Proverbs 27_9
September 4
Happy Tuesday Everyone,
The scripture for today is Proverbs 27:9
Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so does the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
In the culture of the people of Bible times, anointing the body with fragrant ointment was a common custom; the more costly and fragrant the ointment the higher the status of the person receiving it. In the New Testament Mary anointed the feet of Jesus. This was a completely extravagant act. Usually a small quantity of ointment was placed on the head, hair, face or beard. Mary took an entire pound of very expensive ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus. She did not consider herself worthy to touch His head; she anointed that part of the body that others shunned to touch. "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment." John 12:3 She loved Jesus so much that she gave the best that she had to "rejoice the heart."
In the same way that precious ointment puts a glow on the face of the recipient and lifts the heart, Godly counsel from one who is a friend provides a precious fragrance for the soul. "The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:23-24 Counsel is best when given by a wise friend who loves God and holds the interest of another as valuable as his own. Such counsel is called "sweetness" in our text today. A rejoicing heart is a heart that is not alone, but rather is in fellowship with God and with friends who also love the Lord.
God bless you as you continue in His service.
Tim