Series - "Bible Trees" VI - "The Fragrant Trees"
Psalm 45: 1-8

October 16, 2005

Pastor William Underwood

This Psalm is about the Return of our Lord Jesus Christ. READ - Hebrews 1:8-9 In vs. 8 three trees are mentioned that are used for perfume. These are the last three trees that are used in the Psalms. All three of them are similar. They are not known for their fruit nor their wood, but for their fragrance.

I - NATURAL FACTS
A- Myrrh is both a tree and a plant. It was present at both the birth and death of Christ. The tree has a large trunk with knotted branches - the leaves are not attractive - they are small and look like mold or moss - Gum is taken from the tree by slightly piercing the bark - the gum is white but turns red when dried - it is sold in markets for spice or medicine - the gum is very fragrant.
B- Aloes - is a large tree - grows to 120 feet tall - the gum is fragrant - the tree must be wounded to the heart to extract gum - the heart-wood was more valuable than gold - it could be molded and formed into any shape - it was used as a setting for gem stones.
C- Cassia - is a very small tree - valuable for buds and leaves the buds are used for cooking like cloves - the leaves are like sienna - used like laxative - the Hebrew name reveals how gum was extracted - as bark was peeled from the trunk the gum oozed out of the tree. D- NOTE - one tree was pierced - one was peeled - and one had to be wounded to the heart.

II - SCRIPTURAL FACTS:
A- The Stand (location) of these trees
1-Song of Solomon 4:13-16 - Wind and water are related to these trees. "Water" is the Word and "Wind" is the Holy Spirit - A Christian must live close to God's Word and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
B- The SCENT (fragrance) of the trees
1-Each has its own significant fragrance. 2-Each of us has a different personality that God wants to use to bring glory to Himself.
C- The SERVICE of these trees (value of fragrance)
1- Exodus 30:22-25 The holy anointing oil was unique and was not to be duplicated. It was an oil of JOY. It was used for the service and worship of God. It was "holy" or "separated". 2-We need to live a "separated" life - separated TO God and FROM sin. 3-Queen Esther had to prepare to see the King by "purifying" with these three spices. We are not holy with a halo nor a robe but by the presence of Christ in our life. 4-The inner wood of cassia was used to mount gems. The setting either makes or breaks the beauty of the stone. Does your life exalt the beauty of HIS presence? Do I want to be a stone or the setting?
D- The SUFFERING OF THE TREES
1-The fragrance was not produced without suffering - our hardships and sufferings as a Christian should produce a fragrance in our lives. 2-God has to peel some - others are cut to the heart - some only need to be scratched to bring out the fragrance. 3-God does not wound because we have done wrong - He draws from us the fragrance that He brings to our lives. 4-Each tree yielded its fragrance in a different way - God deals with each of us in a different way - He knows how to handle us. 5-Let us glorify God in our sufferings and allow the fragrance of His Presence to flow from our lives.