MC900140627[1]

How Do You Smell?
Posted 2/21/2009

Ec 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

Ec 10:1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.

A sweet smell is a figure for a number of related things in the Bible: the work of the Holy Spirit, godly prayer, worship, a good reputation.

Christ is "Messiah" the anointed one because He exalts the name of God, and justifies His people against the lies and deceits of the devil whose stock in trade is accusing the brothers. He is anointed as Prophet, Priest, and King to exalt the name of God and to clear the name of God's people.

A man's reputation because of a long and fruitful life is better than his reputation because of the family that he is born to. Hence, as far as reputation is concerned, death trumps birth. Who he is when he dies is far more important that who he is when he is born.

Our praise to God is a sweet odor because we are exalting his name and lifting up his reputation before men. Bad doctrine, false worship, deceitful worship are all said in Scripture to be a stink before God.

Slander is vicious because it brings a bad odor upon a man's name and hinders his work for God in the world.

He who would be wise must watch the ways of his feet, for a little folly will besmirch his reputation like a few flies foul a sweet ointment. He must pray for wisdom, for his enemies will use his faults and shoot foul and wicked arrows to destroy him. There are none truly wise but God so he must take the whole armor of God, especially the shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Just as Christ is sweetness and purity before God, so the whisperings, accusations, and hatred of Apollyon stink up the church, divide between brothers, and bring the hatred of God. Hence, we are commanded to resist the devil and he will flee from us.

2Co 2:16 To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.