Today sees the start of the second half of our 12 days of preparation. Just as Esther experienced six months of anointing with myrrh (for burial and purification) followed by six months of sweet spices and perfume (to make her a pleasing aroma to her Bridegroom-King), so we are entering our second set of six days.
We might wonder why she needed anointing with extra perfume if she had already been cleansed. And as Christians, surely we have been fully cleansed through Jesus’ sacrifice? There is no lingering stench. God has done everything necessary for our cleansing, forgiveness and righteousness in His sight – what more could we possibly need to add?
It may not have anything to do with old ingrained smells, but there were still other aromas to deal with. After the royal brides had been purified with myrrh, and every lingering association from their old life removed, there was still one possible source of unpleasant aroma, and that was to do with what comes from within, on a daily basis. Most particularly as they lived in the Middle East, where the summers can be very hot and perspiration was an ongoing issue.
So it is with us spiritually: when our daily surroundings heat up they can draw impurities out from deep within that can quickly start to stink if we do not regularly and quickly deal with them. Esther and the royal brides used perfumed oils to deal with the odour of sweat. So we need to pay constant attention to what comes out of us in response to our surroundings. When seasons grow harder and we experience the heat of the refiner’s fire, what comes out of us? Outbursts of anger, judgementalism, irritation or offense? Do we give in and settle for a lazy life, indulging in jealousy or self-pity? All of these are part of the natural (fleshly) human condition, and can be exacerbated by our surroundings. So one of the most important reasons for fasting is that we deny ‘self’ the right to expression, and voluntarily cut off the more worldly influences so that our spirit can grow stronger, and we can deliberately immerse/ anoint ourselves with the perfumes of peace, patience, long-suffering etc
As I was preparing today’s reading, God took me to Colossians 3:9-17. The preceeding verses 5-8 refer to the old worldly nature that we have been cleansed from, and need to continually reject. Verses 9-17 show us the fragrance of the new, sweet perfume that we apply in ‘putting on the new self’ as in verse 10…
You have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
So today as we begin to prepare ourselves with sweetly-spiced perfumes as suited to a royal bride, let us check ourselves for any deep impurities that may emerge under pressure (and wash them – through repentance – in the blood of Jesus), and let us deliberately apply the new perfume available to us through the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit. May we cover ourselves with the perfume of words, actions and attitudes that smell sweet to our royal Bridegroom.
In the Secret Place 
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