Unceasing Prayer

Series on Exodus

VIII. The Covering of God’s People

C. Pattern of the Tabernacle

2. The Altar of Incense, Text: 30:1-10,34-38, 37:25-29

Title: Unceasing Prayer

Introduction

We are looking at the pattern of the tabernacle. Last time we examined the Scriptural teaching dealing with the ark of the covenant. In this study we move out from the holiest place we look next at the altar of incense which was located directly in front of the curtain to the holiest place. It was therefore one of several pieces of furniture in the holy place where the priests ministered daily. The passages in chapter 30 deal with it fully. 37 is a repetition telling us that the command of God was carried out precisely. This description is found later than that of the other furnishings, in Exodus 30:1-6, because of its special significance in the duties of the priests, 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. The altar was, like the ark, made out of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It had horns like the brazen altar in the courtyard and rings of gold for carrying. The staves were also covered with gold. the rings and staves of the brazen altar were brass because it was the place of burnt offerings. No offerings were to be made on this altar except the burning of incense. Exodus 30:7-10, 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. Other things we should note about this altar is that it is the only piece of furniture in the holy place on which the high priest was to sprinkle blood on the day of atonement. and also that the altar was tended by the priests daily morning and evening so that incense was constantly burning before the Lord. Thus the Scripture bears ample witness to the fact that this altar of incense represented worship and prayer, showing both an intimate relationship to approaching God and the continual need for prayer. Therefore, we shall look first at the perfume of prayer, then the perpetuity of prayer and finally the provision for prayer.

I The Perfume of Prayer

The most obvious meaning of the altar of incense is thoroughly borne out by Scripture. that is, the incense represents prayers ascending to God. Psalm 141:2 says May my prayer be set before you like incense, literally let my prayer, incense, be set before you! Prayer was in reality what incense was in symbol, a sweet perfume in the nostrils of God. This idea of fragrance is used by Paul in ii Corinthians 2:14,15, where he talks about the savor or odor of the gospel. He also speaks similarly of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross in Ephesians 5:1 and 2, Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. In Isaiah 6:3 and 4 we read, And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. The smoke is the smoke of incense which accompanies the ascription of praise. We find the same identification being made in the book of Revelation. In chapter 5 verse 8 where the lamb takes a scroll from the one seated on the throne and we read And when he had taken it the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down before the lamb. each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints. again in Revelation 8:3,4 Another angel who had a golden censor, came and stood at the altar. he was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense together with the prayers of the saints went up before God from the angel’s hand. Some have suggested that in this latter passage the incense represents the intercession of Christ because it is not identified with the prayer as in chapter 5, but accompanies it. It is unlikely you can stretch the point since the identification of the symbol with the thing symbolized is common in Revelation and in the Bible as a whole. However, there is something else about the altar of incense that suggests that we should think of the prayers of Christ and his people as united. It is after all through his intercession that our prayers are heard. They do not ascend to the throne naked, but clothed in the name and righteousness of the Savior. In Leviticus 16 which describes the day of atonement, we read of the high priest, He is to put the incense on the fire before the lord, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the testimony so that he will not die. This verse powerfully suggests that the incense is representative of the intercession of Christ as well as the prayers of God’s people because it protects the priest from the wrath of God.

II The Perpetuity of Prayer

We have already mentioned the fact that the incense was offered both morning and evening. There is an interesting passage in the New Testament concerning Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. He was a priest and we read of him in Luke 1:8-10, Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Notice that Luke specifically states that the worshipers outside the temple were praying. This was a daily activity so we may assume it was a daily practice. In fact in the New Testament Paul counsels the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray continually or without ceasing. The picture of the altar of incense is perpetual prayer and worship ascending to God. We should, i think, take the word prayer in its broadest sense. If you read the Psalms many of them are prayers, but the prayers consist mainly of conversation and praise to the Lord. Though there are heartfelt petitions, yet praise occupies a much larger part of the prayers of the Psalms than is customary in our prayers. We need, consequently, to think of unceasing prayer as involving praise to and conversation with the Lord in word and song, as well as calling upon him in the day of trouble.

III The Provision for Prayer

We must also note the position of the altar of incense, which was located directly in front of the curtain of the holiest place. This brought it into intimate relationship to the mercy seat which was the throne of God and the place of atonement where the priest sprinkled the blood on the annual day of atonement. Likewise it is in a direct line with the mercy seat and the brazen altar where Israel brought its sacrifices for sin. In fact the coals which were used to burn the incense were taken from the brazen altar in the court of the tabernacle. We may conclude two things from these facts. First all prayer must draw its worth and strength from Christ’s work of propitiation which he has accomplished on our behalf. This is, in effect, the real meaning of praying in his name. Secondly, the close proximity of the altar of incense to the throne of God reminds us of the fact that we are under his eye and the prayers we offer must be prayers of the heart, not some formal or vain repetition. Ultimately the provision for prayer is summed up in Hebrews 4:14-16, Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are and yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. The difference is that we do not wait in front of the holiest but enter into it as we learn in Hebrews 10:19-22, Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.

Conclusion

Prayer pleases God. It is a fragrance to our father, so we should do it constantly, and we can only do it because of his grace and mercy shown to us in Christ.