Exodus 30:23-25 - Homiletics

The sweetness of the Holy anointing Oil . The holy oil had infused into it the essence of four "principal spices"—myrrh, that scents the garments of the great king ( Psalms 45:8 ; So Psalms 3:6 ); cinnamon, the choicest of the spices of distant and; sweet calamus, that exhales its best fragrance when bruised; cassia, which, together with sweet calamus, formed one of the glories of the market of Tyro ( Ezekiel 27:19 ). How passing sweet must have been the odour of these blended perfumes—each delicious alone—all enhanced by the combination, which had taxed the best skill of the "apothecary" ( Exodus 30:25 )! But the sweetness of our anointing oil is greater. "We have an unction from the Holy One." Our "anointing oil" is the Blessed Spirit of God. What is there in all the experiences of this world so sweet to the weary soul as he? How sweet and dear is he—

I. Is THE SOFT GENTLENESS OF HIS DESCENT UPON US . Silently, unperceivedly, without sight, or sound, or stir, the gentle influence comes—steals into the heart—only by degrees makes its presence known to us. A crisis—a manifest change—"tongues of fire," or the rush of a "mighty wind" would cause the weak believer to tremble with fear, and perhaps draw back to his undoing. Our "anointing oil" descends upon us soft as "the dew of Hermon, which fell upon the hill of Sion."

"He comes, sweet influence to impart,

A gracious willing guest,

While he can find one humble heart

Wherein to rest."

II. IN THE METHOD OF HIS ORDINARY WORKING . Not by rude shocks, or sudden terrible alarms; but by the mild coercion of little checks and scarcely-felt restraints—by whispers softly breathed into the ear of the soul—by the suggestion of good thoughts—by the presentation of holy memories—does he effect his ends. Wise as any serpent, harmless as his own emblem, the dove, he feeds us as we are able to receive of him. He has "milk" for such as stand in need of milk. He has "strong meat' for such as can bear it. Manifold and diverse are his gifts, but given to every man "to profit withal" ( 1 Corinthians 12:7 ).

"His is that gentle voice we hear,

Soft as the breath of even,

That checks each fault, that calms each fear.

And speaks of Heaven.

"And every virtue we possess,

And every conquest won,

And every thought of holiness,

Are his alone."

III. IN HIS PATIENCE WITH US WHEN WE ABE WAYWARD . God once declared, "My spirit shall not always strive with man" ( Genesis 6:3 ); and Scripture warns us that the Holy Ghost may be "resisted" ( Acts 7:51 ) and even "quenched" ( 1 Thessalonians 5:19 ). But how wonderful is his patience and forbearance towards those who thwart and oppose him! How unwilling is he to give them up! How loth to quit their souls, and leave them to their own guidance! Assuredly he is "provoked every day" by each one of us. But he is not even angry—he simply "grieves" ( Ephesians 4:30 )—is "vexed" ( Isaiah 63:10 )—made sorrowful. No sooner do we show any signs of relenting than he forgives—encourages us, cheers, comforts, consoles. "There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Such a friend to man is "the Comforter."

IV. IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARDS US WHEN WE TURN TO HIM . It is the Christian's privilege to speak with God "as a man to his friend" ( Exodus 33:11 ). With the in-dwelling Spirit we may ever have this "mystic sweet communion." Would we speak to him at any moment, his ear is attent to hear. Unworthy as we are, unclean as we are, rebellious as we are, and self-willed, and self-seeking, he will commune with us, if we will commune with him—he will tell us of the things of heaven, "guide us into all truth" ( John 16:13 ), "receive of Christ's and show it unto us" ( ib, 14). The sweetness of such commune is inexpressible—it may well "ravish our heart" (So Exodus 4:9 ) and make us "sick of love" (So Exodus 5:8 ).