Skip to main content

Day 18: The Emptied Out Name (SoS 1:3b)

 "Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment poured forth; Therefore the virgins love you." Song of Songs 1:3

We stated in the previous lesson that a name is the shortest representation of a man's life: his identity, reputation, authority, and value. We examined why the name of Jesus is unlike any other name. This scripture tells us that  HIs name is not ointment sprayed but poured forth.

When you spray perfume and when you spill out a whole bottle of perfume, they produce the same fragrance but in different measures and strengths. The Hebrew word translated poured out in this scripture has another meaning which is to empty out. I think in this context, empty out is more appropriate and we'll see why.

First, our Beloved Jesus humbled Himself by becoming flesh. He walked the earth without sin and gave His life on the cross for our sins. When He walked the earth, He always made it known in His speech that He was still one with Father but on that cross, He cried out "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?" On that cross, He lost everything including His identity. He was alienated from God as we were. He lost His life and all He had completely. It didn't end there, He went to hell and suffered the consequences for our sins and until all the human race was justified, He couldn't rise from the dead.

Isaiah 53:12 describes Christ's sacrificial act this way:

"..He poured out His soul unto death..."

The word poured out here also means to make bare or to empty.

With this in mind, Mary's act in John 12 makes more sense. Mary didn't anoint Him with some of the fragrance in preparation for His death, she emptied the bottle. Poured it out completely to indicate that He was going to spare nothing in His sacrifice.

Just like ointments are for healing and cosmetic purposes, He poured out His name; His life, and His all for those two reasons. First, according to Acts 4:12, that all who call on His name may be saved. Salvation here encompasses all of man's needs: healing, provision, deliverance... everything the human race may ever need. The second is so that we the heirs of salvation may wear His name. More accurately put, be immersed in His name because it was not spayed, it was poured out. When you study the Greek prepositions translated 'in' in the scriptures that talk about being baptized in the name of Jesus, you'll see that to be baptized in His name is to be superimposed in it or to be put under it. So like Paul said in Philippians 2:10, "at (not in) the name of Jesus every knee should bow". Meaning wherever we are seen, His name is seen, and wherever His name is seen, He is seen. 

Galatians 3:27 expresses this beautifully:

"For as many of you were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
He poured out His name so that man can immerse in it and either be saved or become clothed with it at salvation.

If He poured out His name; His soul, and His life for us, should we spare anything of ours from Him?

PRAY WITH ME:
Thank you Jesus for pouring out your name, your life like sweet perfume, and clothing me with this name. Grant me a deeper understanding of this truth so that I may live in its reality.

REFLECT AND ACT:
Today:
  • Meditate on Acts 4:12:
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
  • And meditate again on Galatians 3:27, but this time in the New King James Translation:
"For as many of you were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."





Comments

Post a Comment

What do you think about today's lesson? Please share something you learnt.

Popular posts from this blog

Day 152: To the Mountain of Myrrh (SoS 4:6)

Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. (Song of Songs 4:6) In the previous lesson, we began to examine the Bride's response to the Beloved's seven-fold compliment. We discussed how she finally gave a positive reply to a request he had previously tendered in SoS 2:17. We examined a part of her response, and now let's explore the next part: ...I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. We have mentioned a couple of times in this series that myrrh is a burial spice. Its mention in the Bible often signifies death and sacrifice. It was one of the spices presented to Jesus at His birth and was also used to prepare Him for burial. In the same way that Jesus embraced death on the cross, the Bride goes to the mountain of myrrh embracing death to self. She knows resolute obedience will cost her that. Jesus said in Luke 14:27: ...whoever does not bear his cr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 78: Mobile Temples, Living Stones (SoS 1:17)

  “The beams of our houses are cedar, And our rafters of fir.” Song of Songs 1:17 In this verse, the Bride describes her place of rest and satisfaction. First, she mentioned the bed in the previous verse and now the house is made with cedar and fir. When we look through the scriptures we'll see that Isaiah 9:10 says cedars are strong and reliable. In Psalm 80:10 they were compared to the righteous because they are stately, tall, and flourish beautifully. And in Song of Songs 4:11 are said to be fragrant. They do not rot easily and are not often attacked by insects. The word translated as fir also means cypress. So it's used interchangeably in many Bible versions. Cypress is said to be stronger than cedar so it can bear more weight. It is also more expensive because it grows more slowly. It's strong and durable, does not decay easily, and is water resistant. It was used in the Bible for not just construction but also to make musical instruments in 2 Samuel 6:5. Cypress is sa...
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 47: Church Wounds (SoS 1:6c)

“Do not look upon me, because I am dark, Because the sun has tanned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me ; They made me the keeper of the vineyards, But my own vineyard I have not kept.” Song of Solomon 1:6 The Bride says her mother's sons (her brothers) were angry with her. It's a statement that indicates persecution among people that should love and accept us unconditionally. Mother's sons or brothers here refer to fellow believers especially those who have been in the faith longer than we have. Paul in Galatians 4:19 talks about travailing in birth like a woman would, to bring forth spiritual children. Verses 26-28 of the same chapter refer to the heavenly Jerusalem that bore us all. Then in 1 Thessalonians 2:6-8, Paul talks about nurturing younger believers as a mother nurtures her children. We see many examples of persecution from unexpected sources in the Bible. From Joseph's brothers selling him to slavery to David running from Saul to Jesus dying like a commo...
Post a Comment
Read more