HOLY PERFUME TO GIVE OUT GOD’S GOODNESS Exodus 30:22-38
We are going back to a time when Moses was being given the information about building the Tabernacle in the Old Testament. This starts in Chapter 25 or Exodus and runs through chapter 30. At the end God gives special instructions about how He wants His place of worship to offer a sweet smelling place of His presence. This came through the oils used.
This is a Scripture that is overlooked when it comes to taking communion and we want to look at Exodus 30:22-38. I would like to see some rich truths from this passage.
1. May we see in this Oil AS the enhancement of OUR Worship? We see in this a picture of a beautiful scene in the worship procedure in the Tabernacle. This was a tent that was set up over and over for worship purpose. As they moved they had to tear this down and reassemble it again when they arrived at a new destination. Many say that Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Just as you put oil in a car to make it run better every 3,000 miles so it is when the Holy Spirit is poured in us we run better. In our worship in this church we must not ignore the role of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth… God is Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.” JN 4. The word for worship means simple reverence. This means to give honor to. Praise is part of worship. Worship is taking time to make note of God and his nature (what He is), attributes (who He is) and claims (What He has done and is doing.) Some have said and believe that worship should be entertainment. Why have we let it slip to that? Worship should lead us to a deep sense of amazement, of respect and of high regard to the one we worship. God’s Word gives us instruction on how to worship. We can find from the books of Leviticus, Hebrews, Psalms and many of the prophets patterns for worship. One has shown from the book of John a parallel to the three part construction of the tabernacle. The use of oil in this scripture is a picture of worship that Moses received from God when on the mountain alone with God. As we view it today may it give us a new meaning to being a sweet smelling life for God?
2. May we see in this Oil AS BEING indispensable IN OUR worship? This oil was to be only used for worship of God in the tabernacle or church building. As we have read it was to be poured out in the worship place to give a sweet fragrance as you came into the worship place. Oil as we have said is symbol for the Holy Spirit and without the Holy Spirit we cannot worship right just as it was not right to worship in the tabernacle unless these sweet smelling oils were used. This oil was not to be used as a sweet smelling fragrance like after-shave lotion or cologne. As you know these things wear off shortly after their use. This oil was to be used only for worship that belongs to God. The Holy Spirit does not wear off as we let ourselves be filled with Him. “Exalt the Lord our God and worship, for He is holy.” “Let us kneel before the lord our maker.” We will not nor should even try to find a substitute for spiritual worship. God says, “I am God that is my name and my glory will I not give to another.” To me this points out, we better be serious in worship.
3. May we see in this oil the indispensable prerequisites for worship? There were four ingredients given here in equal proportions. There were stacte or resin droplets, onycha or a mollusk scent, galbanum a sweet fragrance and pure frankincense. These each had significance that brings our attention. We could use them to bring our hearts into worship in the presence of God.
A. Stacte, ointment of Jericho. This is to deal with REMEMBRANCE? It is good for us who believe to recall what we used to be by nature. Eph. 2:11-13 But don’t take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God’s ways [12] had no idea of any of this, didn’t know the first thing about the way God works, hadn’t the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God’s covenants and promises in Israel, hadn’t a clue about what God was doing in the world at large. [13] Now because of Christ—dying that death, shedding that blood—you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything. Our focus needs to come away from what we were to what we are now in Jesus Christ who has made us new by the new birth. The great
B. Onycha, a base for making perfume. This had to have us rejoice. We take time to recall all our benefits and let our hearts respond with thankfulness. How can one be so quiet when asked to share what God has blessed us with this last week or year? C. Galbanum takes us into a spirit of reverence. This is time we spend to comprehend and measure the greatness of God. Most and above all He is Holy. We can’t be superficial, negative, and disrespectful as we take time to think on who God is.
D. Frankincense has the meaning of delightful wonder. This disperses a strong fragrance in burning. In our worship we take time to wonder about who God is and what is taking place. If we cease to wonder in this time we will not be able to worship in a real way. It was this that was brought by the wise men to worship Jesus. They brought presents to worship a King. Think of the song “How Great Thou Art.” When this worship was done back in Exodus the perfume or oil would ascend to God with a sweet aroma to bring him honor and glory. It brought him pleasure. So as we gather to this time of partaking of the Lord’s Supper it brings him pleasure to enjoy the worship of His children. May we leave this service to be a sweet smelling fragrance to a world that is lost and make it better because we are spreading the smell of God’s Holiness?
