Aids to Beautification - Biblical Blueprints

6 • Aids to BeautificationCosmetics & PerfumesWe have already seen in our discussion of jewelry that Godintends us to delight in beauty, and that beautiful ornaments canaccentuate the natural beauty He has given to us and to thisworld. Many of the same principles can also be applied tocosmetics and perfumes.Mistaken AssumptionsMany people struggle with this area of liberty becauseScripture draws attention to the fact that harlots (Ezek. 23:40;Prov. 7:17) and the wicked woman Jezebel (2Kings 9:30) worecosmetics and perfumes. But the fact that evil women usedartificial beauty to ungodly ends does not discredit artificialbeauty any more than Satan’s idolatrous use of natural beautydiscredits natural beauty (Ezek. 28:17).God Ordained PurposesBefore the Fall, God created Bdellium, an aromatic resin usedin perfumes and cosmetics, and declared it good (Gen. 2:12).God acknowledges the legitimacy of “the art of the perfumer”(Ex. 30:25,35) when He commands that the holy oil (Ex. 30:25)and the incense (Ex. 30:35) be made according to the recipesalready in use by perfumers (Ex. 30:22-38). By this time therewere a multitude of scents, ointments and beauty aids that the“apothecaries” had mastered and the only restriction that Godmade upon them was that these two recipes be kept exclusivelyfor the priests (Ex. 30:32-33,37-38).The process of making perfume is mentioned by God beforethe time of Moses (Job 41:31), and was in use during the timesof Moses (Ex. 30), Saul (1Sam. 8:13), Solomon (Prov. 27:9; Ecc.10:1; Song of Solomon), Asa (2Chron. 16:14), Nehemiah (Neh.3:8) and Christ (Mark 14:3; John 12:2). The romantic elementsof perfumes and cosmetics are highlighted in a very positive wayin Proverbs 27:9, Psalm 45 and in Song of Solomon, and the