“’Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high–its horns of one piece with it. Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding–two on opposite sides–to hold the poles used to carry it. Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Put the altar in front of the curtain that is before the ark of the Testimony–before the atonement cover that is over the Testimony–where I will meet with you. Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come. Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the LORD.’” (Ex 30:1-10).
What a strange object to put in a place of honor, just in front of the Mercy seat—the place where God dwelt among His people. Or is it?
Incense is often used as a symbol of prayer (Rev. 5:8-9, Ps. 141:2). With this in mind, the altar takes on a whole new meaning. Just as it was to burn perpetually, we are admonished to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5: 17). Just as it was placed directly in front of the mercy seat, the place where God dwelt, God asks us to come “boldly before the throne of grace” (Heb. 4:16). Just as the incense burned on the altar was to be a special incense, and Israel was not to burn any “strange incense” on the altar, God wants us to come before Him in prayer in a special way, the way He designed (Ex. 21:24-26).
In other places in the bible, incense appears to mix with the prayers of the people, providing, in a way, a symbol of intercession (Rev. 8:3,4). Likewise, we are told that the Holy Spirit intercede on our behalf, according to the will of God, for we don’t know how to pray as we should (Rom. 8:26,27). And in 1 Timothy 2:1 we are told that intercessions should be made for all men. Thus, just as Aaron went in and made atonement on the altar for the sins of the people once a year, we are told to make intercession for all men, that they may come to know the truth.
The altar of burnt incense? Just an ancient piece of furniture? Perhaps, but what striking lessons we can learn from it today!
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets ( www.scripturalnuggets.org ), Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org