The following notes are based on the book Healing Oils of the Bible by David Stewart Ph.D. I have been reading and studying this book for the past year, and it is fascinating and full of interesting and eye-opening information. I will give you a brief overview here, but I highly recommend purchasing a copy for yourself. This newsletter is longer than usual, but be sure to read through to the end- you'll be glad you did!

Essential oils are referenced in the Bible over 1,000 times! Here are some interesting numbers to consider:

• 1031 References to essential oils and/or plants that produced them
• 33 Species of essential oils
• 70% (about 46/66 books of the Bible mention essential oils and/or the aromatic plants from which they derive

The healing oils of the Bible are all essential or aromatic. These oils are the vital fluids of plants that are their life blood. They are called "essential" because they are necessary for the life of the plant and contain the "essence" of the plant. Essential oils contain the life force, intelligence, and vibrational energy that imbues them with healing power that works for people. Healing Oils of the Bible- Introduction, David Stewart Ph.D.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

"Then God said, 'Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.' And it was so." The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning- the third day." Genesis 1: 11-13

"Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing." Ezekiel 47:12

This verse is actually talking about the believers in God and making a comparison that just like the plants and trees, so also will our fruit serve for food and our leaves for healing.

"So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe- the richly ornamented robe he was wearing- and they took him and threw him in the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it. As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm, and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt." Genesis 37:23-25

Myrrh was the first oil to be mentioned in the Bible. It is also mentioned later in Genesis 43:11 when Jacob sent his sons into Egypt for food. He told them to take along some myrrh as a gift for the man in charge. (Joseph).

Myrrh was an extremely valuable commodity during biblical times and was imported from India to Arabia. Liquid Myrrh was used in the making of the Holy Anointing Oil for the anointing of the priests and the articles of the Tabernacle.

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is 250) shekels of cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 500 shekels of cassia,- all according to the sanctuary shekel- and a hin of olive oil. Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil." Exodus 30:22-25

The Holy Anointing Oil formed an integral part of the ordination of the priesthood and the high priest as well as in the consecration of the articles of the tabernacle and subsequent temples in Jerusalem. Some of the many purposes and plans for anointing with oil in the Bible:

• A means of dedication. A consecration to God. (Genesis 18:18)
• A vital part of worship and sacrificial offerings. (Deuteronomy 18:4)
• Used to consecrate the tabernacle and set everything in it apart as Holy. (Exodus 40:12-15 and Leviticus 8)
• Sanctify, consecrate, and set apart Aaron and his sons as a Holy Priesthood. (Exodus 40:12-15 and Leviticus 8)
• Anointing the tabernacle instruments that were used for sacrifice. (Exodus 30:26-29)
• Signified the calling of God. Priests, prophets and kings were all anointed. (I Samuel 10:6, II Samuel 2:4-7, I Kings 1:39, 19:15, II Kings 9:3, 23:30, II Corinthians 23:11)
• Oil is representative of the joy released by the Holy Spirit. (Psalm 45:7, Isaiah 6:3-1).
• An act of courtesy and hospitality toward guests. (Luke 7:46).
• Cleaning the instruments in the temple.

The Biblical meaning of "anoint" is the Hebrew word "masach" which is to "rub or massage".

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes." Psalm 133: 1-2

This is a different image than we may have originally had about anointing. It wasn't just a dab of oil on the forehead!

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 'In Bethlehem in Judea,' they replied, 'for this is what the prophet has written: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.' After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of frankincense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route." Matthew 2: 1-12

"Since gold, frankincense, and myrrh were highly prized by kings and emperors, these magi gave Jesus three very expensive gifts. The gift of gold would have had great value to a young married couple whom God would soon send to Egypt. Besides their monetary values, frankincense and myrrh would have had medical and deodorizing benefits- great gifts for a young couple with an infant. The gifts also speak of Jesus Christ. Gold speaks of His birth. He is born a King. Frankincense speaks of the fragrance of His life. Myrrh speaks of His death. All of this is indicated in the gifts that were brought to Him at His first coming. " Dr. J. Vernon McGee

Note that every December doTERRA offers free Frankincense for any 200 point (roughly $200) order. This special is good through December 31.

Watch this short video to see how doTERRA sources Frankincense.

Myrrh is the oil first mentioned in the Bible, but it is also the last. It is mentioned in the books of Genesis and Revelation. Also, Myrrh is the first oil mentioned in the life of Jesus and also the last- it was used to anoint Him before His death. The costly ointment that the women used to anoint Jesus with before his crucifixion most likely contained Myrrh as well as Spikenard (Nard) since Myrrh was often used as a "fixative" to help other oils retain their odor. Myrrh is the oil that is mentioned the most often in the Bible. Queen Esther used it during her beauty treatments before seeing the king. And. it is the only oil used in BOTH the Holy Anointing Oil and the Holy Incense.

• Aloes (Sandalwood)
• Anise
• Balm (Balsam)
• Bay (Bay Laurel)
• Bdellium
• Calamus (Cane)
• Cassia
• Cedarwood
• Cinnamon
• Coriander
• Cumin
• Cypress (Gopherwood)
• Dill
• Fir
• Frankincense (Incense)
• Galbanum
• Henna
• Hyssop
• Juniper
• Mint
• Mustard Seed
• Myrrh
• Myrtle
• Onycha
• Pine
• Rose of Isaiah
• Rose of Sharon
• Rue
• Saffron
• Shittah
• Spikenard
• Terebinth
• Wormwood

If you have made it this far in my newsletter, you must really be interested in learning about Essential Oils in the Bible! So here is a great resource for you. You can watch the "Ancient Secrets of Essential Oils" movie free online for a limited time. It features Dr. David Stewart who is the author of "Healing Oils of the Bible". Click on the link above.

And here are some fun recipes for your holiday celebrations. I recently made the Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (made with Cinnamon and Cardamom Essential Oils) and it was DELISH!

May I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

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