Some people may instantly think of Christmas when they hear the word Frankincense. Count me in, I’m one of those people who associate Christmas with Frankincense because in the bible it is one of the gifts given by wise men to Jesus when he was born.
However, when we talk about Frankincense as an essential oil, I think about maturity. Seeing some articles and images of essential oils used to treat younger people’s concerns, gives me an idea about those oils and how do they look like. However, for my age, I appreciate Frankincense better now, because Frankincense is suited for mature skin. It is suited to me because at the moment of writing this post I am in my mid 30’s. Essential oils that look perfect for mature skin is what I appreciate and prefer hence I love Frankincense essential oil.
Frankincense is one of the aromatic plants mentioned in the bible. Maybe you already have a preconceived notion about this special plant, but what does the bible say about Frankincense? This post tries to tell how the bible sees Frankincense.
1. One of the valued products in Babylon
The 18th chapter of the book of Revelation talks about the prophecies of Babylon. It’s said that it’s one of the products being sold in Babylon that makes the merchants rich. This suggests that Frankincense is considered a valuable product that the people of Babylon admire, desire, and want to keep and have control over it.
“And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.” – Revelation 18:13
2. Part of worship ceremonial offering
The book of Revelation hinted that the people of Babylon wanted to keep on selling Frankincense until the end. However, some verses in the scripture unveils as to how God truly views Frankincense. The way God thinks of Frankincense is not the same as how the people of Babylon see this precious plant. When God gave worship and offering instructions to Moses, he mentioned that Frankincense shall be an important part of it.
a. Tabernacle perfume
Frankincense was particularly mentioned by God as one of the ingredients He wanted to be included in the perfume for His tabernacle. God instructed that Frankincense must be mixed with Sweet spices. This combination will produce a perfume that will be used in the tabernacle of God.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:” – Exodus 30:34
b. Accompaniment for offerings to God
In different verses, we can read that whenever people would offer to God they should put Frankincense to it. It shall serve as an accompaniment when offering bread (Leviticus 24:7), fine flour (Leviticus 2:1-2), corn (Leviticus 2:16), and meat to God (Leviticus 2:15, Leviticus 6:15). The combination of the offering and Frankincense produces a sweet savor for God.
“And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.”- Leviticus 24:7
“And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon
And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take therefrom his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD” – Leviticus 2:1-2
“And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat offering.” – Leviticus 2:15
“And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD.” – Leviticus 6:15
“And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.” – Leviticus 2:16
3. Must not be mixed with defiled things
Typically, when people make offerings to God, they should have Frankincense with them. However, it is different when people are making a sinful offering. Since Frankincense is considered precious, God instructed that when making a sin offering, the item or animal that will be offered shall not have any Frankincense on it. The item that will be used for sin offering is a representation of the sin and it must be burned for the atonement of sin (Notice the word ‘sin’ here is in singular form) (This is the law before Jesus Christ fulfilled his mission to be crucified for the atonement of our sins. Notice that the word ‘sin’ here is in plural form) Hence, the item that will be offered as a sin offering is considered as defiled and should not be mixed with Frankincense.
“But if he is not able to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.” – Leviticus 5:11
4. Must be for pure things only
The Bible talks about the offering of jealousy. A man deserves a faithful woman. Hence, it is expected that a woman who believes in God should be faithful to his husband. If the husband doubted and thinks that his wife slept with another man, he must bring his wife to the tabernacle and make an offering of jealousy. As mentioned above, most of the offerings must be accompanied by Frankincense. Therefore, if the woman is not considered ‘clean’ she does not deserve to have Frankincense. Frankincense is reserved for pure items meant for offerings, as well as for anointing people.
“Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.” – Numbers 5:15
5. Permanent item in the sanctuary of God
Since God has instructed that Frankincense must be part of the offerings for Him, it is considered important. Believers of God know that it must be permanent in the tabernacle of God that’s why they even prepared a chamber for it in the temple (Nehemiah 13:5) and they appoint an overseer for it (1 Chronicle 9:29). Moreover, it was instructed that the chamber where the Frankincense and other items for the temple must be cleaned (Nehemiah 13:9)
“Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.” -1 Chronicles 9:29
“And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.” – Nehemiah 13:5
“Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.” -Nehemiah 13:9
6. It is a gift
Since Frankincense is perceived as special and valuable, it is considered the best gift for important people. The three wise men in the bible gave three gifts to Jesus when he was born, and one of those is Frankincense. The Bible itself described how Frankincense is perceived. It is written in the book of Matthew that the wise men ‘opened their treasures’ to present their gifts namely gold, myrrh, and frankincense. This shows us that historically and biblically, Frankincense is considered a treasure and even compared similarly to gold. Also, Frankincense was not only offered or given as a gift to any dignitaries or notable people. It was gifted to Jesus Christ – the real true God, the Alpha, and Omega. Hence we can see that Frankincense is precious to God. It is meant to be given to God and is also a good gift especially for people who understand its real worth and purpose.
“And when they came into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” – Matthew 2:11
7. Myrrh complements Frankincense
Frankincense was the perfume used by the coming person mentioned in Song of Solomon 3:6. Its scent was so distinct that the writer of the verse specifically identified Frankincense. Moreover, as we see in other verses in the bible, the scent of Frankincense is complemented by Myrrh.
“Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?” – Song of Solomon 3:6
8. Scent for consummating the marriage
“Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.” – Song of Solomon 4:6
“Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices” – Song of Solomon 4:14
In the Songs of Solomon, Solomon described the bride. He talks about the ‘hill’ of frankincense and her ‘garden’. To get the context of the verses where frankincense is mentioned, it might be helpful to look at some words used in the chapter. The words mentioned are lips, neck, and breast.
If we will only look and understand what’s written in the bible, we would understand how God sees Frankincense, particularly Its value, and its purpose. Maybe you may have not yet realized how God reserved this special plant for Him, and how God had allowed the Songs of Solomon to describe what and where Frankincense is meant to be used. I hope you will engrave this in your heart and your mind, so you will always remember what Frankincense is truly designed for.
Pursue what you are truly designed to do 💋❤
Reference:
- King James Bible Version
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