Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh
Standard gifts to honour kings
Offered to deities in the ancient world
Gold: precious metal
Frankincense: perfume/ incense
Myrrh: anointing oil

These same were gifts offered
By King Seleucus 2nd Callinicus
To the God Apollo
At the temple in Miletus
In 243 B.C.E.

The book of Isaiah 60:6
Describing Jerusalem's glorious restoration
Tells of nations and kings who will come and
"Bring gold and Frankincense 
and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord" 

From Matthew's gospel
We do not know the names or number
Of the Magi...but many believe
That the number of gifts gives us
The tradition of the three wise men

These three gifts were chosen
For their special spiritual symbolism
Of Jesus himself...

Gold; representing kingship
Frankincense: symbol of his priestly role
Myrrh: a prefiguring of his death and embalming
This interpretation made famous by "We three kings"

Myrrh

Myrrh: Commiphora Myrrha

Related to Frankincense

Distinctive white flowers

Knotted tree trunk

Few leaves

Due to dry desert conditions

Odd twisted shape

Due to harsh weather and wind

To harvest the myrrh

The tree must be cut

To release the resin

Allowed to dry

It begins to look like tears

All along the tree trunk

Resin is collected...

Essential oils made from this sap

Via steam distillation

Myrrh oil is smoky and sweet

Sometimes bitter smell

Myrrh from Arabic "murr"

Meaning "bitter"

Yellow/orangish colour

Viscous consistency

Used as a base for perfume

Fragrances

Two active compounds

Terpenoids

Sesquiterpenoids

Both anti-inflammatory

And antioxidant

Sesquiterpenoids have an effect

On the emotional centre

Of the hypothalamus

Helps us remain calm and balanced

Traditionally used in Chinese medicine

Also in Egypt for embalming

By Jews as a Holy anointing oil

Resin burned over hot coals

To release mysterious spiritual presence

Into a room before a religious ceremony

Myrrh is a symbol of suffering

Burned at funerals...yet

When blended with citrus

It can be uplifting

Frankincense

Frankincense Olibanum
Aromatic resin, incense, perfume
From trees: Somalia
Genus Boswellia
Uses: essential oils
From leaves, stems, roots
Healing properties: aromatherapy
Relief from chronic stress; anxiety
Reduces pain and inflammation
Boosts immunity
Fights cancer
Boswellia carterii
Boswellia sacara
Different from many others
Can grow in very little soil
In dry desolate conditions
The sap/resin dries
In tear shaped droplets

Gold

Gold: shiny star matter
Aqua Regia; Aurum
In its purest form
Bright, slightly reddish yellow
Dense, soft, malleable
Ductile metal
Chemically: a transition metal
Used in jewellery
4000 years ago
Cancer cure in recent decades
The pot at the end of the rainbow
The thin coating upon astronaut's visors
Protecting from harmful ultraviolet rays
Can bond with other elements
Originated in space
Veins of gold
Mined from the earth
Result of hot fluids
Flowing through gold-bearing deposits
Picking up gold deposits
Concentrating it in fractures
World's largest gold crystal
7.7 ounces...in Venezuela
Produced in earthquakes
Water in faults and fractures
Vaporizes...
Soft...
Mixed with other metals
Alloys give it strength
Pure gold is 24 karats
From the Arabic word "qirat""
Carob bean...
Used by gold sellers to balance their scales
Edible...gold leaf and flakes
Passes right through
Excellent conductor of electricity
Non-reactive...
With air, water, and most other substances
Won't corrode or tarnish
Medicinal...
Radioactive isotope Au-198
When injected into the site of a tumour
Will destroy tumour cells
Without much spill over
Into the rest of the body

Let go the oars

Row me to the centre of the river
Show me how deep this life has run
Could I un-tether myself from that anchor
Allow myself to simply be drawn along?
Let go the oars: float down life's stream
Release the tensions: let go of cares
Surely one must hold on to some dream?
What's done is done: we're none the wiser
If we cannot lift those oars: drift along
What use in ego: except to cry
Why has life just passed me by?
Though others say and do all manner of
Hurtful things: nobody ever wins
Now I must allow this current 
To take my life's craft by the hull
Take hold of this little boat and tug me
Whichever way: I must not fight the pull
Resistance is futile: just let it go
Give in to that mighty river
Allow life to now be guided by its flow

Salvation

Salvation...
Is a living union with Jesus Christ
To be renewed in heart...
Doing the works of Christ in faith
And a labour of love
In patience, meekness and hope
Every soul untied to Christ
Will be a living missionary
To all around him

Evangelism page 319
E.G. White

Steadfast as a rock

Steadfast as a rock
Stood the prophet of God
Faithful to rebuke sin and
Crime in all their former
In kings and nobles
As readily as in 
The un-honoured; the unknown
Swerved not from his duty
Loyal to his God
In noble dignity 
Of moral character
He stood firm as a rock
Faithful to principle...
Multitudes accepted his preaching
Followed him from place to place
Many cherished in their hearts
The hope that he was the messiah
But as John saw the people
Turning to him
He sought to direct their minds
To the coming One

Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2

Review and Herald
November 28 1907

EG White