Biblical Oils - Spikenard

Well, we've done it. This is the last week of our review of the essential oils in the Bible. And what an oil to end on. . .Spikenard. It's a strange word to me and begs the question, "What in the world is a spikenard?" Actually, some people call it 'nard'. Still, do you know what it is?

Well, I didn't. It's definitely a word I glossed over in my Bible reading. But it's there for a reason. So what's the reason? Let's see what we find out.

As I mentioned before, depending on your translation of the Bible Spikenard may be referred to as nard, but it may not be mentioned specifically at all. The only place in the Old Testament where it is found is in Song of Solomon. First the bride talks about her scents of Spikenard reaching the king at his table then the king tells her she is like a garden and Spikenard is one of her plants. Don't you find it interesting to be referred to as a garden? Hmm.

The New Testament has two references (Mark 14 and John 12) but they are recounting similar incidents that occurred four days apart, yet both divulge some interesting facts. Spikenard was precious and expensive; it could have been bought and sold for more than a year's wages! It had to be held in a sealed alabaster container so that the smell didn't give it away. Because once it was out in the open the aroma could fill the entire house. It gave Judas and others a fit to have an entire half liter of this spread over Jesus's feet then his head. (Note: Jesus reprimanded the complaining men not the women who spent the money.)

We learn so much about the company that Jesus kept by these passages. When the Bible says it was costly, it was expensive and still is. Of course, the Bible states a year's wages as the price but there's no way to know how much that was. There is much speculation as to the exact amount, but Essential Oil pocket reference does mention that this oil was used only by priests, kings and high initiates. Hello, Jesus had friends who were high in society, which explains why so many of his followers could fit into a house to eat and listen to Jesus teach. And a woman of the house could spend that much money and still be able to entertain a group of men.

People of Israel weren't the only ones who used it either. After all, it comes from India, where it was not just perfume, but also part of medical practices. Historically, Egyptians used it as part of a mixture called kyphi which was used to calm fear and anxiety, thus promoting restful sleep and pleasant dreams. And if you read the word 'nardinum', an ancient oil mixture renown for its aroma, spikenard is in that too.

So what other ailments is it advertised for? Reference Guide for Essential Oils says it's good for allergic skin reactions and has antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and deodorant properties. Essential Oil pocket reference adds that it's an immune stimulant.  If you recall I mentioned sesquiterpenes in one of my earlier posts. These help the body return things back to normal. And this oil has a high percent of this in its chemical make-up.

I can't help but be drawn to the fact that there are oils whose very nature is to regenerate an area to the point of wholeness. This is something God does for us spiritually. When we turn something over to Him, He takes us through various cleansing processes and trials to get us to the point that we are whole. Whatever the hurt or wound, He makes it new and better. How awesome it is to see with our eyes what God does to the unseen part of us.