Smells linger – in our memory as well as in
the air. Studies show that when a scent
is connected to a memory, that memory will last and will come to mind when that
scent is encountered later in life.
God created our senses and He uses them to
full advantage in the way He instituted worship in Exodus. In the last few chapters He has been specific
about colors, gems, and precious metals.
He designed the priestly clothing to proclaim a message. He added bells to garments, which would
certainly be complemented by psalms and hymns that were sung, and the other
sounds around their worship. There was
touch in the handling of sacrifices and in the giving of blessings. In this chapter God gave the Israelites
something to smell; incense and anointing oil.
What does worship smell like? If you grew up Roman Catholic it may smell
like frankincense burned in a thurible.
For me, Easter lilies were always a scent that I connected with worship. Now whenever I smell lilies or hyacinth it
makes me think of Jesus’ resurrection.
The scent of the incense and anointing oil
would certainly have permeated the Tabernacle and anyone who came there would
have had to notice it. This smell would
come to indicate the presence of God in a way.
The Tabernacle was where God met His people in worship. It was where He gave forgiveness of
sins. It was where the people turned to
pray.
Imagine knowing that smell, and being unable
to get to the Tabernacle, but one of the priests came to you. The smell would be on his clothes, in his
hair and beard, and would announce the representative of the Lord.
God still works through multi-sensory
means. In fact, the sacraments, Baptism
and the Lord’s Supper, are very multisensory.
Water has a smell to it – unless it’s distilled – whether it be
chlorine, minerals, or salts; this is especially true of bodies of water. Bread has a certain smell to it as well. (Maybe not the little wafers we use, but
bread does.) Wine smells of tannins,
raisins and alcohol.
It’s not an accident that God chose these
common items to bear His salvation into our lives. He wants us to remember what He has
done. He wants us to know that we are
His redeemed people. So he takes the
power of the Cross of Christ and delivers it through earthly means in the Word
(seen and heard), Holy Baptism (seen, felt, smelled, and heard), and Holy
Communion (seen, smelled, and tasted).
The scriptures say to taste and see that the
Lord is good. Perhaps, without adding to
scripture, we can also be exhorted to smell the salvation Jesus has won for
us. Next time you commune take a moment
and smell the bread before you eat it.
Smell the wine as you drink it – use the common cup and have it right
there under your nose, the way wine is supposed to be drunk. (Really, who puts wine in a shot glass? I’m not judging, but think about it.)
What does salvation smell like? That’s what God is delivering to you in these
earthly gifts.
Inhale
deeply.
Father, thank you for communicating with Your people in many and various
ways. Help the smells of my church,
water, bread, and wine bring to mind the gifts Jesus won for me in His death
and resurrection. Amen.
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