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