20150613 Saturday, June 13 2015
Song Of Solomon 03: Perfumed With Myrrh

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Then took they the Body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices"

Myrrh is an aromatic resin that is obtained from a number of thorny Commiphora trees. It has been used since very-ancient times to produce oils, ointments and perfumes.

The LORD (Who, as we will read, would receive a gift of myrrh when He was later born as the Messiah; see The LORD God Our Saviour) instructed Moses to include myrrh as one of the ingredients in the "holy anointing oil."

"30:22 Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
30:23 Take 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, 30:24 And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: 30:25 And 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. 30:26 And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, 30:27 And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, 30:28 And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. 30:29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy." (Exodus 30:22-29 KJV)

Myrrh was also used for common purposes, usually in combination with other herbs or spices.

"45:8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad." (Psalm 45:8 KJV)

"7:17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon." (Proverbs 7:17 KJV)

Myrrh was present in the times of the birth, crucifixion and burial of the Messiah. Myrrh was one of the three gifts brought by the "wise men" to the Messiah. Although a man-made tradition began that there were three wise men, the Holy Bible doesn't record how many there were - only that three kinds of gifts were presented by them (see Why Did The Magi Come? and Bethlehem In History And Prophecy).

"2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." (Matthew 2:1-11 KJV)

The Romans sometimes gave people who were being executed a stupefying mixture of "wine mingled with myrrh." They did so with the Messiah, but He refused it.

"15:22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. 15:23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. 15:24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

15:25 And it was the third hour [i.e. about 9:00 am - Hours Of The Day] see , and they crucified him. 15:26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 15:27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. 15:28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. 15:29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, 15:30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross [see Crossing The T].

15:31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

15:33 And when the sixth hour [i.e. noon] was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour [i.e. 3:00 pm]. 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [see Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani?]

15:35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.

15:36 And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.

15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost [see Giving Up The Ghost]." (Mark 15:22-37 KJV)

Due to its aromatic qualities, myrrh was included within the linen (see also Linen In History And Prophecy) that the dead were wrapped in. Note that His Body was "wound" in strips of linen - there was no single-sheet "shroud" (see also Joseph and Nicodemus: Making A Stand).

"19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. 19:42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day [see The Two Sabbaths Of Passover Week]; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand." (John 19:38-42 KJV)

Myrrh was known in the time of Solomon when "perfumed with myrrh" was a common practice.

"3:1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

3:2 I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

3:3 The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? 3:4 It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.

3:5 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

3:6 Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant? 3:7 Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.

3:8 They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night. 3:9 King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. 3:10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.

3:11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart." (Song Of Solomon 3:1-11 KJV)

Fact Finder: "Christ" is the Greek term for "Anointed One." What ministry was created by the LORD as a living prophecy of the coming Messiah?
See The Prophecy Of The Blood Upon The Anointed One