Gifts of the Earth

So what was Myrrh?

 

Again, it is the life blood of a small tree, not unlike frankincense, gathered from cuts in the bark as the sap dries and heals the wound in the tree.

 

Pass around Myrrh

 

To create an ointment or balm, dissolving in red wine or infusing in oil were used.  The young mother of the baby Jesus would have known to use myrrh on the umbilical cord to prevent infection or as it was referred to in her day, to keep the misdeeds of the ancestors from inhabiting the infant.  It would also be beneficial in keeping the nursing mother's nipples supple and infection free.

 

Note how we think of viruses, bacterial, dna, and in the ancient times they thought of being inhabited by demons or even the sins of the fathers. 

 

Let's move to the story of Esther in the Old Testament.

 

Here's this young girl who has been brought to the king and captured his attention.  He decides to make her his queen and thus instructs his servants to spend an entire year bathing her in essential oils and myrrh.

 

Esther 2:12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and other things for the purifying of the women;)

 

The myrrh would, according to modern laboratory experience, eliminate scars, blemishes, warts, moles, and soften the skin.  It would also do hormone balancing  having a direct effect on the hypothalamus, pituitary and amygdale to even her moods, balance her kidneys and liver, in other words optimize her physical and emotional health. 

 

Ah, it must be good to be the queen!

 

A study conducted in 2000 found myrrh oil to increase survival time and reduce tumor size in patients with malignant brain tumor as opposed to chemotherapy.

 

Olive Oil, ah, here we have another tree!

 

Anyone remember the Lily Tomilin comedy routine where she says that a woman is like a willow because she can bend?  Ah, to be a tree; with deep roots in the gospels.

 

Moses was given a recipe for anointing oil that used olive oil, but never was olive oil used alone for anointing.

 

Exodus 30:22-25  Moreover the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto three principal spices of pure myrrh, five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels and after the shekel of the sanctuary and of oil olive an hin,:  An 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.

 

Exodus 30:26 And thought shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, and the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick, and his vessels, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burn offering with all his vessel, and the laver and his foot.  And thou shalt sanctify them that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.