I am sure you would love to have something to rejoice about. Well, in this post I will explain the one thing sure to make us rejoice.

To begin with, it is important to grasp this point—the Bible is “the word of truth” (Psalm 119:43), so this is where we will look for what is sure to make us rejoice.

Now, for those who are new to Bible notation, “Psalm 119:43” is a reference to the Bible, which itself is a collection of books. In the Bible, each book consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses. The quotation referred to as “Psalm 119:43” then is taken from the book of Psalms in the Bible, the 119^th chapter, that is, the 119^th psalm, and the 43^rd verse.

Since the Bible is also “the word of God” (1 Samuel 9:27), we must also begin our enquiry with at least some understanding of who God is.

Introduction to God

God is a Family of three divine Persons, namely, the Father, the Son called Christ, and the Holy Spirit. This Family is known as “the Godhead” (Acts 17:29) in the Bible. What is God like? “God is love.” 1 John 4:8.

We can be assured by what God says of Himself, that He is “God, that cannot lie.” Titus 1:2. Thus, in the Bible we find absolute truth. No lie. No error.

So, we are off to an excellent start to our enquiry as we have identified a source of truths which we can trust—the Bible.

Our Bible Quotation of Focus

There is a statement in the Bible that describes what makes our hearts rejoice and this is our Bible quotation of focus:

“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty [vital] counsel.” Proverbs 27:9.

On a first look at our Bible quotation, Proverbs 27:9, it would seem to be saying that there are three things that make our hearts rejoice. But is this a correct interpretation of this Bible verse? For the basis of our discussion in this post is that there is one thing, not three things, sure to make us rejoice.

As it happens, Proverbs 27:9, has two meanings—literal and symbolic. That is, by using symbolism God uses a few words in the Bible to say many things to us.

So, literally, there are three things that make us rejoice but, symbolically, there is only one thing sure to make us rejoice.

The Literal Meaning of Proverbs 27:9

We will now consider what are literal ointment and perfume according to the Bible and how these would make us rejoice. After this, we will look at an example in the Bible of hearty (vital) counsel that made the heart rejoice.

God Instructs Ancient Israel to Make Ointment

“The LORD [ God] spake unto Moses [a leader of ancient Israel], saying, Take thou also unto thee principal [chief] spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels.” Exodus 30:22, 23.

“And [also] of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin.” Exodus 30:24. (A shekel was a unit of weight and an hin was a unit of volume).

“And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary [pharmacist]: it shall be an holy anointing oil.” Exodus 30:25.

Apparently, the apothecary [pharmacist] combined all the ingredients and “he maketh …[them] to boil like a pot…like a pot of ointment.” Job 41:31.

Moreover, God said, “And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation [the sanctuary] therewith [with it]” (Exodus 30:26), as well as anoint all the furniture of the sanctuary with it.

“And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.  And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.” Exodus 30:30, 31.

This then was the composition of the ointment which God instructed ancient Israel to make for the purpose of anointing the sanctuary, its furniture, and the priests.

Literal Ointment Makes Us Rejoice

King Solomon of Israel wrote a song known as the Song of Solomon in the Bible. This song is the story of his courtship and marriage to a young, country girl.

In the song, the young woman says of Solomon, “Because of the savour [fragrance] of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth [poured out], therefore do the virgins love thee.” Song of Solomon 1:3.

Thus, the young woman likens Solomon to “the precious ointment” (Psalm 133:2) whose fragrance pervades, that is, is spread throughout, the atmosphere surrounding Solomon. Therefore, the virgins love Solomon and they rejoice in his presence.

Here then is an example of the literal ointment which makes the heart rejoice.

God Instructs Ancient Israel to Make Perfume

“And the LORD [God] said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And thou shalt make it a perfumer, a confection [mixture] after the art of the apothecary [perfumer], tempered [ground] together, pure and holy.” Exodus 30:34, 35.

“And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony [the ark (the chest) containing the ten commandments] in the tabernacle of the congregation [the sanctuary], where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.” Exodus 30:36.

“And the LORD [God] spake unto Moses, saying… ye shall take…[these same] spices…for sweet incense.” Exodus 25:1-6.

“And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon…And Aaron shall burn thereon [on the altar] sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth [tends] the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it [on the altar]. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it [on the altar], a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.” Exodus 30:1-8.

Thus, the perfume which God instructed Israel to make had two uses—to be placed before the ark for a sweet-smelling fragrance and to be burnt as sweet incense.

So, we see then the composition of the perfume and sweet incense that was used in the sanctuary.

Literal Perfume Makes the Heart Rejoice

“Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD [God] commanded him, so did he.” Exodus 40:16.

“And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation [the sanctuary] before the vail [veil]:  And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD [God] commanded Moses.” Exodus 40:26, 27.

“Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation [the sanctuary], and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle [the sanctuary]. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation [the sanctuary], because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34, 35.

So, God “smell[ed] the savour [fragrance] of…[their] sweet odours [sweet incense]” (Leviticus 26:31), as a pleasant perfume offered in worship to God, and God’s heart rejoiced.

Jethro’s Counsel Causes Moses to Rejoice

“Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God.” Exodus 18:5.

“And it came to pass on the morrow [the next day], that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.” Exodus 18:13.

“And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said [to Moses], What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even [evening]?” Exodus 18:14.

“And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.” Exodus 18:15, 16.

“And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away [wear out], both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.” Exodus 18:17, 18.

“So Moses hearkened to [obeyed] the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.  And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.” Exodus 18:24, 25.

“And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.” Exodus 18:26.

Thus, Jethro’s hearty (vital) counsel caused Moses to be relieved of tiring labour and made Moses’ heart rejoice.

The Symbolic Meaning of Proverbs 27:9

So far, we have seen three literal things that make the heart rejoice, and we now turn to the one thing sure to make us rejoice according to the symbolic meaning of Proverbs 27:9.

In fact, however, Proverbs 27:9 does not symbolically speak of one thing, but of one Person. Who is this Person? It is the member of the Godhead, the Son called Christ.

How can Christ be the one Person sure to make us rejoice? Continue reading and you will see.

Christ as Ointment Makes Us Rejoice

We will now look at how Christ as ointment makes us rejoice. First, though, we need to understand that Christ Himself came to the earth as a baby boy named “Jesus” (Matthew 1:21) over 2,000 years ago.

Why did Christ come? That “he [Christ]…[might] save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21), from their evil and wrongdoings. “For the wages of sin is [eternal] death [annihilation]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

So, “Christ died for our sins…was buried, and…he rose again [from the dead to life again] the third day [after His death].” 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4.

By his death and His resurrection, that is, His rising from the dead, Christ exhausted the penalty of eternal death (annihilation) for all humanity, and He opened the way to eternal life for humanity.

That is to say, Christ made secure God’s plan of salvation, which is God’s plan of saving humanity from eternal death (annihilation), and instead to give them eternal life. This plan of salvation is also known as “the gospel.” Matthew 4:23.

The Balm in Gilead

“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD [God] hath spoken, I [God] have nourished and brought up children [humanity], and they have rebelled against me.” Isaiah 1:2.

“Ah sinful nation [Ah wicked humanity], a people laden with iniquity [wickedness], a seed [descendants] of evildoers, children [people] that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One…unto anger, they are gone away backward.” Isaiah 1:4.

“Why should ye be stricken [struck] any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.” Isaiah 1:5.

“From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying [putrefying] sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified [soothed] with ointment.” Isaiah 1:6.

In other words, as God says, “the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1 John 5:19. This then is the awful, evil, and heart-sickening, sinful condition of the human race in God’s eyes.

So, God asks, “Is there no balm in Gilead [a region in ancient Israel]; is there no physician there? why then is not the [spiritual] health of…my people [humanity] recovered?” Jeremiah 8:22.

In answer to God’s questions, Christ proclaimed, “The [Holy] Spirit of the Lord [God] is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor [to those who acknowledge their need of salvation]; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives [to sin], and recovering of sight to the blind [to their sins], to set at liberty them that are bruised [that are symbolically injured by their sins and the sins of the world], to preach the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of God’s favour to humanity in the giving Christ to the world].” Luke 4:18, 19.

Thus, symbolically, Christ is the balm (ointment) in Gilead, the One who heals the sin-sick people of the world and so Christ makes our hearts to rejoice.

The Alabaster Box

“And, behold, a woman [named Mary] in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus [Christ] sat at meat [at the table for a meal] in the…house, brought an alabaster box of ointment.” Luke 7:37.

That is, “then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly” (John 12:3), “and she brake the [alabaster] box.” Mark 14:3.

“And [Mary] stood at his [Christ’s] feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.” Luke 7:38. “And the house was filled with the odour [fragrance] of the ointment.” John 12:3. Mary did this prior to Christ’s death.

Symbolically then the broken alabaster box represents Christ who was tortured to death, and the fragrance of the ointment represents the love of God poured out so that all humanity might be saved from eternal death.

So, those who have consecrated themselves to God say to humanity on God’s behalf, “Walk [live] in love, as Christ also hath loved us [loved humanity], and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling [pleasant] savour [fragrance].” Ephesians 5:2.

This infinite love, the love of Christ, demonstrated by Christ’s voluntary sacrifice of Himself, as an ointment with a pleasing fragrance, is sure to make the hearts of all humanity rejoice when they contemplate Christ’s love.

Christ as Perfume Makes Us Rejoice

In the heavenly sanctuary, Christ, symbolically represented by an “angel [who] came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne [of God].” Revelation 8:3.

“And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s [Christ’s] hand.” Revelation 8:4.

A saint is a person who is in right standing before God because of their sorrow for their sins (their repentance) and because of their faith in Christ’s merits which can save them.

That is, “this man [Christ], because he continueth ever [lives forever], hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore [therefore] he is able also to save them [every person] to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25.

“For such an high priest became us [is fitting for humanity], who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those [human] high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7:26, 27.

The incense going up from Christ’s hand then represents Christ’s merits in His death, resurrection and His perfect, holy life, which as pleasing perfume is mingled with the prayers of the saints going up to God.

In other words, Christ intercedes with (prays to) God on behalf of individuals and every prayer of Christ is approved and accepted by God who then blesses the individual. Ultimately, this blessing is that of eternal life with God.

The knowledge then of the perfume of Christ’s intercession on the behalf of the individual human being is sure to make the heart rejoice.

Christ as Man’s Friend Makes Us Rejoice

God says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man [Christ] lay down his life for his friends [for humanity].” John 15:13.

For God says, “A man [Christ] that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [Christ] that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24.

Thus, if you want to gain eternal life, yield to the Holy Spirit so that you purpose sincerely in your heart to walk in God’s ways of love, and don’t worry. For God Himself, “if we follow on to know the LORD [God]” (Hosea 6:3), will bring us to Christlikeness so that we gain heaven and everlasting life.

Thus, God says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee [give you moral strength]; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness [with Christ who sits on the right hand of the Father].” Isaiah 41:10.

So, Christ says, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11. Christ then as man’s friend makes us rejoice.

Christ as Sweetness Makes Us Rejoice

Every human being can say in truth, “And the LORD [Christ]…talked with me with good words and comfortable [comforting] words.” Zechariah 1:13.

That is, the “pleasant words [of Christ] are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24.

So, each person can say, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103.

This then is how Christ as sweetness to the individual makes them rejoice.

Christ’s Counsel Makes Us Rejoice

Christ says to humanity, “Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I [Christ] am understanding; I have [moral] strength.” Proverbs 8:14.

“I [Christ] counsel thee to [symbolically] buy of me [to receive from me three things] –

1. gold [faith in God’s promises] tried in the fire [tried and perfected by the trials of our faith], that thou mayest be rich [in faith in God];
2. and white raiment [white clothing]” (Revelation 3:18), “the fine [white] linen [that] is the righteousness of saints” (Revelation 19:8), “that thou mayest be clothed [with righteousness], and that the shame of thy nakedness [lack of the Holy Spirit who makes us righteous] do not appear;
3. and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve [with ointment for the eye], that thou mayest see” (Revelation 3:18), that you may be able to “discern between good and evil.” 2 Samuel 19:35.

“As many as I [Christ] love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door [of the heart], and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup [dine] with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:19, 20), in that, both he and I, Christ, will enter into a mutually loving relationship.

“To him that overcometh [sin] will I [Christ] grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation 3:21.

If Christ’s counsel is obeyed, it guarantees that you will receive eternal life from God. So, this is hearty (vital) counsel from Christ, humanity’s Friend, that is sweetness to every person which makes them rejoice.

Christ Within Makes Us Rejoice

Now God says, “The mystery [of Christ] is made manifest [apparent] to his [Christ’s] saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles [among unbelievers in God’s promises]; which is [the love of] Christ in you, the hope of glory [the hope of fully reflecting God’s character of love].” Colossians 1:26, 27.

God, therefore, desires that all humanity should say of themselves wholeheartedly, “For which cause [reason] we faint not; but though our outward man [physical body] perish [deteriorate with age], yet the inward man [the heart] is renewed [in love] day by day [by the Holy Spirit].” 2 Corinthians 4:16.

“For I delight [rejoice] in the law of God [God’s law of love] after [according to] the inward man [the heart being renewed in love].” Romans 7:22.

Thus, it is “Jesus Christ whom [you] having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing [in God’s promises], ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1:7, 8.

We see then that Christ within us, that is to say, God’s love within us, makes us rejoice.

Conclusion

We have, so far, explored the literal and symbolic meanings of our Bible verse of focus, Proverbs 27:9.

Symbolically, we have seen that “[Christ as] ointment and [Christ as] perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the [Christ as] sweetness of a man’s friend [who is Christ] by hearty [vital] counsel [from Christ].” Proverbs 27:9.

Here then we gain an understanding of what God means when He says, “Christ is all, and in all.” Colossians 3:11.

In other words, Christ is the one Person sure to make us rejoice. Therefore, God says, “Set your affection on things above [in heaven where Christ dwells], not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2.

It is fitting and right then that you should seek to have Christ within you, for He is your rejoicing, your peace, and your eternal life from God. Make sure that you do not lose the blessing of eternal life which God has in store for you, and that you instead receive eternal death (annihilation) from God.

How This Blog Teaches Bible Study

My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).

Further Reading

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