“Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the 1sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.” (Prov. 27:9) 1mâthaq: to be or become sweet or pleasing. First, let’s consider the application of ointment and perfume. It was an eastern custom at the time of the writing of this proverb that when a man’s guests were about to leave his home, he would sprinkle the head of the guest with refreshing, perfumed ointments. THIS WAS AN ACT OF KINDNESS TO THE GUEST. It pleased the senses, and delighted the heart. The meaning here is that as ointment and perfume delight the heart, so do our sweet and loving words, as a friend, when we speak from the depths of our soul. The idea is primarily a friend who gives wise counsel, SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, as we are instructed to do by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, “Jesus, Himself gave specific ministries to different ones so that they might PREPARE GOD’S PEOPLE TO SERVE…that we should no longer be children, tossed back and forth…by the cleverness and tricks of people who try to hide their evil plans, but we,
SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, MAY GROW UP IN ALL THINGS TO HIM WHO IS THE HEAD—CHRIST… (Eph. 4:11-15)
-Bill Stockham