| Aromatic plant oils, also known as essential oils, served | | | | any diseases from developing in this messy area. |
| many functions for biblical people. Let's look briefly at 3 | | | | Physical Healing |
| of those functions: emotional support, cleansing and | | | | Mark 6:13 indicates that Jesus and his disciples used |
| physical healing. Discover which oils were used and | | | | oils in their healing ministry. Aromatic plant oils, also |
| what kind of healing properties they possessed. | | | | known as essential oils, have many healing properties. |
| Emotional Support | | | | Based on the constituents found in each plant, the oil |
| Aromatic oils served many functions for biblical people. | | | | will have different medicinal properties. Esther 2:12 tells |
| Let's look briefly at 3 of those functions: emotional | | | | us that Esther used myrrh for 6 months of beauty |
| support, cleansing and physical healing. People in biblical | | | | treatments before going to see King Xerxes. Myrrh oil |
| times recognized that many diseases have a root | | | | has properties that help to nourish and heal the skin. |
| cause that is emotional/spiritual. By addressing the | | | | Leviticus 14:4-6 tells of the protocol the priests were to |
| emotional issues, the physical condition may also be | | | | use when cleansing people from skin diseases. Hyssop |
| helped. Psalm 45:7-8 says, "You love righteousness | | | | and cedarwood were to be used in the cleansing |
| and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has | | | | process. Hyssop has anti-inflammatory properties and |
| set you above your companions by anointing you with | | | | cedarwood has antibacterial properties. These |
| the oil of joy. All your robes are fragrant with myrrh | | | | certainly would have helped in stopping a skin disease. |
| and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory | | | | Numbers 16:46-50 tells of when a deadly plague was |
| the music of the strings makes you glad." This | | | | spreading through the nation of Israel. Aaron was told |
| passage tells us that a blend of oils was used for joy. | | | | to use burn frankincense resin on a censer to fumigate |
| Myrrh, aloes and cassia were combined to support the | | | | the camp. The frankincense molecules went into the |
| emotions and help bring a joyful spirit. Isaiah 61:3 tells of | | | | air and stopped the plague. Frankincense has |
| another time when an "oil of gladness" was used for | | | | properties that boost the immune system. This would |
| those who are grieving and mourning. | | | | have helped in stopping the plague. |
| Cleansing | | | | Healing Ministries Today |
| Now get out your Bible and take a look at Exodus | | | | Then in James 5:14 it says, "Is any one of you sick? He |
| 30:22-29. This passage explains how God instructed | | | | should call the elders of the church to pray over him |
| Moses to make the Holy anointing oil. A receipt is given | | | | and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord." So |
| that includes myrrh, cinnamon, fragrant cane (aka | | | | even in the New Testament churches we are |
| calamus), cassia and olive oil. Then God tells Moses to | | | | instructed to use oils for healing. The priests had a |
| use this special blend for cleaning! Yes, cleaning! He | | | | healing ministry in the Old Testament that included the |
| was to use it to anoint just about everything in the | | | | use of aromatic plant oils. Jesus instructed his disciples |
| temple. The table, basin, utensils, lampstand and | | | | to use aromatic plant oils for healing in the New |
| accessories, the ark and the Tent of Meeting were all | | | | Testament. Then the early churches were instructed |
| to be anointed. Think about it. What were the priests | | | | by James to use oils for healing. From this I gather that |
| doing in this temple? Sacrificing animals day after day. | | | | God always intended His people and His church to |
| That is a pretty messy job, and they certainly needed | | | | have a healing ministry. One of the tools He provided |
| something to clean with. Well, myrrh, cinnamon, | | | | to facilitate His healing through these ministries is plant |
| calamus and cassia all have strong anti-viral, | | | | oils. Praise Him! What God placed in creation for |
| anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. This mixture | | | | healing is still available to us today. Experience the |
| would have cleaned things up quite well and prevented | | | | healing power of therapeutic grade essential oils. |