Psalms 45:8

All Thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces.

Out of the ivory palaces

I look upon the kingly robes of Christ; and as I lift them, flashing with eternal jewels, the whole house is filled with the aroma of these garments, which “smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces.”

I. Why the robes of Christ are odorous with myrrh. The first present that was ever given to Christ was a sprig of myrrh, thrown on His infantile bed in Bethlehem; and the last gift that Christ ever had was myrrh pressed into the cup of His crucifixion. The natives would take a stone and bruise the tree, and then there would exude a gum that would saturate all the ground beneath. This gum was used for purposes of merchandise. One piece of it, no longer than a chestnut, would whelm a whole room with odours. It was put in closets, in chests, in drawers, in rooms, and its perfume adhered almost interminably to anything that was anywhere near it. So, when I read that Christ’s garments smell of myrrh, I immediately conclude the exquisite sweetness of Jesus. I know that to many He is only like any historical person. But to those who know Him in all His grace He is music, and light, and warmth, and thrill, and eternal fragrance. Oh that you all knew His sweetness! How soon you would turn from your revels.

II. Why the robes of Jesus are odorous with aloes. There is some difference of opinion about where these aloes grew, what is the colour of the flower, what is the particular appearance of the herb. Suffice it to know that aloes mean bitterness all the world over; and when Christ comes with garments bearing that particular odour, they suggest to me the bitterness of a Saviour’s suffering. Were there ever such nights as Jesus lived through--nights on the mountain, nights on the sea, nights in the desert? John leaned his head on Christ; but who did Christ lean on? Five thousand men fed by the Saviour; who fed Jesus? Oh, was it not all aloes; nothing else? And this not to win fame as a martyr, but because He wanted to pluck you and me from hell, and to raise us to heaven. Ye whose lot is bright and fair, ye who have had bright and sparkling beverages, how do you feel towards Him who for you took the bitter aloes?

III. Why these garments are odorous with cassia. Cassia was regarded as having great healing and curative power. But had not our Lord Jesus this? All the leaves of this Bible are only so many prescriptions from the Divine Physician, written, not in Latin, like the prescriptions of earthly physicians, but written in plain English, so that a man, though a fool, need not err therein. Thank God that the Saviour’s garments smell of cassia. Christ made every house where he stopped a dispensary. I do not believe that in the nineteen centuries that have gone by since then His heart has got hard. I feel that we can come tonight, with all our wounds of soul, and get His benediction. He comes “out of the ivory palaces.” Some of the palaces of the olden time were adorned with ivory. Ahab and Solomon had their houses furnished with it. These palaces are types of heaven. What a place heaven must be. Not so many castles on either side of the Rhine as are ivory palaces on either side of the river of God. We need to be washed, we need to be rehabilitated before we go into the ivory palaces. Eternal God, let the surges of Thy pardoning mercy roll over us! (T. De Witt Talmage.)

The garments of Christ, our New Testament High Priest, sending forth a sweet savour from His ivory palaces

I. Mention some things implied.

1. That it is most pleasant and delightful exercise and employment for the people of God to contemplate the glory and excellency of Christ; the glory of His person, and the unsearchable riches of grace, and gracious influences of the Spirit which are treasured up in Him.

2. That the more closely and particularly that we consider Christ, the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, the more will we find in Him to draw out our affections to Him, and heighten our esteem and commendations of Him, and of everything belonging to Him, even as to His garments.

3. That as believers have spiritual senses, whereby they savour the things that be of God, so it is their privilege at some seasons to be admitted to such special nearness to Christ as that they can smell His garments.

4. That faith sees not only a fulness in Christ that is inexhaustible, but also a pleasant variety of spiritual blessings every way suited to the various wants and necessities of the soul.

5. That Christ is not only suited to the case of believers, but also to their very wish and desire. He perfectly fills the hand and heart of faith, and no other object can do it (Psalms 73:25).

II. Give some account of the garments of our exalted high priest, which are here commended for their savoury smell.

1. The embroidered coat of the high priest (Exodus 28:39) seems evidently to have signified the righteousness of Christ, consisting in the holiness of His human nature, the perfect conformity of His life to the law-precept, and His satisfactory sufferings and death.

2. We may consider the girdle of the High Priest as shadowing forth the truth and faithfulness of Christ; concerning Him it is said (Isaiah 11:5). It might also denote His strength (Proverbs 31:17), and His readiness for service (1 Kings 18:46).

3. The sacred bells, which hung upon the hem of the high priest’s robe, were a lively representation of Christ’s voice in the Gospel, and of His intercession at the Father’s right hand.

4. The high priest’s bearing the names of the children of Israel in the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, represented our great Gospel High Priest supporting His Church and people, bearing them and all their burdens, as it were, upon His shoulders (Isaiah 9:6).

5. There was much of the Gospel represented by the breastplate of the high priest and the things belonging thereto. The precious stones, with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, did signify all the saints; the whole “Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven”; and these stones being set in the breastplate, intimates that our New Testament High Priest has all the spiritual Israel near His heart; they rest on the bosom of His warmest love and affection, being set as “a seal upon His heart, and as a seal upon His arm,” as the Spouse speaks (Song of Solomon 8:6). And whereas the breastplate was fastened to the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, it was to intimate that the love and power of Christ are inseparably engaged in the business of our salvation; they go hand in hand therein. The use of the Urim and Thummim was for consultation in dark and difficult cases (Numbers 27:21; 1Ki 23:9). They were evidently intended as a shadow of that fulness of Divine light and perfection that dwells in Jesus Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He is the Messenger of the Covenant, and the unerring Interpreter of its secrets.

6. The high priest had a fair mitre for his head made of fine linen (Exodus 28:39). This mitre, or crown, points us to the princely dignity and kingly power of our Lord (Zechariah 6:13).

7. The high priest had a golden plate above the mitre with this inscription upon it, “Holiness to the Lord,” or, “the holiness of the Lord.” Hence the Lord saith to Moses (Exodus 28:36). When we consult the two following verses, we see this piece of priestly attire directing us to behold the absolute perfection and spotless holiness of our Gospel High Priest, and His bearing away the iniquity of our holy things, and procuring our access to, and acceptance with God, notwithstanding our daily failings and shortcomings.

8. Our Lord Jesus is set forth in Scripture as clothed in a suitableness to the various branches of the work He is employed in, whether of mercy to His people, or of judgment towards His enemies. Accordingly, being about to reform His Church, comfort His people, and chastise His enemies (Isaiah 59:17). He is said to have “put on righteousness as a breastplate,” etc. He appeared to the prophet Isaiah “red in His apparel” (Isaiah 63:2). And to John in the vision he had of Him, spreading death and destruction among the enemies of His Church and people (Revelation 19:15), He appeared in a vesture dipt in blood as being expressive of the nature of the work He was engaged in.

III. Our now exalted saviour is incomparably sweet and savoury to all spiritual discerners.

1. He is sweet and savoury to God the Father; He is His “well beloved Son,” His “elect, in whom His soul delighteth” (Isaiah 42:1).

2. He is savoury to all true believers (1 Peter 2:7). There is an unspeakable sweetness to them in all His saving offices, and in all His names, characters and relations.

IV. Use.

1. Of information.

(1) Hence, see that our Lord Jesus Christ is a lovely object, in Himself considered, however few should be taken up with His person and righteousness and the saving blessings of His purchase.

(2) Hence see, that believers are men of another taste and smell than the rest of the world. The natural man sees no beauty and excellency in Christ why he should desire Him (Isaiah 53:2). But the believer has the spiritual faculty, whereby he savours the things that be of God.

(3) We may see whence it is that the garments of believers are said to smell as Lebanon (Song of Solomon 4:11). The reason is, they have been brought to smell Christ’s garments, and the smell of them has gone about their hearts. They are savingly united to His person, and the precious anointing oil that was poured upon His head has been made to drop upon them.

(4) Is Christ so sweet and savoury? Is there everything in Him to attract and draw sinners to believe in Him, love and esteem Him above all other persons and things? then we may see matter of lamentation that so few are disposed to adopt the language of the text.

2. Of trial and examination.

(1) Have you experienced the truth contained in the text? If so, you have been endowed with the spiritual smell.

(2) Have you seen our glorious High Priest in His person, righteousness, offices and fulness, as suited, not only to your case, but also to your wish and desire? If so, sin has a bad savour in your nostrils.

3. Of exhortation.

(1) We exhort you who have been brought by grace to adopt the language of the text, to bless the Lord that He has been graciously pleased to give you the spiritual faculty to discern and take up the sweetness and excellency of Christ. Be concerned to have your spiritual senses more and more exercised to savour the things of Christ; and to this end meditate much upon the glory of His person and His amazing love to you, which had no cause without Himself; His savoury life, which was never stained with the smallest blot; the sacrifice He offered to God in your stead for a sweet-smelling savour; and His prevalent intercession within the vail for you. Do not fail, as you have occasion, to commend Christ and His savoury garments to all about you, both with your mouth, and in your walk and conversation; tell them, as Providence gives you an opportunity, that your Beloved is more than another beloved.

(2) As for you who are yet strangers to Christ, and to whom all that soul-satisfying, heart-cheering and beautifying sweetness that is in Him is but a hearsay, and will continue to be so until the Spirit be poured out upon you from on high: we exhort you to believe the misery, sinfulness and danger of your present condition, and to betake yourselves by faith to our exalted High Priest, who sits at God’s right hand. Come and see Him as set forth in the word of grace and promise as God’s prepared goodness for the poor, and for you among the rest (1 Timothy 1:15). One glance at Him by the eye of faith will remove all the prejudices you have of Him, constrain you be love Him, and lay you under the pleasant necessity of adopting the language of the text. (T. Bennet.)