Exodus 30:22-3022Moreover the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 23Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, 24And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: 25And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. 26And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, 27And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, 28And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. 29And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. 30And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. (Exodus 30:22‑30)
THE LAST of the holy vessels of the tabernacle have been described in detail, and there remain but two things—the anointing oil and the sweet spices.
“Moreover the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh... sweet cinnamon ... sweet calamus... cassia... and oil olive...: and thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment...: it shall be a holy anointing oil.”
These spices speak of the graces of Christ. We read of Him in Psalm 45:7,87Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 8All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. (Psalm 45:7‑8): “God, 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.” His very garments smell of these sweet perfumes.
The spices were mingled with oil — type of the Holy Spirit; and this tells us that the fragrance of Christ — His beauties and excellencies all were expressed in the power of the Spirit of God. His life was ever by the power of the Spirit and was ever fragrant to God His Father. The Spirit could come down upon Him in the form of a dove and there rest, while God the Father could say, “Thou art My beloved Son, in whom is all My delight.”
The anointing oil was then put upon the tabernacle, the ark, all the sacred vessels, and the priests as well. When we think of the tabernacle as the house of God then this anointing would tell us that everything connected with His house, our worship, our service, must be in the power of the Holy Spirit. If this is lacking then no matter whatever service we might seek to render, it will not be acceptable to God.
Furthermore, these spices had a sanctifying effect on everything that came in contact with them. “Whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy2, v. 29. The ointment was “most holy,” telling us that if we are to bear fruit for God there must be the judgment of any form of evil in our lives. Holiness becomes God’s house forever and is particularly connected with worship in all these types.
Then we read about the sweet perfume that was to be made. We are told the names of the spices but not how much of each were to be used in its making. There was, however, an equal quantity of each, for there was a perfect evenness in every grace in Christ, not one stood out above another, and yet each was infinite — it could not be measured.
Some of this was to be beaten very small (the more it was beaten the more fragrance came forth) and put before the testimony where God met with them. Its being beaten very small makes us think of the blessed Lord Jesus being “beaten” for us on the cross. Into those three dark hours was compressed an eternity of suffering and judgment that our sins deserved, and yet there never was a time when He was more pleasing to the Father as when He was accomplishing His will even unto death. The sweet perfume of His wonderful work of redemption shall be before God for all eternity. It is on account of this that He can meet with us, the very ones whose sins He bore.
This perfume was also “most holy” and a warning given against anyone making an imitation of it. There can be no imitation of Christ and His work before God. He is jealous for the glory of His beloved Son, and we are called, dear young Christians, to spread His glory the little while He leaves us down here.
ML-12/13/1970