Why Gold, Incense, and Myrrh?

I love picking out gifts. I love seeing the receiver's  eyes crinkle at the edges, mouth turn up, and hear squeals of delight. That's assuming my gift hit the mark.

We're in the gift-giving season. Stores hawk their wares at discounts to ensure our material happiness on Christmas Day.

But what about the gifts the Wise Men presented to Jesus? What was the origin and meaning behind the gifts given in worship? The symbolism is mind-boggling.

GOLD: Gold, mentioned more frequently in the Bible than any other metal, held great value because of its rarity, beauty, workability, and durability. The Israelites used gold extensively in the Old Testament Tabernacle. (Exodus 25 and 26)

Gold was a gift for a king and associated with kings. Throughout Scripture, kings wore gilded crowns and carried golden scepters. Solomon possessed so much gold that it's mentioned twelve times in 1 Kings 10.

Gold was a gift for a king. Jesus was a King.

FRANKINCENSE: An odiferous resin obtained from the bark of certain Arabian balsam trees, frankincense (referenced interchangeably with incense) was an ingredient in the holy incense used in the Old Testament Tabernacle. (Exodus 30:34-38)

Incense, used later in the Temple in Jerusalem, was always offered as a fragrant offering - an aroma pleasing to God. The Old Testament priests stored incense in a special chamber in the front of the temple and added it to the offerings so that, when burned, the incense's sweet savor would rise as an offering to God. Exodus 30:37 tells us, "the incense is for God, not the people."

Incense speaks of deity.

MYRRH: This beautiful perfume also came from a little tree in Arabia. We see myrrh referenced in Proverbs to perfume beds and put on clothes. In her preparations to be presented to the king, Esther's beauty treatments included myrrh. (Esther 2:12)

Myrrh was also an anesthetic and used for burial purposes. Myrrh was a gift for a mortal. Its perfume made life a little less odorous and burial a little less repulsive. People often gave myrrh as a gift for one who would die. Jesus was a man and it was clear from the beginning that He would die. Myrrh was a gift for a King and a man, for Jesus was both.

So when the Wise Men came bearing gifts for Jesus:
     By the gold they proclaimed Him to be a King.
     By the myrrh they proclaimed Him to be a man.
     And by the incense they proclaimed Him to be God.

The Wise Men's gifts hit the mark exquisitely, don't you think?

What is the most meaningful gift you will give this year?
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Bible Study Gift For You: "One Extraordinary Night"

Our Savior appeared like no one expected.

He loved people like no one else did.

He suffered death like no one should.

And rose victorious like only a Savior could.


That's what Scripture tells us. Bible study is the single most important thing that has shaped (and continues to shape) my spiritual walk. God's living, active Word - there's nothing like it.

And this time of year, I can't get enough of the Christmas story recorded in Luke 2: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

That powerful story is the subject of "One Extraordinary Night", a 4-lesson Bible study I wrote about that stunning event which changed the course of history.

And I want you to have it.

If you subscribe to follow my blog by email (right), I will email the complete 4-lesson Bible study today as my gift to you. Nothing would give me greater joy! (And you will not receive any email other than the one sending you the Bible study.)

The study delves into the culture of the shepherds, the heavenly host present that night, and transports you to a shepherding hill outside of Bethlehem to uncover what Jesus' birth truly signified. It digs deep through God's incredible Word about that story full of wonder.

The path for us to spend eternity with Him started there.

My prayer is that you choose to share this study with family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and anyone else who would like understand what God did on that breathtaking night. This time of year they're more open to the soul-saving message of Christ than any other.

So...
1) Subscribe to follow my blog by email by December 31, 2011;
2) Leave a comment here about someone you may like to share it with, and
3) "One Extraordinary Night" is yours. 

Merry Christmas and God's blessings!
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How Do You Spell C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S?

As a young girl, one of my favorite Christmas songs started on page 70 of the old Reader's Digest Merry Christmas Songbook. I played that tune over and over on my flute until the pages became dog-eared and worn. 

Although the tune was catchy, my fascination went beyond notes. It told a story, but I didn't understand the words. It talked about a Redeemer. But that Redeemer was a child.

How could a child redeem anyone from anything?

Church was not a regular part of my childhood, so the story of angels, wise men, and a shining star captured my imagination.

In His amazing wisdom, God chose to tuck that particular song in my heart. I pulled out that same old songbook last week, and marveled at the yellowed, well-loved pages. And I came upon that song. I picked up my flute and played it through several times. The song stuck in my head for days.

I realized that I still sing it to this day - but with much more gusto. And tenderness. As a Christian, I understand it now. I sang it during my talk on Sunday night at a women's advent dinner. Only 2 women out of 300 recognized the tune, but most, if not all of them, understood the meaning of the words.

The song, called "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S," was originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1961. It goes like this:

"When I was but a youngster, Christmas meant one thing: I'd be getting lots of toys that day. I learned a whole lot different when mother sat me down and taught me to spell CHRISTMAS this way:

C is for the Christ child, born upon this day,

H for herald angels in the night.
R is for our Redeemer,
I means Israel, and
S is for the star that shone so bright.
T is for three wise men, they who traveled far,
M is for the manger where He lay.
A is for all He stands for,
S means shepherds came, and that's why there's a Christmas Day!"

Beautiful way to tell a story full of wonder, isn't it?

Here's a YouTube link to listen if you like [be prepared - it's old school!]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLl95DnsN90&feature=related

Do you have a favorite Christmas song from childhood? What made it your favorite?
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