The Fragrance of Jesus.

Photo by Laitche

"Your oils have a pleasing fragrance, Your name is like purified oil; Therefore the maidens love you." Song of Soloman 1:3

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
 It was usual for lovers to anoint themselves, their hair, garments, &c. to commend themselves to each other; and it was common to commend each other's ointments, and the grateful smell of them (q) none being like them, or so agreeable as theirs: by these ointments may be meant the grace of Christ, the fullness of it, the oil of gladness with which he is anointed above his fellows, and without measure; and which so greatly recommends him to his church and people, Psalm 45:7; 

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
...thy name—Christ's character and office as the "Anointed" (Isa 9:6; 61:1), as "the savor of ointments" are the graces that surround His person (Ps 45:7, 8). Ec 7:1, in its fullest sense, applies to Him. The holy anointing oil of the high priest, which it was death for anyone else to make (so Ac 4:12), implies the exclusive preciousness of Messiah's name (Ex 30:23-28, 31-38). So Mary brake the box of precious ointment over Him, appropriately (Mr 14:5), the broken box typifying His body, which, when broken, diffused all grace: compounded of various spices, &c. (Col 1:19; 2:9); of sweet odor (Eph 5:2).


Sometimes, when walking through the woods, I am overcome by the fragrance of the forest. It always brings a smile to my face and contentment to my heart. For me it has the smell of peace.

 I once used a perfume called True Love. My husband told me it smelled wonderful and many people complimented me on it. Once, when my husband was with co-workers, a woman walked by and the men all wondered what perfume she was wearing, my husband said, "It's True Love." They didn't believe him until one of them asked the girl. It made me happy my hubby liked my perfume so much.

The smell of Thanksgiving dinner, the smell of a newborn baby, the smell of a dozen roses are smells that bring joy. The anointed Christ brings joy with him - that is why people love him. 

Kisses From God.

(Angela Corrigan kisses her daughter goodbye before leaving for Iraq.)

"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine..." Song of Solomon 1:2

Would we like to be hugged and kissed by God? I surely would! It is an act of the deepest affection that God has given to the universe.

Kissing is a common practice in the Bible. 

Jesus said to the Pharisee, "You didn't greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet." Luke 7:45

Peter said, "Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ." 1Peter 5:14

Paul said, "Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss." 1 Thessalonians 5:26

We don't do much kissing in our society. We save that for spouses and perhaps our parents and children. But it is different in the middle east.

 "Cheek kissing in the Arab world is relatively common, between friends and relatives. Cheek kissing between males is very common. However, cheek kissing between a male and female is usually considered inappropriate, unless within the same family; e.g. brother and sister, or if they are a married couple.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheek_kissing

Pulpit Commentary says:

...the meaning is simply that of affection. The great majority of Christian commentators have regarded the words as expressive of desire towards God. 

 The comparison with wine may be taken either as denoting sweetness or exhilarating effects.

The bride is surrounded by her admiring companions and attendants. They are congratulating her on the king's love. She speaks as from the midst of the company of ladies. 

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary says:
...of his mouth—marking the tenderest affection. For a king to permit his hands, or even garment, to be kissed, was counted a great honor; but that he should himself kiss another with his mouth is the greatest honor.

It is a great honor to be loved by God so much that we may be kissed by Him. As a big family in heaven, I'm sure we will be hugging and kissing all the time!

The Song of Solomon.

photo by Jonathan Thorne

I remember years ago when I read the Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon) in the Bible, I couldn't understand why God put this story or poem in the Old Testament. I asked God why, and it seemed he said to me, "This is how I want you to love me - as a woman infatuated with her fiancee. As a woman and man, when they first fall in love feel overcome by love - that is the love we are to have with God."

This book then became beautiful to me. I was just reading some studies on Song of Songs and thought I would share them with you. This one comes from Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary.

God is love, and Christ is the embodiment of the love of God. As the other books of Scripture present severally their own aspects of divine truth, so Canticles furnishes the believer with language of holy love, wherewith his heart can commune with his Lord; and it portrays the intensity of Christ's love...

 "Shulamith" (So 6:13), the bride, is thus an appropriate name, Daughter of Peace being the feminine of Solomon, equivalent to the Prince of Peace. 

She by turns is a vinedresser, shepherdess, midnight inquirer, and prince's consort and daughter, and He a suppliant drenched with night dews, and a king in His palace, in harmony with the various relations of the Church and Christ. 

...the fervor of the love between Christ and us. The image of a bride, a bridegroom, and a marriage, to represent this spiritual union, has the sanction of Scripture throughout; 

Love to Christ is the strongest, as it is the purest, of human passions, and therefore needs the strongest language to express it: to the pure in heart the phraseology, drawn from the rich imagery of Oriental poetry, will not only appear not indelicate or exaggerated, but even below the reality.

But the allegory is a continued metaphor, in which the circumstances are palpably often purely imagery, while the thing signified is altogether real.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
http://biblehub.com/songs/1-1.htm

King of the Universe.

The Tomb of Cyrus.

1. "I am Cyrus, king of the universe, the great king, the powerful king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters of the world"
2. http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/articles/c/cyrus_cylinder_-_translation.aspx

I had to smile when I read what Cyrus called himself - "King of the Universe."

I'm sure most people in the world have never heard of him. He was king of Babylon thousands of years ago. He was a mighty warrior, but I'm glad he isn't the ruler of the universe. It's a big place and I think it would be a bit much for a human being to rule it all.

I often wonder how God does it all - listen to everyone, watch over everyone and take care of all the other worlds, stars and galaxies. I wonder how God does it, but I can't figure it out because he is God and I am human. It is actually quite exciting to think when I go to heaven I might get an insight into his mind and how it works. Who knows?

One thing we do know, God is the only King of the Universe.

For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. 1Timothy 6:15

On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. Rev. 19:16

Resentment

“Resentment is like taking poison and hoping the other person dies.” 
― Augustine of Hippo

According to the dictionary, resentment means having bitterness, animosity, and malice. I think in this world it is easy to hold on to resentment; to never forget how someone has hurt you. But we are not allowed to do this.

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." Ephesians 4:31

"But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic."
 James 3:14,15

"See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." Hebrews 12:15

As the verse above says, your bitterness can "defile many."  When we feel bitter, we talk about it to others. We tell them how this or that person hurt us. We turn others against that person. We bring in disharmony and disrespect.

Forgiveness is so beautiful when put next to bitterness. Forgiveness brings a smile and happiness to others and also to ourselves. Forgiveness is not always easy - but it is always magnificent. 

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” 
― C.S. Lewis

Every Day is A Miracle.

I was reading a book by a Christian author and he said we don't have the miracles like they did in ancient times. I disagree. I think every day with God is a miracle.

Every day God looks after my family - and of course, all the people in the world. Every day God hears and answers my prayers. Every day God moves circumstances around so people will hear about him. Every day he prods each heart to do good instead of evil.

When we needed to move to Vancouver, my husband got a job there. When we needed to move to Kelowna, there were no jobs at first. Then, the company opened an office in Kelowna and he got a job there. When we were young and it looked as if we didn't have enough money for food or rent, somehow God made sure we did have it. When some in my family were on the brink of death - God saved their lives. When my grandson was suffering in deep mental pain - God took him to himself. When I had a nervous breakdown and was psychotic and the doctors said I may never come out of my delusions - God spoke to me and brought me out.

No miracles? In my mind God himself is a miracle.

The Road to More.

The Road to More and the City of Enough. 

by Rick Langer

 http://thegoodbookblog.com/2011/mar/18/the-road-to-more-and-the-city-of-enough/

(I read this article the other day and thought it was wonderful. It says on the site you can share this so I have copied it here.)

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. (Eccl 5:10-12)

Why do so many of us travel the road to More?

It is not an easy road. It often demands early mornings, late nights and short weekends. It causes headaches and heartaches and hernias. It is a crowded road. A long road. A road that winds ever onward but never homeward.

Surely it is fair to ask a traveler, “Why?”

The reason is not hard to find. We travel the road to More hoping it leads to the city of Enough. When we get to Enough, we trust we will find rest and peace and contentment. In Enough, our hearts are always full. In Enough, our anxieties are always small. But to get to the city of Enough, we must travel the road to More.

The road is sprinkled with smaller cities that nourish our hopes. The city of “Just a Little Bit More” is not a long trip. It’s a nice enough city but it is not Enough. So we press on down the road to More, hoping to find Enough just around the corner. But around the corner is the village of “More Still”. We hadn’t expected that. Why wasn’t it on the map? Yet having travelled this far, we press onward and soon we arrive in “More and More”. And then “Even More Still”. But it is never Enough!

So how far down the road to More do you have to travel to get to the city of Enough?

That’s the rub. The road to More does not lead to the city of Enough.

You can travel the road to More for your entire life and never find Enough. It is on a completely different road—or more accurately, it is not found on a road at all. Enough is found in the heart, not around the corner. It is a carry-on bag, not a destination. If we don’t pack our Enough before we go, we will never find it on our journey. Enough is only found in what one already has. Enough is an attitude, not a circumstance.

Just check with Solomon. Ecclesiastes describes his quest to find the city of Enough. First he built buildings and then more buildings. Then he built gardens and more gardens. Then he got more workers, more flocks and more herds.

But though he found a lot, he never found Enough. So he went further down the road to More: more gold, more silver; more sex and more song. He did more toil; he got more wisdom; he achieved more success. But he never found Enough.

He did meet someone who had been to Enough. It was an ordinary worker finding contentment in his ordinary work. Perhaps a worker who was working for him. Solomon admired this as a gift to those who please God, who have made their peace with him.

 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?  For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Eccl 2:24-26)

Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. (Eccl 5:10-12)

In Jesus’ words, those who seek first God’s Kingdom find “all these things” added to their lives. As Paul puts it, “godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Enough is found when the fullness of God is poured out in our hearts. Houses, jobs, bank accounts, and prestige line a different road. But when our heart has found its Enough in God, our houses, jobs and bank accounts are blessed with the gift of Enough as well.

Solomon becomes our model for discontent. He refused to have faith in the gift of God.  He didn’t believe God would reward those who diligently sought Him. He offered God half a heart and he ended his days a bitter sojourner struggling down the road to More.

Lord, give us the grace to choose our road more wisely...