Incense

Last Sabbath, we read about the golden lampstand, or menora, that was to be placed in the first chamber of the tabernacle called the Holy Place (please see previous post, "Lampstand" for more information). In this week's Sabbath reading portion titled T'tzavveh meaning "You shall command", which includes Exodus 30, another piece of furniture of the tabernacle is discussed. It is the Altar of Incense, and it was placed directly in front of the veil that leads into the second chamber of the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies, which contained only the Ark of the Testimony covered by the Mercy Seat (Ex. 30:6). The Altar of Incense was also connected to the use of the lampstand. Twice a day, in the morning (boqer/baqar - split, penetrate the darkness, the end of night, breaking forth of light), and at twilight (ereb/arab - sunset to deep twilight, the time when the paschal lamb was slain, to give as security as a kind of exchange, to be surety for the life of another, to be liable for another's debt) , when the priests attended to the lampstand, they would burn incense at the Altar of Incense at the same time (Ex. 30:7-8). By doing this, there would always be "a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations." (v. 8). As we can see above, the timing of the offering of incense on this altar, morning and evening, also carried the meaning of resurrection (Lk. 24:1, Jn. 20:1), and Jesus offering of Himself as a surety for us, in exchange for us, and in the exchange of Himself for our debts. The Altar of Incense was a very special item in the tabernacle, which we will see. First, these are some of the commandments that God gave to Moses regarding the Altar of Incense: Aaron could only burn "sweet incense" (sam - sweet spice aroma, sweet perfume, fumigation, sweet smoke of sacrifice) upon the altar, and no "strange incense" (zur - turn aside, to depart, foreigner, stranger, estranged, one alienated, an enemy, profane, of adultery) was allowed. The incense to be burned on this altar was made of very fragrant sweet spices made from certain aromatic gum resins tempered together with salt. While we don't usually consider the burning of incense as a noisy event, the root meanings in Hebrew of the resins used in the making of this fragrant incense (Ex. 30:34-38) are very noisy! One is associated with the roar of a fierce lion. Another means a concussive sound so loud, it can peel off outer coverings. A third root means to speak by inspiration in prophecy. These spices make a great deal of noise in the Spirit. Jesus' sacrifice is described in terms of fragrance also: "And walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Eph. 5:2). This incense used on the Altar of Incense is for use in the tabernacle only, because it was holy for the LORD (Ex. 30:34-38). Once a year, on what is called Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement, before the High Priest entered behind the veil to sprinkle the atoning blood upon the Mercy Seat over the Ark of the Testimony, he first had to place the atoning blood on the Altar of Incense. This was to be done because the Altar of Incense "...is most holy to the LORD" (v. 10). On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would also take some of the burning incense from this special altar with him as he entered the Holy of Holies behind the veil to apply the atoning blood there. The incense created a cloud in front of the Ark of the Testimony/Mercy Seat. If the priest did not do this, he would die from being in the presence of God (Lev. 16:12-13). So the cloud of incense also served to cover and protect, and to sanctify. What made this incense so precious to the LORD that the High Priest must also bring it with him in order to enter the Holy of Holies? This sacrificial incense represented the prayers of God's people. David wrote: "LORD, I cry out to you; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening (ereb/arab - see meaning above) sacrifice." (Ps. 141:1-2). In the Gospels, Zacharias was serving as priest before the Altar of Incense, when he received an angelic visitation promising him a miracle son, who would be John the Baptist: "...according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense, when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense." (Lk. 1:9-11). The importance and holiness of our prayers before the Lord cannot be overstated. Jesus is alive in order to make intercessory prayer for us to the Father (Heb. 7:25). His prayers for us save to the uttermost. In His last hours before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed for all those who believed in Him, and would come to believe in Him in the future (Jn. 17). Peter called us a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9), and as such it is our role to pray and intercede. Paul wrote: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men...For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:1-4, excerpt). Our prayers for all men impact their opportunity to receive salvation. Do we understand the power of prayer? Why aren't we more constant in prayer? There are many, many references to the prayers of God's people in scripture. We know that all of the tabernacle and its furnishings were given to Moses after the pattern of those things in heaven (Heb. 8:5, Ex. 25:40). We are given a further revelation of the importance and value of the prayers of the saints as incense before God, in the events that unfold in heaven and on earth in these end times. As Jesus the Lamb, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, begins to open the scroll in heaven that will unleash the events, "..the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp (for praise), and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." (Rev. 5:5-8). Great praise to the Lamb then began to break out in heaven. Also: "Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar (in heaven). He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand." (Rev. 8:3-4). After this, judgment in the form of fire breaks out on the earth. The prayers of the saints played a role in both events as an offering. Often times, we believers look to do the miraculous works of Christ, even the greater works that He promised. One of the most important of these works according to scripture is the offering of the sweet-smelling incense, which is our prayers. As the times become more troubling and dangerous before Christ's return, the sacrifice of prayer, rising as incense before the throne of God, and before the Lamb, Jesus, plays a central role. The pattern of the Altar of Incense in the tabernacle teaches us the truth about how God treasures our prayers. Incense from the golden altar represents our prayers, and we discovered how "noisy" incense is within its root meaning (see above). Therefore our prayers, even the silent ones said in the secret place of our hearts, create great noise in the Spirit! If you would like to learn more about the importance of prayer, you can start with a prayer! We can pray together: "Father, You called the Altar of Incense, and the incense burned upon it, "most holy to the LORD". Your Son, Jesus, lives to pray continually in intercession on our behalf. He prayed for us while He was on earth, and He prays for us in heaven. You called Your house a house of prayer for all people. I am Your living house. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit who guides me in prayer, and makes my prayers holy before You. Let Your Spirit quicken me to pray always, and for all men, not just for a few, and not just in moments of convenience. Help me to understand the role that my prayers have in affecting all men, and all circumstances, in heaven and here on earth. In Jesus' name, AMEN."