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Twelve Oils
of Scripture
Oils were used in the Old Testament to increase
spiritual awareness, as a way of moving into their own space for
meditation and connection with God. Many ancient peoples,
including the Egyptians and our own Native Americans believed that the
fragrance of the oils and incenses helped us to be in closer touch
with our Creator. It is thought that the oils that were used to
embalm the Egyptian mummies were used partially to leave a fragrance
trail for the soul to use as a path back from the spirit world.
In Christian belief, whenever Mary the mother of Christ appears as a
vision there is the scent of roses left in the air.
As written testament of the value of the ancient
oils, Israel’s King Hezekiah kept “the spices, and the precious
ointment” (2 Kings 20:13) together with silver and gold in the royal
treasure chamber. Pliny the Elder documented the security
measures taken in the processing of frankincense at Alexandria –
“Good heavens! No vigilance is sufficient to guard the
factories…before [the workers] are allowed to leave the premises
they have to take off all their clothes”
God mandated that the anointing oil be fragrant
when He instructed Moses to add spices and fragrant oils to the base
of pure olive oil. The "recipe" for the Holy
Anointing oil is in Exodus 30:22-33. And of course the
consequences for those you used it improperly immediately follows.
Those oils used are identified vs 23-24 as myrrh (balsam sap),
cinnamon (bark of the cinnamon tree, a species of laurel), cane (pith
from the root of a reed plant) and cassia (made from dried flowers of
the cinnamon tree).
Webster defines anoint as “to apply oil to as a
sacred rite, esp. for consecration” Consecration is to be set
apart for special purposes in God’s kingdom. People and
objects were anointed.
The Holy Incense is described in
Exodus 30:34-38 - Those oils used identified in 30:34 as gum resin
(a powder taken from the middle of hardened drops of myrrh--rare and
very valuable), onycha (made from either mollusk shells or a plant -
see explanation later) and galbanum (a rubbery resin taken from the
roots of a flowering plant that thrives in Syria and Persia).
Why were the oils so holy that God would give
directions for a holy anointing oil? The holy anointing oil and
incense where to be used in those places where God would meet with and
talk to the ancient people, why then is it not important that we use
them in the same ways now? The ritual use of incense represented
God’s power over life and death as in Number 16:46-48 where the High
Priest Aaron walks through the congregation with it, stopping a deadly
plague.
The following 12 oils are identified by Dr. Young
and grouped into a kit called 12 Oils of Ancient Scripture:
Aloes/Sandlewood (santalum album)
John 19:39 – He was accompanied by
Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus
brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
high in sesquiterpenes (A compound that stimulate
the limbic region of the brain – emotion seat) and has been
researched in Europe for its ability to oxygenate a part of the brain
known as the pineal gland, the seat of our emotions, responsible for
releasing melatonin, a powerful hormone that enhances deep sleep.
It is similar to frankincense oil in its support of nerves and
circulations. Was used traditionally for skin revitalization and
meditation. Has been found to help remove negative programming
from the cells.
Cassia (cinnamomum
cassia) Psalm 45:8 – All
your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces
adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad.
was part of the Egyptian mummification rituals
– imported from the far east to Egypt – not native to Egypt.
An ingredient of the sacred oil (Ex 30:24) Cassia was mixed into
the holy anointing oil of the tabernacle and was a valuable trade
product (Ezek 27:19). Oldest of the known oils, stimulates
immune functions - one of the most antiseptic of essential oils –
anti-bacterial, Cassia oil is distilled from the plant’s leaves and
twigs.
Cedarwood (cedrus atlantica) 1 Kings
4:33 – He (Solomon) described plant life, from the cedar of
Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls.
recognized historically for its calming,
purifying properties and for being beneficial to the skin and tissues
near the surface of the skin. Also helps calm nervous tension,
Used for cleansing lepers and people who touched dead bodies - to
preserve, protect from decay, mummification, Cedar was noted for its
incorruptibility; and in ancient times, clothing was anointed with
cedar to protect it from humidity.
Cypress (cupressus
sempervirens) Isaiah 44:14 – He
cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it
grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain
made it grow.
one of the oils most used to support the
circulatory system, trees are known for their durability, may have
been the gopher wood for the ark, decongestant for veins, lymphatic
system, support nervous system, pancreas and circulatory system.
Frankincense
(olibanum – boswellia carteri) Song of Solomon 3:6 – Who
is this coming up from the desert like a column of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and frankincense made from all the spices of the
merchant?
considered a holy anointing oil in the Middle
East and has been used in religious ceremonies for thousand of years.
It was well known during the time of Christ for its anointing and
healing powers. It is now being researched and used
therapeutically in European hospitals. High in sesquiterpenes,
it is stimulating and elevating to the mind and helps in overcoming
stress and despair as well as supporting the immune system.
Wealth was classified by the amount you had, was used to cure
everything and an antecdote for all poisons
Galbanum (ferula gummosa) Exodus
30:34 – was used for both medicinal and spiritual purposes. It
is recognized for its antiseptic and body-supporting properties.
When combined with other oils, such as frankincense or sandalwood, the
electrical frequency of the compound increases dramatically.
Galbanum also functions as an antispasmodic - Powerful to elevate
spiritual awareness
Hyssop (Hyssopus
offincinalis) Psalms 51:7 – Cleanse
me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter
than snow.
is noted for its antiseptic properties and has
been studied for its effects on opening the respiratory system - used
in ritual cleansing – used in the cleansing of lepers
Myrrh (commiphor
myrrha) (stacte) Proverbs 7:17 – I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. (King Solomon)
The Arabian people used it for many skin
conditions, such as wrinkled, chapped and cracked skin. It has
one of the highest levels of sesquiterpenes, (natural antibiotics) a
class of compounds that has direct effects on the hypothalamus,
pituitary and amygdale, the seat of our emotions. it is widely
used today in oral hygiene products. was given to Jesus on the
cross (mark 15:23), used for embalming, sas used for a variety of skin
conditions.
Myrtle (myrtus communis) Nehemiah
8:15 – Go out into the hill country
and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from
myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make booths
has been researched by Dr. Daniel Penoel for it
effects on hormonal imbalances of the thyroid and ovaries, it has also
been researched for its soothing effects on the respiratory system.
May help with chronic coughs and respiratory tract ailments. a
symbol of peace and justice
Onycha (styrax benzoin) Exodus 30:34
- A component of the sacred perfume,
Possibly made from the shells of a species of
mussel, possessing an odor, comforting, soothing used on the skin
for complexion - The great Jewish scholar Rashi said that it is a kind
of root, while the Talmud states it came from an annual plant, Dr.
Young believes that styrax benzoin may be the plant source for onycha.
Like frankincense and myrrh, benzoin is a resin.
Rose of Sharon/Cistus
(Labdanum-cistus ladanifer) Song of Solomon 2:1 – I
am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley
Cistus comes form a rose that has a soft
honey-like scent. has been studied for its effects on the
regeneration of cells, used to stop bleeding in ancient times
Spikenard or
just nard (nardostachys jatamansi) John 12:3 Then
Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured
it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was
filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
is highly regarded in
India as a perfume, medicinal herb, and skin tonic, highly prized at
the time of Christ, it was used by Mary of Bethany to anoint the feet
of Jesus before the Last Supper - this relaxing, soothing oil helps
nourish and nourish the skin, very expensive, sealed in
alabaster boxes, used to anoint guests and used at burials to anoint
the dead
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