Heart Garden - Part 3

What are we growing in the garden of our heart?

Song of Solomon compares our hearts to a garden and vividly describes the various fruits and spices that are to be growing there.

Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.

Two ways of interpreting these nine choice fruits and spices are:

1. They correspond to the nine fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23.

2. Their meaning is revealed through their original Hebrew root word.

read part 1 here

read part 2 here

Frankincense

Fruit of the Spirit: Faith/Faithfulness 

Hebrew: Purity

• Frankincense is the only oil in the world which floats, defying nature. Faith also defies the natural, as the “evidence of things unseen” (Heb. 11:1).

• Frankincense is a gum resin that flows from the inner wood of a tree. The original Hebrew word comes from a root meaning “pure” or “white,” due to the white resin. When this resin is burned, it creates incense.

• Frankincense represents our pure worship and prayers that ascend to the throne of God (Rev. 8:3-4). We are to be “faithful in prayer” (Rom. 12:12).

  (References 1-2,4-6)

Myrrh

Fruit of the Spirit: Meekness

Hebrew: Bitter Suffering

• Myrrh is the first fragrance mentioned in reference to Jesus (Ps. 45:8). Myrrh, along with cassia,was the greatest ingredient in the holy anointing oil, which speaks of Jesus (Exod. 30:23-25). Myrrh was one of the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus (Matt. 2:11), and the first characteristic of Jesus’ heart is meekness (Matt. 11:29).

• Myrrh is derived from the thick gum that flows from the pierced bark of a knotted, thorny tree. The gum hardens into red drops called “tears.” The Hebrew root word means “bitter suffering.” Myrrh was one of the gifts the Magi brought to Jesus as a child, which foreshadowed His bitter suffering on the cross (Matt. 2:11).

• The original sense of the Greek word, “distilling in drops,” is likened to a slow process of purification. Likewise, we are to die to our flesh in order to do God’s will (Matt. 16:25).

  (References 1-2,4-6)

Aloes

Fruit of the Spirit: Temperance  

Hebrew: Odoriferous Tree  

• Aloes represent temperance, but  most translations render this word as “self-control,” even though the original word is “lordship,” with no reference to “self.” Therefore, aloes represent being Spirit-led, submitted to God.

• Aloes comes from a Hebrew root word meaning “odoriferous tree,” from which a spicy perfume could be extracted after the leaves were crushed. Likewise, Jesus was crushed for our healing (Isa. 53:5).

• The word aloes is also derived from an Arabic word meaning “little tents.” Tents represent intimacy with God (Exod. 33:7; 2 Sam. 6:17). Submission to God leads to intimacy with Him (John 12:50).

  (References 1, 3-7)

Today we have discussed faith, faithfulness, purity, meekness, obedience unto death, submission to God and intimacy with God.

References

1.       Song of Solomon 4:13-14: Parallels with the Fruit of the Spirit – Quick Overview

2.       Song of Solomon 4:13-14: Parallels with the Fruit of the Spirit – Part 2

3.       Song of Solomon 4:13-14: Parallels with the Fruit of the Spirit – Part 3

4.       Song of Solomon 4:13-14 TPT – See Footnotes for Original Hebrew Meanings

5      Heaven Awaits the Bride by Anna Rountree

6.       Podcast Live Your Best Life with Liz Wright – The Fragrance of Intimacy with Pauline Davis

7.       Galatians 5:22-23 TPT – See Footnotes