up a collection – yes, fund-raising for the church. Well actually, to build an incredible tabernacle in the wilderness, to house the Holy of Holies (the Ark of the Covenant), with a magnificent gold candle-stand to light inside, a huge bronze washbasin outside and a big altar for burnt offerings. The people generously gave gold, silver and bronze, yarns, ram skins, acacia-wood, precious stones, olive oil for light and spices for both the Anointing Oil and the Fragrant Incense.

Fragrance can be defined as a sweet or delicate scent; something compounded to give off a pleasant odour, such as flowers in perfumery. A fragrant aroma refers more to aromatic plant oils which are extracted from seeds, peel, resins, leaves, roots, bark or flowers – oils that are the essence of nature in a very concentrated form – and smell astonishing! Essential oils deliver natural healing support for our mental, emotional and physical well-being. I love the scent of oils emanating from a diffuser through my house!

The Lord provided Moses with all the plans for His house, the ‘Tabernacle’ and its furnishings, including making the Altar of Incense. It was small – eighteen inches square (45.72cm) and only twice that in height, made out of acacia-wood and overlaid with pure gold. It was positioned in front of the tapestry curtains behind which was the Holy of Holies. God also specified the formulas for His incense and anointing oil:

Fragrant Holy Incense: Balsam and Frankincense resins, bitter Galbanum gum and sweet Onycha (Labdanum) root, all ground finely and salted;

Holy Anointing Oil: Myrrh, Cinnamon, Cassia bark and Calamus cane, blended expertly in pure, fresh olive oil.