Monday 19th May
Read Exodus 30:22-29
“Then the Lord said to Moses, 23 ‘Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant calamus, 24 500 shekels of cassia – all according to the sanctuary shekel – and a hin of olive oil. 25 Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil. 26 Then use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law, 27 the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, 28 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. 29 You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.” (NIVUK)
We are familiar with all the famous perfume brands, the signature scents promoted by the stars but most people didn’t realise the Lord God has a signature scent. We read about it in Exodus 30. Both the anointing oil and the incense (v34-35) have distinct formulae. They are also patented. No-one else is allowed to use the scents on pain of death. I admit to being curious as to the smell of the divine perfume. Not so curious as to risk breaking the patent though.
The purpose of the fragrance is to use our sense of smell to remind us of the presence of God. Whenever one entered the tabernacle precinct one would smell the divine perfume. It coated everything. It was worn by the priests. It burned continually before God.
Christian churches through history have developed a similar association between incense and church, between our sense of smell and entering holy places. Are there any perfumes that serve a similar purpose in your life?
