The Perfume

And the Lord said unto Moses, take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight. Ver. 34.) The name of the first spice, “stacte,” comes from a Hebrew word, signifying to drop, to fall in drops, to distil, as in Song of Solomon 5:13: “His lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.” Beautifully significant of the grace and gracious words which proceeded from the lips of Jesus.
Onycha, in Hebrew, means also a lion, and suggests the thought of the uncompromising faithfulness, firmness, and decision of the character of Christ, setting his face like a flint, boldly acting for God, and reproving all manner of evil.
The root of the word for galbanum signifies milk or fat, and connects the thought with the “fat which covered the inwards,” God’s portion of the sacrifices, and emblematical of the internal preciousness of Jesus.
Frankincense, white and fragrant, speaks of the purity, piety and acceptability of the character and ways of him who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners.
“Of each shall there be a like weight.” How expressive of the character of Christ! What an even balance do we there discover! His grace, his firmness, his internal excellency, and outward piety, how exactly proportioned!
And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy. (Ver. 35.) Perfume and incense are the same. There is but one word in the original.
The graces and virtues which compose and make up the character of Jesus, how exquisitely tempered together. Not only equal, but harmonized, blended, and combined.
“Tempered together, pure and holy.” What purity what holiness also in the character and ways of Jesus!
And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tent of the congregation, where I will meet with thee; it shall be unto you most holy. (Ver. 36.) All these varied and combined excellencies of the Lord Jesus are to be discovered in the minutest act and thought, and are available for us in each particular.
And when met in the presence of God, the sweet memorial of all this is there for the encouragement of our faith, and for the comfort and joy of our souls before God; “for ointment and perfume rejoice the heart.” And thus, we realize our acceptance with God in his own beloved Son, and enjoy communion with him. And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye’ shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord.’ Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut from his people. Ver. 37, 38.) This preciousness of Jesus is inimitable, and must, not be counterfeited. Self-conceit, through supposed, resemblance, will put the soul out of communion.
Strange fire is natural or fleshly excitement. Strange incense is nature’s imitation of the peerless preciousness of Christ.
Both are alike forbidden of God. But fire from God’s altar, and the sweet perfume of the excellency of Jesus, are provided for the true worshippers of the Father, through the Son.
T. N.
(The Brazen Laver in the Number for October.)