His cheeks are like a bed of spices, Banks of scented herbs. Song of Solomon 5:13a
Tears prickled my eyes when we walked into the blacksmith shop. It smelled exactly like my grandfather’s workshop. My family moved on to see what else the living history village had to offer. I lingered. I breathed in the fragrance of my grandpa, whom I loved and missed. My heart ached as memories of him surfaced. I shared a few of those memories with the smithy, who was gracious enough to listen.
Fragrances have the power to evoke forgotten memories and emotions. I wonder if that is why Jesus’ emotions (cheeks) are compared to a bed of spices and a bank of scented herbs.
The bride, who is a picture of the church, was describing the beauty of her bridegroom king, who is a picture of King Jesus. Are you surprised to find the emotions of Jesus among the list of 10 beautiful attributes of the Bridegroom? I was.
Now that I stop to think about, Jesus’ emotions are one of the most attractive things about Him. His sacrificial love that impaled Him to a cross is overwhelming. His deep sorrow that sweat drops of blood is piercing. His exuberant joy at finding that one lost sheep thrills my heart, because that lost soul is me.
What does the sorrow of Jesus smell like? I suppose it smells like myrrh. How about Jesus’ joy or His love? What do they smell like?
Whatever they smell like, you and I carry that fragrance (2Cor. 2:15). As we gaze upon Christ’s beauty, God diffuses through us His fragrance (2 Cor. 2:14).
I’m going to linger in the aroma of Christ a little longer. I’m going to breathe in His varied spices. When I emerge from gazing at Him in the garden of intimacy, I pray that His fragrance wafts on the winds in your direction. I pray that it entices you into the garden for yourself. Smell for yourself the banks of herbs that are the emotions of Christ. He is calling you, “Come to the garden of intimacy.”