Ancient Uses for Perfumes and Essential Oils

For more information about the biblical essential oils please visit http://HealWithOil.com.

In ancient times, essential oils and other aromatics were used for religious rituals, as well as for the treatment of illness and other physical and spiritual needs. According to the Essential Oils Desk Reference compiled by Essence Science Publishing, “Records dating back to 4500 B.C. describes the use of balsamic substances with aromatic properties for religious rituals and medical applications. The translation of ancient papyrus found in the Temple of Edfu, located on the west bank of the Nile reveals medicinal formulas and perfume recipes used by the alchemist and high priest in blending aromatic substances for rituals performed in the temples and pyramids. As well, Hieroglyphics on the walls of Egyptian temples depict the blending of oils and describe hundreds of oil recipes. Within these writings tell of scented barks, resins of spices, and aromatic vinegars, wines and beers that were used in rituals, temples, for embalming and medicine. Thus, the Egyptians were credited as the first to discover the potential of fragrance and were considered masters in using essential oils and other aromatics in the embalming process. They created various aromatic blends for personal use, placing them in alabaster jars – a vessel specially carved and shaped for holding fragrant oils. In fact, when King Tut’s tomb was opened in 1922, 350 liters of oils were discovered in alabaster jars. Amazingly, because of the solidification of plant waxes sealing the opening of the jars, the liquefied oil was in perfect condition.
In the upper region of Egypt, a sect of Jews, called Essenes, were known for their healing arts and use of essential oils. Both Philo and Josephus writings indicated that at the period in which John the Baptist and Jesus were born, the Essenes were scattered over Palestine, numbering about four thousand souls. The Essenes or Therapeuts (used interchangeably) refer primarily to the art of healing which these devotees professed, as it was believed in those days that sanctity was closely allied to the exercise of this power, and that no cure of any sort could be imputed simply to natural causes. (Source: http://sacred-texts.com, http://bopsecrets.org)

The Holy Scriptures record over 1,035 references to aromatics, ointments, savors, fragrances, plants and incense-most implying essential oils. Twelve of the most highly-praised fragrances in the world mentioned in the Bible include: Frankincense, Myrrh, Spikenard, Hyssop, Cypress, Myrtle, Aloes, Sandalwood, Galbanum, Cinnamon, Cassia, and Onycha. Many were in the prescribed preparation of the Holy Anointing Oil and Holy Incense for Temple services, as well as for anointing and healing the sick. The people of the ancient world understood the importance of maintaining wellness and physical health, as well as the oils’ ability to enhance their spiritual state of worship, prayer, and for the purification from sin. King David alluded to this in Psalm 51:7 when he wrote, “Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” While David’s Psalm may have been speaking of a “spiritual purification” from his own sin of adultery with Bathsheba, today we know that the chemical constituents of essential oils including hyssop are able to penetrate the cell wall and transport needed oxygen and nutrients to the cell nucleus. Most essential oils can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled into the lungs where they then make their way into the bloodstream. The sense of smell affects the limbic region of the brain, which controls emotions, memory and the hypothalamus, which regulates the pituitary, which in turn balances the entire hormonal system of the body.

Ancient Art of Extracting Oils – How Essential Oils are Produced Today

For more information about healing biblical essential oils, please visit http://HealWithOil.com.

According to Miriam Stead author of “Egyptian Life” the process of distillation using steam was not known for the extraction of essences but there were three techniques available for producing perfumes from flowers, fruits and seeds. She writes “There was effleurage the Saturation of layers of fat with perfume by steeping flowers in the fat and replacing them when their perfume was spent. In this way, the Egyptians were able to create creams and pomades.

The Original Coneheads
A popular form of pomade was the so-called cosmetic cone which was worn on top of the head. Those frequently represented in banqueting scenes worn not only by the guests but also by the servants. The cone was usually white with streaks of orange brown running from its top. The coloring represented the perfume with which the cone was impregnated. As the evening progressed the cone would melt and the scented oil run down over the wig and garment creating a pleasing scent and no doubt a sticky mess. Throughout the course of an evening it became necessary to renew the scent on the cones and the tomb scenes show servants circulating among the guests replenishing the perfumed cream.

A popular late-night comedy television show called “Saturday Night Live” use to include an skit of a family with Coneheads. I am sure the writers of this routine thought they were being original although ‘cone shape’ heads was all the rage in ancient Egypt.
The second process for creating perfume was maceration that is dipping flowers, herbs or fruits into fats or oils heated to a temperature of about 65 degrees Celsius. This technique is depicted in a number of tomb scenes. The flowers or fruits were pounded in mortars and then stirred into the oil which was kept hot on a fire. The mixture was sieved and allowed to cool. It might then be shaped into balls or cones or if liquid poured into vessels. An alternative process may have been to macerate the flowers in water, cover the vessel with a cloth impregnated with fat and boil the contents of the vessel until all the perfumes had evaporated, fixing them in the fat which was then scraped off the cloth. This technique is still used by Peoples living near the source of the Nile.
Thirdly, there was the possibility of expressing the flowers or seeds. This process was borrowed from the manufacture of wine and oil. The material to be pressed was placed in a bag with a stick attached to each end. The sticks were twisted by a group of workmen. This technique was not used often as most recipes specify either maceration or enfleurage.”

How Essential Oils Are Produced Today
Producing essential oils continues to take a lot of work. It takes sixty thousand Rose blossoms to produce one ounce of Rose oil, whereas Lavender is easier to obtain and yields approximately 7 pounds of oil from two-hundred and twenty pounds of dried flowers. The Sandalwood tree must be thirty years old and over thirty feet tall before it can be cut down for distillation. Myrrh, Frankincense, and Benzoin oils are extracted from the gum resins of their respective trees. While citrus fruits such as Orange, Lemon and Lime are squeezed from the peel of their fruits. Cinnamon essential oil comes from the bark of the tree (and leaf) and Pine oil comes from the needles and twigs. Other flowers must be picked by hand early in the morning before the sun rises and heats up, evaporating the essential oil within its petals.

Hence, you can understand the variation in pricing of various essential oils on the market. There is a variety of ways in which essential oils are extracted. The most common methods steam distillation, solvent extraction, expression, effleurage and maceration.

Steam distillation involves using steam to pull essential oils from the plant by suspending the plant material over water in a sealed container, which is then brought to the boil. The steam containing the volatile essential oil is run through a cooler, and when it condenses the liquid is collected. The essential oil appears as a thin film on top of the liquid, as water and essential oils do not mix.

The essential oil is then separated from the water by collecting in a small vial and the water into a large vat.
Solvent extraction involves using little heat, in order to preserve the oil which would otherwise be destroyed or altered during steam distillation. Plant material is dissolved in a liquid solvent of hepane, hexane, or methylene chloride as a suitable perfume solvent, which absorbs the smell, color and wax of the plant. After removing the plant material, the solvent is boiled off under a vacuum to help separate the essential oil. This can be achieved since the solvent evaporates quicker, which leaves a substance called ‘concrete.’ The concrete is mixed with alcohol to aid in filtering the waxes. The next process is to distill the alcohol away, which leaves an ‘absolute.’ The word ‘absolute’ will appear on the label of some bottled essential oils although they still contain 2-3 per cent of the solvent, therefore are not considered pure essential oil.

Citrus oils is expressed rather than distilled. Within citrus fruits such as Orange, Lemon, Lime and Grapefruit the essential oil is located in little sacs just under the surface of the rind. The oils need to be squeezed out or expressed from the peels and seeds. This is achieved by letting the fruit roll over a conveyor that has small needles coming outpiercing the little oil pockets in the citrus rind. The oil runs out and is caught and filtered.
As mentioned before effleurage is an ancient method of extracting oils that is rarely used today because of its long, complicated and expensive process. Fragrant blooms were placed upon sheets of warm animal fat (or long sheets of vegetable fat) which absorbed the essential oil. As flowers are exhausted, they are replaced with fresh blossoms. This process is repeated until the sheet of fat is saturated with fragrance and is separated with solvents leaving only the essential oil.

Macerated oils are not pure essential oils as they are ‘carrier’ oils. Plant material is gathered and chopped, then added to either sunflower or olive oil. The mixture is stirred for a while, then placed in the sunlight for several days. This process transfers all of the soluble components in the plant material including the essential oil then is carefully filtered. This process leaves a carrier oil infused with essential oil.

Holy Smoke – Temple Incense and What It Represents (Hebrew acronym)

Just as the Holy Incense was to be burnt perpetually, we are to pray continually and be ready to pray at any time as needs arise,

“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer” (Romans 12:12).

Burning the resins on hot coals is reminiscent of the fiery trials we face from time to time. When the testing of our faith becomes difficult we immediately cry toward Heaven for help.  And, like the heat of the coals that release the aroma of the incense instantly, our prayers in times of need are instantly released.  This is when Elohim (God) turns a bitter experience into something sweet.

Teshuvah or true repentance is the ability to restructure a new life out of the raw ingredients we are given to work with and transform it into a sweet fragrance pleasing to Him.

And Yahweh is there, expecting our prayer and ready to “meet with thee” (Exodus 30: 6).  When He hears our prayer, He responds. He gets great joy when we seek Him out in fervent pray,

“Ointment and perfume (incense) rejoice the heart.” (Proverbs 27:9)

The Torah states that this is the most powerful form of offering – because it has the power of life and death.

In the Midrash (Tanchuma, Tetzaveh 14), the letters of the word Qetoret can be read as an acronym: q (Koof), j (Tet), r (Reysh) and a t (Tav). This acrostic starts with the letter q for vd,qo Qodesh, which means holiness and the letter represents the back of the head or last. j is for hr’h\j’ Tohorah which means purify and the letter j means, to surround.  r is for ~x;r; Racham which means Mercy and the letter r  means head or the highest. The final letter t is for hw”q.Ti Tikvah which means hope and the letter t means covenant, sign or cross. When you put it all together, it says:

Koof (Behind/back of the Head – last)

Tet (Surround)

Resh (Head or the highest)

Tav (Covenant, Sign, Cross)

He is the head of the body and it is his holiness that purifies us and surrounds us with His love.  His mercy offers us hope and it is through His covenant on the cross that we can enter into His presence. Simply put, “Yahweh has got your back.”

Temple Incense: A Chip Off The Ole Block

When all the ingredients of the Holy Incense are mixed together they produce something that is very precious, pleasing and holy to Yahweh.

 The priests of ancient Israel gathered the ingredients, which were crushed to a powder, weighed out, mixed together and melted down into a large block which was more easily transported.

 “And thou shall make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.” (Exodus 30:36)

 Each day the High Priest would chip off some of the solid block, crush it into fine powder and pour it over red hot coals to release the beautiful fragrant smoke.

 Like that large block of incense, there is just so much to pray about that we cannot cover everything in one session. 

 In our own prayer time, all we can do is chip off a little each day and crush it to powder by getting down to the fine detail. By praying for specific events, individual people, their needs and well-being our prayers are refined, rather than praying in broad and meaningless statements. Seasoned with salt, our prayers are to be enduring, as a reminder of the perpetual covenant between God and Israel which He renews daily and confirms.

 Should we see our lives on a “large” annual scale, or should we see them on a relatively “tiny” daily scale? The essence is to live each day to the fullest, paying attention to all the ingredients that go into making them up. This includes seeing the ingredients that don’t smell so good as an important part of life.

 And then, when we get to Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, we can look back on a year full of full days. By Yom Kippur, our Qetoret (incense) will already have been ground and our prayer life is refined with knowing how to pray when we enter the throne room.

To purchase a copy of Rebecca’s latest book, Qetoret: The Fragrance of Prayer, from which this excerpt was taken, please visit her website: http://HealWithOil.com. She also has pure resins and essential oils of the ingredients of the Holy (Exodus 30) Incense.

Onycha in the Holy Incense (Bible – Temple Incense Series)

Mystery and debate surrounds what is known as Onycha. Some believe it to be of plant origin, while others believe it to be from the finger-like operculum, or the closing flap of certain snails. Rashi, a great Jewish scholar, believed Onycha to be a kind of root that grew from the ground. Some suggest it is extracted from a Styrax benzoin, a type of resin used in the Tabernacle for incense in ancient biblical times.  The Encyclopedia of Bible Plants (F Nigel Hepper 1992) agrees that onycha is more likely to be a plant resin. Rabbi Gamaliel (whom the Apostle Paul studied under) believed it to be part of the plant species and said, “The balm of Onycha required for the incense exudes from the balsam trees.”  The Jewish Talmud, whose Hebrew is of a later date than the scriptures, refers to the substance as tsiporen, which means fingernail and seems to be related to sh’chalim, meaning cress, a type of plant.

 The Hebrew word for Onycha is tl,xev. Shecheleth and refers to a resin with a nail-like shine, claw or hoof. For this reason, others believe it is an aromatic from the operculum of a shell fish, i.e., the claw or nail of the strombus or wing-shell, a univalve common in the Red Sea (the same mussel from which the blue dye for the Tzitzits (fringes) was obtained).  The Greek word from the Septuagint ‘onyx’ also adds confusion.  Onyx is an agate with a fingernail like opacity that has for some reason been associated with a claw shaped shellfish. 

 Onycha, as a plant derivative is highly aromatic and is credited as having great medicinal properties which seems to be the most likely ingredient for the sacred incense when considering the healing effect prayer has. 

 Tzori alludes to the Torah which is a balm that brings healing to the entire body.  Onycha was valued anciently for its ability to speed healing of wounds and to help prevent infection.

Spiritual Significance of the Holy Incense (Qetoret)

In an article entitled, “The Spiritual Significance of the Qetoret (Incense) in Ancient Jewish Tradition,” author Rabbi Avraham Sutton describes the momentous archeological discovery of the Holy Incense:

“In March 1988, Vendyl Jones and his team of Bnei Noah volunteers found a clay juglet about five inches in height in a cave in Qumran, just west of the northern end of the Yam HaMelach (Dead Sea). The juglet contained a reddish oil. It is believed to be the only surviving sample of the balsam oil that was prescribed in the Torah for anointing the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and its vessels, as well as the Cohanim-Priests and Kings of Israel. The oil, when found, had a honey-like consistency. The juglet in which it was found was wrapped in palm leaves and carefully concealed in a 3-foot deep pit which preserved it from looting and the extreme climatological extremes of the area.

In April 1992, Vendyl and his team discovered 600 kilos of “reddish-brown organic substance” in a carefully sealed rock silo in another part of the Qumran cave complex. Subsequent palynological analysis determined that this reddish-brown substance contains traces of at least eight of the eleven spices that were used in the manufacture of the Pitum HaQetoret (Incense Mixture) and burned in the Temple.

In 1994, the incense spices were presented to Rabbi Yehudah Getz of blessed memory, late Chief Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Places in Israel. A sample was also given to Rabbi Ovadiah Yoseph. Rabbi Ovadiah had his own chemist analyze the mixture to confirm its organic nature. Then both rabbis requested that Vendyl Jones “burn” some of the incense for scientific purposes (not with fire but with hydrochloric acid). At their suggestion, he had the spices combined together with the Sodom Salt and Karshina Lye which were also found stored separately in the cave in Qumran.

The results were astonishing. Although the spices had lost some of their potency over the two millennia since their burial, it was still powerful. The residue of its fragrance lingered in the vicinity for several days following the experiment. Several people present reported that their hair and clothing retained the aroma. More amazing, the area in which the spices were burned changed. It had been infested with a variety of flies, ants, moths and other insects. After the Qetoret was burned, no sign of these pests was seen for quite a while. This is reminiscent of the Mishnah in Avot (5:5) which states that there were no flies in the area of the Temple, nor was a snake or scorpion ever able to harm anyone anywhere in Jerusalem as long as the Temple stood.

Rabbi Avraham Sutton stated he work with Vendyl Jones in 1995 and met Avraham Sand of Tiferet International Aromatherapy, a master perfumer who was able to authenticate and obtain nine of the original eleven incense spices and reproduce them in the form of essential oils. In essence, Sand was able to parallel Vendyl’s discoveries of both the Anointing Oil and Qetoret in Qumran. His work was supervised under the rabbinical guidance of Rabbi Menachem Burstein, the foremost Jewish authority on the botany and chemistry of Temple artifacts. This was done in order to sidestep the strict prohibition against experimentation with the various plant materials in their original form. Rabbi Burstein advised him that there is no prohibition whatsoever against enjoying the essential oil extracts of these same botanicals.

“By getting back in touch with the mystery of the Qetoret, and unearthing its ancient secrets,” Rabbi Avraham suggests, “we can awaken something else in ourselves that is sorely needed at this time.”

For more information about the biblical essential oils and fragrances of the bible, please visit my website http://HealWithOil.com or http://RATW.org. Rebecca at the Well Foundation is a Judeo-Christian organization devoted to preparing the bride for the Messiah’s return.  Rebecca Park Totilo is available to come and speak with your group on the Qetoret: The Fragrance of Prayer or another topic. Please contact her today.

Biblical History of Essential Oils – Egyptians – Temple of Edfu – Perfumes – Hieroglyphics

 For more information about the biblical essential oils, please visit my website http://HealWithOil.com.

Ecclesiastes 9:8, “Let thy garments be always white: and let thy head lack no ointment.”

 

In ancient times, essential oils and other aromatics were used for religious rituals, as well as for the treatment of illness and other physical and spiritual needs.  According to the Essential Oils Desk Reference compiled by Essence Science Publishing, “Records dating back to 4500 B.C. Describes use of balsamic substances with aromatic properties for religious rituals and medical applications.  The translation of ancient papyrus found in the Temple of Edfu, located on the west bank of the Nile reveals the medicinal formulas and perfume recipes used by the alchemist and high priest in blending aromatic substances for rituals performed in the temples and pyramids.  As well, Hieroglyphics on the walls of Egyptian temples depict the blending of oils and describe hundreds of oil recipes. Within these writings tell of scented barks, resins of spices, and aromatic vinegars, wines and beers that were used in rituals, temples, for embalming and medicine. Thus, the Egyptians were credited as the first to discover the potential of fragrance and were considered masters in using essential oils and other aromatics in the embalming process.  They created various aromatic blends for personal use, placing them in alabaster jars – a vessel specially carved and shaped for holding fragrant oils. In fact, when King Tut’s tomb was opened in 1922, 350 liters of oils were discovered in alabaster jars.  Amazingly, because of the solidification of plant waxes sealing the opening of the jars, the liquefied oil was in perfect condition.

 

In the upper region of Egypt, a sect of Jews, called Essenes, were known for their healing arts and use of essential oils.  Both Philo and Josephus writings indicate that at the period in which John the Baptist and Jesus were born, the Essenes were scattered over Israel, numbering about four thousand souls.  The Essenes or Therapeuts (used interchangeably) refer primarily to the art of healing which these devotees professed, as it was believed in those days that sanctity was closely allied to the exercise of this power, and that no cure of any sort could be imputed simply to natural causes. (Source: http://sacred-texts.com, http://bopsecrets.org)

 

The Holy Scriptures record over 1,035 references to aromatics, ointments, savors, fragrances, plants and incense-most implying essential oils.  Twelve of the most highly-praised fragrances in the World mentioned in the Bible include: Frankincense, Myrrh, Spikenard, Hyssop, Cypress, Myrtle, Aloes, Sandalwood, Galbanum, Cinnamon, Cassia, and Onycha.  Many were in the prescribed preparation of the Holy Anointing Oil and Holy Incense for Temple services, as well as for anointing and healing the sick. The people of the ancient world I believe understood the importance of maintaining wellness and physical health, as well as the oils’ ability to enhance their spiritual state of worship, prayer, and for the purification from sin.  King David alluded to this in Psalm 51:7 when he wrote, “Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” 

 

 

While David’s Psalm may have been speaking of a “spiritual purification” from his own sin of adultery with Bathsheba, today we know that the chemical constituents of essential oils including hyssop are able to penetrate the cell wall and transport needed oxygen and nutrients to the cell nucleus.  Most essential oils can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled into the lungs where they then make their way into the bloodstream.  The sense of smell affects the limbic region of the brain, which controls emotions, memory and the hypothalamus, which regulates the pituitary, which in turn balances the entire hormonal system of the body.

Onycha Essential Oil

Onycha Essential Oil

 

Onycha comes from the Balsam or Benzoin Tree of the Far East.  However, rabbis debate whether Onycha is a resin from a tree.  Some believe it is an aromatic from a mussel or shell because of its Hebraic root.  Others, such as Rabbi Gamaliel (whom the Apostle Paul studied under), believe it is actually a part of the balsam species. 

 

The Hebrew word “Onycha” is shecheleth, which means “part of the holy incense, sweet kind of gum, and shines as the nail.”   Because of this definition, some believe Onycha comes from the same mussel which provides the purplish-blue color used to dye tzitzits or fringes on the prayer shawl.

 

As seen in Exodus 30:34, Onycha is used in the holy anointing oil.  It is also mentioned in the Talmud and the Old Testament Apocrypha.

 

According to Strong’s Concordance, it is from the same root word as shachal, meaning “to roar; a lion from its characteristic roar.”   This describes Yeshua, the Lion of the tribe of Judah!  The Lord has been given all authority in Heaven and Earth as the Lion of Judah (Matthew 28:18 and Revelation 5:5). 

 

Onycha is one of the heaviest oils and is too thick to pour.  Its scent will seem familiar to some because it contains vanillin aldehyde, which gives it a vanilla scent.

 

Therapeutic/Medicinal Uses

Healing properties of Onycha include: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiseptic.  It combats arthritis, gout, asthma, bronchitis, and skin conditions.^[1]

 

The author of Aromatherapy Solutions writes that Onycha was used for thousands of years for respiratory conditions.[2]  Many have used it for poor circulation, flu, chills, colic, coughs, and skin conditions such as chapped or inflamed skin.

 

Onycha is valued for its ability to speed the healing of wounds and prevent infection.  Other names it is called include: “Friar’s Balm,” “Benzoin,” and “Java Frankincense.”^[3]

 

The fragrance of Onycha is a reminder to Satan that he is a defeated foe and believers share in the Lord’s authority “to tread on…  all the power of the enemy” in His name (Luke 10:19). 

 

 

 

---

[1] Stewart, David, Ph.D., D.N.M.  Healing Oils of the Bible.  Care Publications.  2003.

[2] Aromatherapy Solutions.

[3] Essential Oils Desk Reference.  Essential Science Publishing.

 

For more information about the biblical essential oils, please visit Rebecca’s website http://HealWithOil.com.

Burning Our Incense Before God

Burning Our Incense Before God          

By John Morton www.childrenofthepromises.org  (Used by permission)

Incense is a fragrant smoke obtained from burning resins.  It was burnt ceremonially on an altar before the mercy seat in the Tabernacle.  God said it was holy and should be burnt day and night for all of Israel’s generations.  Why was it holy?  What was its significance?  And does it have any implications for Christians today?

When Moses received instruction to build the tabernacle he was told to include an altar on which his brother Aaron was to burn incense every morning and every evening throughout all of Israel’s generations, “And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon:….  …And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.  And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.  And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.  Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.” (Exodus 30:1, 6 -9).

God provided a recipe from which the incense was to be manufactured, “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:  And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.  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 off from his people.”  (Exodus 30:34-38).

Prayers of the Saints

Why did God say the incense was holy?  David likened his prayer to incense, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” (Psalm 141:2). The incense was holy because it represented the prayers of the saints, “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours (incense), which are the prayers of saints.” (Revelation 5:8). 

The altar on which the incense was to be burnt was located before the mercy seat, which represented God’s throne.  It was separated from the congregation by a veil through which only the high priest had access.  Once a year he entered the ‘holiest of all’ with blood to offer for the sins of the congregation.  This ceremony foreshadowed the time when Christ the high priest of the New Testament, offered his own life for the sins of all mankind and entered the presence of God the Father on His throne in heaven (Hebrews 9:6-15).  At the precise moment Christ died the veil in the temple was miraculously torn in two (Matthew 27:51) signifying a major event had taken place.  It meant that those whom God called through Christ, could now have direct access to the Father.  Effectively, in prayer, they could now come before the very throne of God, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,” (Hebrews 4:16).   

Just as the priesthood in ancient Israel were given a recipe from which to manufacture their incense so have their spiritual counterparts in this age been provided with a recipe for their prayer.  It was provided by non-other than our high priest, Jesus Christ, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:9-15).  This provides a structure on which to build a prayer covering the things that are important and pleasing to God.

The formula for prayer was not a mantra to be vainly repeated as many do (Matthew 6:7), but an outline of subjects to be considered (weighed and measured), expounded and discussed in person with God the Father to whom the saints now have direct access.  Not as if talking to a God hidden behind a veil, but face to face with a loving Father who is deeply concerned for our wellbeing and future.  It is a structure to which can be added certain aspects represented by the ingredients of the incense to provide a well-balanced relationship with God through prayer.

Stacte

The first ingredient was stacte.  Stacte is a gum that exudes from certain trees in liquid drops that harden and are known as ‘tears’.  The stacte or storax shrub grows in abundance in the lower hills of Israel.  Those tears represent the tears shed in prayer, an example set by Christ himself, “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;” (Hebrews 5:7). 

Do we pray with stacte?  Do we shed unfeigned tears as we cry out to God for help?  Do we shed tears of true repentance?  What about the tears when we weep and mourn for what is happening around us in this world today as we pray for God’s Kingdom to come, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4).  Do we shed tears when we receive forgiveness, or when we forgive others?  Are there heartfelt tears in our prayers when we discuss the confusion that abounds in the churches of God today.  Do we experience tears of joy and thankfulness as prayers are answered and God’s hand is so apparent in our lives.

Onycha

Some confusion has arisen among Bible scholars by the use of the Greek word ‘onyx’ in the Septuagint.  Onyx is an agate with a fingernail like opacity that has for some reason been associated with a claw shaped shellfish.  However, the Hebrew word ‘shecheleth’ is believed to refer to a resin with a nail-like shine.  According to the Encyclopedia of Bible Plants (F Nigel Hepper 1992) onycha is more likely to be a plant resin.  Other sources (W Walker, All the Plants of the Bible) indicate that it is the rock-rose that grows about three feet high, a soft glutinous resin exudes from its leaves and stems.  It is highly aromatic and fragrant.  It is also credited as having great medicinal properties.

The resinous substance with medicinal properties seems to be the most likely ingredient for the sacred incense when considering the healing effect prayer has. 

We include onycha in our prayer by praying for those in need of healing?  Christ had great compassion for the sick, “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:14).  The requests from brethren who are suffering from all sorts of illnesses simply cannot be ignored.  Christ also had compassion on those who needed spiritual healing, “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36).  It is important to pray for Christ’s return to bring about that spiritual healing.    

Galbanum

The third ingredient is galbanum.  This one almost seems out of place.  It comes from a plant that is found growing from Syria to Iran.  It belongs to the same family as fennel and has a sharp biting smell.  The resin when burnt gives off a pungent, rather disagreeable odour.  This ingredient equates with some of the unpleasant things we need to pray about.  We are required to examine ourselves carefully, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (II Corinthians 13:5).  A genuine self-examination can be a very unpleasant experience.  It is not easy to go down on our knees before the Head of the Universe and confess our sins, to admit that we are wrong, to realise before God that we are like filthy rags, unworthy and undeserving.   

Frankincense

The fourth and final ingredient is the one that we have all heard about – frankincense – a resin from a tree that grows in the Himalayas in India and on the Arabian peninsular.  It is recognised as the finest burning incense in the world and its name means ‘free lighting’.  It is referred to as pure frankincense.  We pray for our thoughts and deeds to be purified before God, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:8).  This is done by, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (II Corinthians 10:5).

When all these ingredients are mixed together they produce something that is very precious, pleasing and holy to God.

The priests of ancient Israel gathered the ingredients, which were crushed to a powder, weighed out, mixed together and melted down into a large block which was more easily transported.  Each day the High Priest would chip off some of the solid block, crush it into fine powder and pour it over red hot coals to release the beautiful fragrant smoke, “And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.” (Exodus 30:36).

Like that large block of incense there is just so much to pray about that we cannot cover everything in one session.  All we can do is chip off a little each day, crush it to powder by getting down to fine detail, praying for specific events, individual people, their needs, their healing and well-being, rather than praying in broad statements.   The incense was to be burnt perpetually meaning we are to pray continually and be ready to pray at any time as needs arise, “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” (Romans 12:12).

Burning the resins on hot coals is reminiscent of the fiery trials we must face from time to time.  When trials become hot and fiery we immediately cry out to God for help.  Just as the heat of the coals releases the aroma of the incense instantly, our prayers in times of need are instantly released.  And God is there expecting our prayer and ready to “meet with thee” (Exodus 30: 6 above), implying that He hears our prayer and will respond.  He doesn’t want us to quit and walk away when we feel the heat of those trials.  He gets great joy when we seek Him out in fervent pray, “Ointment and perfume (incense) rejoice the heart:” (Proverbs 27:9). Our prayers bring God great pleasure.

Incense burnt on the altar before the mercy seat represented the prayers of the saints and each ingredient represents an aspect of prayer that can be assimilated into the prayer outline that Christ provided to achieve a well-balanced prayerful relationship with God.  By coming daily before His throne confessing our sins and with sincere repentance that leads to the purification of thoughts and actions we can also pray effectively for the physical and spiritual well-being of others.  Our prayer can achieve a great deal, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16).   

When we come before God to burn our incense in prayer, whether on a regular daily basis, or instantly in the heat of fiery trails, we know that our prayers are heard by our Father, to whom they are precious and holy. 

    Please visit Rebecca’s website http://HealWithOil.com for more information about these fragrances.