04. Myrrh
Myrrh
Two words are used for Myrrh in the Old Testament. We will use Strong’s Concordance and its numbering system to identify the words. The first one, used in many translations, is found in Genesis 37:25; Genesis 43:11. This word is 3910 that is a form of 3874 which means, "to wrap." One example of 3874 is in 1 Samuel 21:9 where David received the sword of Goliath which had been wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod.
Strong’s 3910
Joseph’s brothers sold him to a company of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead en route to Egypt. They were carrying spices, balm and myrrh. Some of the brothers tried to placate their consciences, choosing to sell him instead of slaying him. They would profit from the twenty pieces of silver. The communication sent to their father in the form of a robe dipped in blood prompted their father to conclude that an evil beast had devoured him. Meanwhile Joseph had gone "wrapped" with the myrrh and spices of the Ishmaelites to Egypt. Was it his fragrance that attracted Potiphar to purchase him?
Between Genesis 37:1-36; Genesis 41:1-57 we see great testing. Joseph had many trials in Egypt, but the Lord was with him and prospered him. He was pure, honest and faithful — a real servant. During the various difficult experiences with their deep personal exercises, the Lord was preparing him for greater things. Finally he was exalted as lord in Egypt next to Pharaoh and was the saviour of that whole inhabited part of the world.
Judah, who had suggested the sale, was brought to shame. Years of prosperity ended and a great famine began. Hunger brought the brothers to Egypt where they were recognized — even if unknown to them. After conversations with Joseph and a three-day imprisonment, their consciences deeply bothered them, causing them to associate past actions against Joseph with their present distress. Not knowing they were talking to their brother, they voiced their distress. Upon hearing their confessions, Joseph turned from them to weep privately. He then commanded to fill their sacks, return their money and hold Simeon until they returned with their younger brother, Benjamin. After further deep exercises and hunger, with no other solution possible, they returned again to Egypt. But something special was taken with them this time — myrrh.
It would not have been a fitting for Joseph’s brothers to bring myrrh on their first visit. Hunger and a desire for the "good life" may have been motives. But the experiences in Egypt, their father’s distress and deepening hunger - with no way out - forced them to return. On this return their father requested that they carry a little honey, spices, myrrh, nuts and almonds along with double money, and he allowed them to take their brother Benjamin to meet the great ruler in Egypt. Father had been hoping for the safe return of all with Simeon, Benjamin and some food. With Benjamin, the myrrh and other things, they stood before Joseph. On this trip, after some more deep experiences, they were reunited with Joseph. They still couldn’t dwell with him in unity, but there was progress in establishing new and far better relationships.
Strong’s 4666
We will now look at a word (Strong’s 4666) that is used twice in the New Testament (NT). We will find two important references to myrrh in connection with our Lord Jesus. In Matthew 2:11 we find wise men coming from the east looking for Him. When they came into the house they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. When they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. These men were wise to seek the Lord Jesus, find Him, worship Him and present to Him things that expressed their appreciation of who He was! The next reference is John 19:38-42.
"After this came Joseph of Arimathea... also Nicodemus... and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes about an hundred pound weight, and took the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews was to bury." The shepherds found the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Wise men had brought gold, frankincense and myrrh to our Lord when He was a young child. After His death on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea with Nicodemus left His body in the tomb, wrapped in linen clothes with myrrh and aloes. In between were the deep experiences He passed through.
Joseph’s life and deep experiences with his brethren and his trials in Egypt were shadows of our Lord’s deep experiences. Joseph had been wrapped with the myrrh on the road going to Egypt. He had such a fragrant life — fragrant to both God and men! But the great pain and suffering of our Lord produced a fragrance that is unique above all others!
Wise men (also women and children) can still bring myrrh to Him as we contemplate His life and death. Our Lord also feels deeply our trials and difficulties. It is important for us to go through them with Him. Communion with Him through all the deep experiences of life will produce a sweet fragrance of Him. We will soon reign with Him in His appointed time and place, but it is here in this world where we can associate with Him and gather our myrrh for Him. As it is presented to Him, we along with others may enjoy the aroma! We may then be a sweet savour of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15) as followers of God. We will also enjoy His aroma as dear children, walking in love, as Christ has loved us and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour (Ephesians 5:1-2). What provisions for unifying conditions!
Strong’s 4753
Now we move on to the other most common Old Testament word for myrrh—Strong’s 4753. It means distilling in drops and comes from Strong’s 4843, which is translated as bitter, moved with choler, grieved, provoke and vex. An example of 4843 is in Genesis 49:23. Moses blesses the tribe of Joseph with the words:
"The archers have sorely grieved him..." The first use of Strong’s 4753 is in Exodus 30:1-38 as the first ingredient of the Precious Ointment. All the deep feelings and affection of Him for His people - and those of His people for Him - are imbedded in this word. We shall see some of this as we trace it through the Scriptures. The next reference is in Esther 2:12. Esther lost her father and mother early in life and had been raised by her uncle Mordecai. Now she was taken from him for a year of purification before being presented to the king. The first six months of purification was to be with the oil of myrrh. Those were very difficult experiences for her. Isolation from Mordecai and the rigours of being immersed in the purification process with the bitter oil of myrrh would produce a marked change in her. Looking back she could see mainly sorrows. It would be better to look ahead to better and more useful days. The oil of myrrh would separate her from the past and prepare her for the future. For us, too, better days lie ahead - the best days - eternity with our Lord! But first, the bitter days of preparation.
Psalms 45:1-2; Psalms 45:7-8 show us progression in appreciation of the King.
"My heart is inditing a good matter; I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into Thy lips: therefore God has blessed Thee for ever...Thou hast loved righteousness and hatest wickedness: therefore Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. All Thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces whereby they have made Thee glad."
Contemplation of the King draws out the affections of the heart. Regardless of the difficulties, the heart is occupied with Him. What a great occupation! This will bring us into agreement with others who are also occupied with Him. How unifying this is!
Sadly, there is a false use of myrrh and cinnamon. In Proverbs 7:7-27 we learn of the ways of the flattering seductress. Verse 17 lists the fragrances. How sad that the fragrances which should be reserved for most noble things are degraded. How much of that is found today! That which should be only for our Lord is used to lure away souls to the detriment of the deceived. The world with its allurements has divided our hearts, seeking to lure us away from Him. May we be so occupied with Him that nothing will be able to distract us! The Song of Solomon contains the most references to the myrrh. This should not surprise us since it is a book that deals with the deep affections between a bridegroom and bride. In their communion in Song of Solomon 1:1-17 the bride says in verse 13:
"A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts."
It was her great delight to be with him and to hold him close in her embrace and affections. This communion continues in chapter 3 where she says in verse 6:
"Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the powders of the merchant?"
Then in chapter 4 the bridegroom speaks, saying in verse 6:
"Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense." Could it be that the "mountain of myrrh" would speak of our Lord’s sufferings? How great His sufferings! What a mountain that is! He says that He will be at that mountain and His bride is invited to join Him there. Should we disappoint Him? Let’s come every Lord’s Day with others to meet Him there to contemplate Him in His sufferings. Let’s come often in our hearts to enjoy His company in private! He is there; we can always find Him! But He goes on to speak of the "hill of frankincense." Could this speak of what we, like the wise men, would bring along with the gold and myrrh? We cannot bring very much to Him. But He calls it a hill! It is significant! He invites us to meet Him with what we have to bring. We do not have a description of what frankincense is — who can describe worship that comes from our heart(s)? Wise men brought it! Is it not worship that He will appreciate and commend as we meet Him there with our offerings for Him? In Chapter 5:1 we find the Bridegroom in His garden (she was called a garden in 4:12!) with His bride and friends. He had gathered His myrrh! He had provided the honeycomb with the honey, the wine and the milk, and all were invited to eat and drink abundantly. What a place of happy unity with Him in the midst, and all enjoying His provisions! Would that this was always so! But, sadly, the chapter continues. The bride had gone home, bathed and had gone to bed. But He came and called. She made excuses. He put his hand in through the hole in the door and her heart moved for Him. When she went to the door the handles dripped with the myrrh, the sweet smelling myrrh. With her hand also dripping with myrrh, she opens the door to find Him gone. What a disappointment! But her heart had been deeply affected and there would be no satisfaction without Him. So she goes looking for Him. Even with the myrrh on her hands, she did not think of the Mountain of Myrrh or the Hill of Frankincense, so she went about the streets. That was not a good place for her. The watchmen found her and smote her. Others would ask her about her Beloved, so she began to describe Him in most elegant terms from head to toe. (Most descriptions of Him are from head to toe, with those of man from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. See Isaiah 1:6 and 2 Samuel 14:25.) Occupation with Him brought her back into communion with Him and on into happy fellowship with Him and His friends. Brethren dwelling together in unity!
Strong’s 4669 Mark 15:23 says:
"And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh; but He received it not."
After His trial before Pilate, our Lord had been scourged and sent to be crucified. He had been crowned with a crown of thorns, mocked with the purple robe and brought to Golgotha. At Golgotha He had been offered wine mingled with myrrh. He would not receive it. This was not an act of worship, but of scorn. He was very thirsty and His body dehydrated, but He would not receive that. In no way would He allow anything to detract from the full weight of the pain He must endure as the Sin-bearer.
Strong’s 4667 The final uses of the word myrrh come in Revelation 1:11; Revelation 2:8. The name Smyrna is a Greek word for myrrh. Smyrna was a suffering assembly. They were encouraged by the message from the One who became dead and is alive. Many had been martyred; others had suffered terrible things. So the word from the One who had died and rose again was their comfort. They had been faithful unto death. Now, they could look beyond death to Him who overcame. What a path of faithfulness to their Lord! Walking in that path with Him and other faithful ones is the path of unity. But it is to be a path in total separation to Him and from the world and those who walk in worldly ways.
Lessons from the Myrrh
Myrrh is associated with the deep feelings arising from heart-wrenching experiences in the difficult things in life. God often allows us to pass through such difficult times. Difficult times are meant to make us pure, fragrant and useful for Him in service to others. We will see more of this as we continue our subject.