Thy Name - Perfume Emptied Out (Son. 1:3)

Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. (Son. 1:3)

In both Old and New Testament times it was common to apply perfumed ointments after bathing (Ruth 3:3). As with today's expensive perfumes, recognizable fragrances could serve to identify an individual and stimulate remembrance even after the owner had departed.

Symbolically Christ's fragrance distinguishes Him from all others because the sweet savour of His life testifies to God and still kindles remembrance two thousand years later.

His name is fragrant

Christ's names and titles speak of His character, His attributes, His person; each one pointing to the beauty and perfection of His being.

His words were unique, its aroma testifying that they were God-breathed (John 17:8), its wisdom causing His critics to acknowledge that no one ever spake like Him (Mark 1:22, 6:2, Luke 2:47, 4:32), its comprehension leading believers to identify Him.

His name was reflected in His gracious but truthful words to sinners (John 1:14). Without condemning her Christ exhorted the adulterous woman to turn from her sin (John 8:11), the sweet savour of true love soothing her lonely soul, His compassion imploring her to repent. Others, such as the publicans and sinners enjoyed time with Him as the aroma of His presence filled their gathering (Luke 5:30, 7:34, 15:1).

His words still have the fragrance of life (John 6:63). The believer has recognized that His words are life and that one must cling to Him for salvation (John 6:68, 12:48, 20:16-17). He is the way to heaven, the way to the Father, His name being the only one by which we can be saved (John 20:31, Acts 4:12 1 John 5:11-13).

Speaking tender words to Peter, He mended his discouraged heart, His gentle prodding instilling confidence in this bruised reed (Isa. 42:3); His tutelage provoking courageous and sacrificial service for his Saviour (John 21:15-19).

Healing the blind and the lame, the mute and the deaf, the demon-possessed and many others, He brought a waft of kindness to a fallen world marred by sin's stench.

After departing this world His remembrance proved lasting (Lk 22:19-20, 1 Cor. 11:23-26), its savour emboldening believers to joyfully suffer for His name (Acts 5:41), spurring them to gather in His name (Matt 18:20), prompting them to pray in His name (John 14:13).

His ointments are good

The word "good" contains the notion of costly, valuable, and precious. It reminds us that the Father values His Son - His precious, only-begotten Son (2 Pet 1:17). No one appreciates the fragrant beauty of the Son more than the Father. Only He can fully appreciate Him; His whole life bringing satisfaction and delight to His Father's heart (Isaiah 42:1). The believer concurs with the Father and has a growing appreciation for the irreplaceable and unique One (So 5:10, 1 Pet. 2:7).

His matchless value is pictured when God asked Abraham to sacrifice His Son, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest" (Gen 22:2), this event a type of the future sacrifice when God would send His Son into the world. While a substitute was provided at the last minute for Isaac, no substitute was suitable to replace His Son.

There is a fragrance diffused by Christ's death. The base liquid in perfumes and other ointments was olive oil, extracted by an oil press. It was in Gethsemane ("oil press") where our Lord, agonizing in prayer and burdened with sorrow, unwaveringly said "lead me to Calvary" where He was crucified for our sins. Wounded and sick from sin all who believe receive a healing balm (Psa. 103:3, Isa 1:6, Mk 6:13, Jm 5:14, Lk 10:34), cleansing our guilty conscience and replacing sin's stench with Christ's aroma.

It's unfathomable to think that the Father could bruise Him (Isa. 53:10). Yet without diminishing His love for the Son, He lovingly did this for us knowing that Christ's suffering was a temporary experience on the road to His glory and exaltation (Phil 2:5-11).

Christ's sacrifice was incalculable because the giver was the eternal Father and the eternal Son was the gift. The Son was willing because He loved us (Gal 2:20) and loved His Father (John 14:31). His sacrificial death on the cross was not only for our sin but also a devotional act, a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma to His Father (Eph. 5:2).

His Ointment is poured forth

God is a cheerful giver, abundant in goodness and truth, (Ex 34:6). He completely pardons the repentant sinner (Isaiah 55:7), responding with rich mercy to them (1 Pet 1:3). No matter how prolific our sin, His grace abounds more (Rom 5:20).

Christ offers all an abundant life (John 10:10), through Him the Holy Spirit has been fully given to the believer (Tit 3:6) and God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or even imagine (Eph. 3:20). Beloved ask large things of God, believingly, fervently, and in His will. He'll do greater, He'll do more, and He'll do things we should have asked for.

We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17) and God promises the faithful saint a lavish welcome into His kingdom (2 Pet 1:11). It's beyond the grasp of our finite imagination.

Therefore do the virgins love thee

Perfumes can prompt remembrance. Desiring that Christ's fragrance be reproduced in us, we have an opportunity to provide a pleasing reminder of His Son.

We can offer fragrant worship. In Bethany, a few days before Christ's death, Mary took a pound of Spikenard ointment and anointed His feet. As a result the scent permeated the whole house and all its occupants. The ointment was very costly and she used her glory - her hair - to wipe the Lord's feet (John 12:1-8). This reminds us that the Lord's sacrifice was costly and that while on earth He veiled His glory. She only anointed His feet - she did not need to wash His feet - because the sinless One walked this earth without ever defiling Himself (Jn 13:10). For the perfume to be released the bottle had to be broken and this recalls that the Lord was crushed so we could receive the fragrance of life.

Commonly kept for burial (Lk 23:56), she decided to worship Him while He was still alive. She had great faith and an understanding of His mission. While Mary looked ahead to the Lord's sacrifice we have the opportunity to corporately gather and remember Him as we look back to the cross. When by the Spirit we worship Him, a fragrance will permeate our gathering, enjoyed and appreciated by the Father, thrilling the saints who love Him.

The long-lasting scent may have even followed the Lord to His arrest, His trial, His cross. The aroma a picture of the pleasure the Father found in His sacrifice. Our worship can also have a lasting effect when driven with grateful hearts we zealously go forth and serve Him.

We can also offer fragrant service (2 Cor 2:14). As Roman armies would customarily parade the vanquished in a victorious procession Christ made a public spectacle of the spiritual forces of darkness (Col 2:15). In our service God leads us triumphantly in Christ and we are a sweet reminder to Him and fellow believers that Christ has won the victory.

Finally we can offer fragrant gospel witness (2 Cor 2:15-16). It is through us that God diffuses the knowledge of Christ, His work, His gospel. To those who believe we are a sweet aroma, the smell of life. To those who reject Him we are the stench of impending death. Either way many will take note that we have been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). Mary's witness would later prove life to many in their gathering but Judas carried the scent away to betrayal, to death, to hell.

Ointments were used for the consecration of people and things (Ex 30:23-25, 30-33, Gen 28:18, 35:14). Set apart to worship and serve God, a holy fragrance ought to radiate from us, noticeable to God, the church, and the world.

Ointments were symbolic of joy, security, and spiritual riches (Ps 23:5, Heb 1:9). Accordingly Christ has dispersed to us the ointment of joy for all circumstances. He is our strength (Neh. 8:10, Col. 1:11) and when led by the Spirit (Gal 5:22) its aroma will characterize our lives.

We have the anointing of the Holy Spirit - our own personal tutor to teach us the riches of Christ (Eph 3:8), to lead us into all truth (John 16:14-15, 1 John 2:20).Spending time in the Word lets collaborate with the Spirit - Christ's aromatic gift to us (John 15:26). As we discover its delights may we identify Him and may its discoveries provoke remembrance.

George Ferrier

2012