Even Aaron's beard - The word "even" here, introduced by our translators, weakens the force and beauty of the comparison. I would expect so! is an exclamation from Harry Potter which is similar to "Oh Lord!". Imagine the deluge of water, the wetness carrying life-giving sustenance to a drier, more weary land! Its really short, really beautiful, and really weird. And I want to give this sermon the same title as the one I did back in 2001, The Blessing of Aarons Oily Beard.. The image illustrates abundance pouring out to overflowing. A tuft or growth of hairs, bristles, or other hairlike threads on a plant or animal. My name is James Hutton, and Im simply a Christian. It is a picture of very different people, yet people who are united. It is in that line that he also requires that they do not shave their beards. and it is a common wizarding expression used to show surprise. In the following sections, we shall look at the symbolism of the beard in the biblical context. I know that Merlin's beard! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! And Ive always wondered, what does Aarons oily head, oily beard, and oily clothing have to do with unity? 133:2 Ointment It is no less grateful and refreshing than that oil which was poured forth upon Aaron's head at the time of his consecration to the priestly office. beard. It is a diffusive thing: being poured on his bead the fragrant oil flowed down upon Aaron's head, and thence dropped upon his garments till the utmost hem was anointed therewith; and even so doth brotherly love extend its benign power and bless all who are beneath its influence. I seek to study God's Word and to share what I learn with others. In contrast to the above, we have moments of joy and peace, relationships with others, and opportunities to do acts of goodness. God forbids this lest his people become defiled by the practices of the nations. By the grace of God, I do so on my website and on Twitter. Thats what sinful divisiveness is. American Heritage (botany) A common name for several plants, which have tufts of stamens. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. That ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard. You shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him, said God through Moses. So what happens if the dew of Hermon falls on Zion? The priests in the Bible played a very key role as the go between God and the people. Asked 11 years, 7 months ago. David affirms that the unity of the people of Israel was good and pleasant. In the act of the anointing itself the precious oil freely poured out ran gently down upon his beard, which in accordance with Leviticus 21:5 was unshortened. My daily, curated collection of Kindle deals for Christians. Holy oil was often used in relation to worship of God. And Psalm 133 tells us that it was a total consecration. The figure of the poet is therefore as true to nature as it is beautiful. So also De Sacy: sur le bord de son vtement, c'est--dire, sur le haut de ses habits pontificaux. Zion which in the Old Testament was the earthly symbol of the presence of God with man. It ran down over his beard and onto his robes. Cymbalaria muralis (ivy-leaved toadflax, Kenilworth ivy) Hypericum calycinum (great St. John's-wort, Jerusalem star) Saxifraga stolonifera (creeping saxifrage, strawberry geranium) Then he is as the skirts of the garment, and my heart's love must fall even upon him. Modified 9 years, 8 months ago. I didnt pick this song to pat ourselves on the back. (Or. Be sure to listen to our podcast on the science of facial hair: In a broader sense, we understand that the psalm is discussing unity among Jewish people. Donations to this ministry aretax-deductible. Job 30:18, , the collar of my shirt). When these spices were mixed with oil, the oil became holy oil. In lieu of a comments section, I accept and encourage letters to the editor. The ointment was "holy", prepared in accordance with the Divine prescription: The anointing was from God through Moses, who acted on behalf of God in the matter. . Do I need to give you examples? To confront an adversary in his or her own environment. This is part of the commands of God which were straightforward and understandable to the children of Israel. Aarons beard which was part of his identity as a priest had to be aligned to the collar of his robes so that the anointing oil could flow seamlessly. Psalm 133 is one of the psalms of ascent that the Israelites sang together as they traveled in family groupings up to Jerusalem to worship at the major feasts of Israel. note to Psalm 121:6].). Verse 2. Which if you know what that weird word picture means, its a beautiful description! The blessing. 1828 "aaron's" The following 2 entries include the term aaron's . In ancient Assyria, Babylon and Persia the beard was cared for with great detail, they oiled, dressed and curled their beards using . Do you remember that part of the Bibles story? This was a common behavior and practice among the priests of the gods that the other nations worshiped. In the same way that oil was poured onto Aaron by someone else, unity was poured onto the people by God. I dont know if this is where we get Mountain Dew from? That people who live together in unity, they mirror the setting apart of priests for the work of the temple. Sam is a founder and editor of Catholics & Bible. Jeremiah 9:23-24. Background: Aaron's Beard is a name for the Hypericum calycinum plant known for its yellow flowers. - Psalm 103, 06. Aaron's beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes." Bible Answer: Psalm 133:2 illustrates the proceeding verse, Ps. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! descends upon the bare, unfruitful - and therefore longing for such quickening - mountains round about Zion. Rather, I think of the joy that comes from being able to approach God and set apart as a member of His family. is the oil for anointing described in Exodus 30:22-33, which consisted of a mixture of oil and aromatic spices strictly forbidden to be used in common life. Aaron's Beard, or St. John's Wort, is a flowering deciduous herbaceous shrub or small tree, excellent for use on extreme slopes or sandy soils. We try to help our readers better understand their lives; however, the content on this blog is not a substitute for any professional medical guidance. All Rights Reserved. What Miracles Did Pope John Paul II Perform? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Almost all of its most precious truths are taught through vivid word pictures. The scripture compares this unity to the anointing of Aaron for priesthood. Read Full Chapter Psalms 133:1-3 Amplified Bible ( AMP) Aaron's beard . We are family! This is a poetic celebration of brotherhood, of harmony. Trusting God with Creation But Not Providence, 8 Sins You Commit Whenever You Look at Porn. More like a little hill upon which the city of Jerusalem was built. If we compare the two figures, we find that the point of the comparison is the uniting power of brotherly feeling, as that which unites in heart and soul those who are most distant from one another locally, and also brings them together in outward circumstance. Inasmuch as was beard was a sign of honor, priesthood, and anointing, it had to be taken care of by trimming. Here are both verses together. A growth of hair on the chin, cheeks, and throat of a person, especially a man. . It has always been the desire of God that his people live in unity and harmony with each other. Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit and is often used in anointing services - thus anointed with the Holy Spirit. Salem Media Group. i. S. 97), "is now become quite clear to me. Do you know anything about these two mountains? . That's not inherently a bad thing but it is a thing to keep in mind if you choose to wear a beard. In that part of the Tra which describes the robe of the high priest, is its hems, , or even absolutely , the opening for the head, or the collar, by means of which the sleeveless garment was put on, and the binding, the embroidery, the border of this collar (vid., Exodus 28:32; Exodus 39:23; cf. It identified the people of Israel as Gods people. Some have fallen into sin to the point of routinely committing evil. Dont we all want to live in unity? All rights reserved. Aaron's beard, and then flows down his garments. The idea is that the anointing oil was abundant enough to flow down so as to fall on his entire robe, diffusing a sweet fragrance all around. Learn how your comment data is processed. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing Life forevermore. One ought to have seen Hermon with its white-golden crown glistening aloft in the blue sky, in order to be able rightly to understand the figure. [2] Synonyms for Aaron's beard and translation of Aaron's beard to 25 languages. Strain. Magnificence, misnamed by churls extravagance and waste, is the invariable attribute of all true love. Psalm 133 is a praise song about unity, but it is not praising us. Now, that sounds gross to our foreign and modern ears, but try to put yourself in Israelite shoes. Thinking about unity for us today, we should have an appreciation and desire for it as Christians! A lot. Unity will, in time, make its way from a few to the whole, especially from the leaders in a church to the rest of its members. Proud member In the same manner, the children of Israel had to be aligned metaphorically from the head that was their leadership down to the beard which was the priesthood and to the collar of the robes. You get the picture of this fragrant, perfumey slick stuff sliding down Aarons head and into his beard (hed never get the smell out of it!) Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? --Thomas Adams. Exodus 30:25-30 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. This garden favorite is in leaf all year long, while the flowering period happens between June and September, followed by the ripening of the seeds in the early fall season. Precious ointment upon the head. Aaron's | Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster Est. Do you hear the down, down, down in the song? The closing words (cf. However, because he was anointed, Aaron had the joy of worship, and approached God on behalf of His people! The beginning of this text probably makes sense to many of us. This is a chief point of comparison, that as the oil did not remain confined to the place where it first fell, but flowed down the High Priest's hair and bedewed his beard, even so brotherly love descending from the head distils and descends, anointing as it runs, and perfuming all it lights upon. View all posts by James Hutton. Then he is in the one body, and I must yield him an abiding love. What is normal is not good and not pleasant. Some people think of beards as being trendy while others grow beards as part of culture and religion. Is he one of the poorest, one of the least spiritual, one of the least lovable? It [spiritual unity] is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.. learn more . There is no shortage; the Spirit's presence is extravagant. Thank you! coming down upon . For there ( as in Psalm 132:17) hath Jahve commanded ( as in Leviticus 25:21, cf. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message. We are called to be a counter-culture community that is different from the world. One who serves to divert suspicion or attention from another, especially a person of the opposite sex who accompanies a gay man or lesbian to give the . God poured out his Spirit on the great and final High Priest, Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church. Did you know many battles have been fought over a man's beard? It would spring to life! Aaron's role as high priest, the mediator between God and man. This was typical of the grace of the Spirit, the unction from the Holy One; which has been poured on Christ, the head of the church, without measure; and with which he has been anointed above his fellows; and from him it is communicated to all his members; to every one of which is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ; and who from his fulness receive, and grace for grace: and particularly brotherly love is compared to this ointment; because of the preciousness of it, which is true of every grace; and because of the extensiveness of it, reaching to head and members, to Christ and all his saints, the meanest and lowest of them; and because of its fragrancy and sweet odour to all that are sensible of it; and because of its delightful, cheering, and refreshing nature; like ointment and perfume it rejoices the heart; yea, the worst things said, or reproofs given, in brotherly love, are like oil, pleasant and useful, Proverbs 27:9; and is as necessary for the saints, who are all priests unto God, to offer up their spiritual sacrifices; particularly that of prayer, which should be "without wrath", as well as without doubting; and to do all other duties of religion, which should spring from charity or love; as the anointing oil was to Aaron and his sons, in order to their officiating in the priest's office. 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Zion which in the same way that oil was poured onto Aaron by someone,!, one of the people as a member of his family I accept and encourage letters to children! Rather, I do so on my website and on Twitter while others grow beards as of! Behold, how good and not pleasant trusting God with man nations worshiped flows down his.. Is now become quite clear to me trusting God with Creation but Providence. Plant or animal such quickening - mountains round about Zion - Merriam-Webster Est is part the!