THE ALTAR OF INCENSE
EXODUS 30:1-10
• THE Altar of Incense was four square.
• It was two cubits high and a cubit long and broad (3' High Apr.)
• It was made of incorruptible wood and overlaid with gold.
• There were four horns upon the four corners.
• It had a crown of gold.
• It had a ring of gold on each side under the crown for the two staves by which it was to be carried. (never
removed)
• It occupied a position in the Holy Place directly in front of the Vail.
• It was the tallest piece of furniture in the Holy Place and stood level to the wings of the cherubim on the Mercy
Seat in the Most Holy Place.
• It had burning coals placed upon it.
• Sweet incense was put upon the coals morning and evening.
• Morning and evening a column of fragrant white smoke ascended there from.
1. Purpose.
• This altar must not be confused with the brazen altar.
• Note the difference between these two altars
1. The Brazen Altar stood by the gate --- The Altar of Incense stood before the veil in the holy place.
2. The Brazen Altar was for sacrifice----The Altar of Incense was for incense.
3. Before the priests could minister at the Altar of Incense they had to make the proper sacrifices at the Brazen
Altar and wash at the laver of cleansing.
4. The Brazen Altar took precedence over the altar of incense
The sufferings of Christ had to precede the glory (Lk. 24:26).
1. It was an altar from which the smoke of incense was to ascend.
• The composition of the incense is particularly and definitely described:
Exodus 30:34-36
" And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, Stack-TEE- (gum-like from an uncertain
plant) and onycha, on-ah-kah (shells of several kinds of mussels which when burnt gave a strong oder and
galbanum; (Gal-Bah-Numb) (comes from India, a reinious yellow brown substance that has a disagreeable
smell.) these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:
And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and
holy: And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the
congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy." (Exodus 30:34-36.)
2.Incense is a symbol of prayer. And praise
Psalm 141:2
"Let my prayer be set before thee as incense." " Odours (literally, incense)
which are the prayers of saints."…How do we know this?
Revelation 5:8.
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb,
having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Ps 141:2
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
• The altar of Incense gives much light to this passage
• The time of prayer and sacrifice was the 9th hour
• The lifting up of HOLY HANDS was a sign that the believer identified himself with the sacrificial lamb being
offered on the altar
• At the same time the odour of the burnt offering was rising to heaven….
• The odour of the sweet incense was rising towards heaven
• Now read Ephesians 5:2 and see the meaning understanding the altar of incense..It takes on a whole new
meaning
Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God
for a sweet-smelling savoir.
• Of all the sounds that rise Heavenward, nothing is more acceptable to the living God than the voice and breath
of sincere prayer.
• Praise glorifies God.
3. Incense on the Altar was offered by Aaron the High Priest.
" Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning . . . And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall
burn incense upon it. (Vs. 7, S.)
4. Aaron is a figure of our Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven offering up prayer in behalf of those who are His.
Hebrews 9:24
" For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into
heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." " Now of the things we have spoken this is the
sum:
Hebrews 8: 1
We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.".
• As Aaron offered up this incense exclusively for the Children of Israel, so our Lord Jesus Christ prays for those
who are His. Born Again, Blood Washed Saints of God
• Listen to the words of Jesus, " I pray not for the world."
There is no need of making any mistake about it. With all the grace we may attribute to Him it is an outstanding fact. He does not pray for the world system and lost sinners but for HIS CHURCH…FOR YOU.
This is what He says:
• " I pray not for the world, but-for them which thou hast given me." (John 17:9.)
(incidentally God is NOT OBLIGATED TO ANSWER THE PRAYERS OF THE REBELLIOUS SINNER. They have no
foundation for their faith
• God in his mercy may hear their cries of despair (for the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance). Paul
said while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Rom 2:4'5:8).
But God is NOT obligated by covenant to answer the sinner. Our prayers are answered based on our right
relationship with God and Man. (The altar of Incense is AFTER the brazen altar and the blood from the Brazen
altar is placed on the altar of incense BEFORE and it’s the blood that JUSTIFIES.
• What a sense of intimacy and nearness it gives
• What a precious relationship we have with Jesus.
• He who is the Master of Heaven and earth prays for us
• And prays in Heaven on the throne of the God.
• If we could really grasp the fact that Jesus is praying for us we could face anything
• How often we escape sickness, disease, the assault of circumstance and sudden death because He has prayed.
How many times He has interceded on our behalf and caused the special providence to be swung our way. We shall never know till the record of it is read to us when we stand face to face with Him in the glory hour.
I have soared like Elijah challenging the prophets of Baal…only to sink in despair. Yet somehow I find strength and soar again…How many times has it been that He has prayed for me
Luke22: 31-32
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I
have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
• Before Peter stumbled and fell the Lord prayed for him.
• He told him frankly the Devil desired him that he might sift him as wheat.
• He did not tell Peter He had prayed for him that he might escape the Devil's assault and snare,
• On the contrary, He assured him the Devil would succeed in ensnaring and overthrowing him.
• He prayed for Peter, but for just one thing. He prayed that his-faith might not fail. He said:" I have prayed for
thee that thy faith fail not." (Luke 22:32.)
• Peter Fell…The Devil used Peter's boasting, his pride and self confidence and then filled him with fear. And
what happened to Peter..He denied his Lord. He denied Him because he feared he might lose his life if he
confessed Him.
(When you think you stand take heed lest you fall)
PROVERB 16:18 Pride goes before destruction
• It would have been hard to have done worse than that.
• But the Lord looked at Peter;
• Faith responded to the look and to the prayer that had been offered beforehand. The Lord's look was the
emphasis of His anticipative prayer.
• Out of the darkness Peter came back to be more loyal and more devoted than before, with triumphant faith,
but chastened soul.
• Our Lord as High priest, not only lifts up His prayers in our behalf, but takes our own prayers and presents
them like incense before the Father's throne. Scripture gives us a very dramatic illustration how He does this.
Revelation 8:3
"And another angel came and stood at the altar, (the Altar of Incense shown in Heaven) having a golden
censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon
the golden altar which was before the throne."
• What a picture that is. Like that angel the Lord takes the prayers of the believer and presents them before God
in the fragrance of His high priestly character and on the basis of His perfect sacrifice. Without His intercession
not a single petition of ours would ever ascend to the Court of Heaven. No prayer of ours would ever reach the
Father.
John 14:6
"No man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
• We come to the Father in the name of Jesus:
Colossians 3:17
" In the name of the Lord Jesus Giving thanks (and this must be the order) to God and the Father-by him."
5. The horns of the Golden Altar of Incense were stained once a year with the blood of atonement from the Brazen
Altar.
Exodus 30:10
" And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering."
• The sin offering was offered on the Brazen Altar.
• The Brazen Altar was a symbol of the Cross.
• The full meaning of the symbol is that the intercession of our Lord is based on and finds its effectiveness in the
sacrifice of the cross, in the offering of Himself as the Sin Offering there. The Priesthood of Christ and His work
of intercession on our behalf rest wholly in the blood of the cross.
• Before we continue I want you to see something about the horns of the altar. This is where the blood was
applied yearly. Horns speak of POWER…There is power in the intercession of Our High Priest who ever liveth to
make intercession for us because of the BLOOD
The question has been raised in the past 2 lessons "Did the Israelites have knowledge of these types in their day. They may not have understood every little detail that we have the light on to understand…but they knew exactly to the degree of light they had what they must do to be saved
I Kings 1:50
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. And
it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of
the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword. And
Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if
wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die. So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the
altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.
1 King 2:29 Joab
2 SAMUEL 22:3 God is the "Horn of our Salvation"
They had the cities of refuge and understood why they were there (men could flee into one of the 6 cities and
were were safe until the priest died. Then they could leave the city and return home safely)
BACK TO THE ALTAR OF INCENSE
• Had He not died and met the claims of divine justice against us He could not intercede for us.
• Had He not offered Himself as a sacrifice for us He could not enter that Court in our name and on our behalf at
all.
• His priestly intercession for the believer on the basis of that blood is therefore a demonstration that the blood
has been applied, has been accepted on our behalf, and we are accounted with our Lord as members of the
family of God.
THIS IS MY ETERNAL SECURITY!!!!!!amen
• You should note the atonement was made on the Incense Altar!!!!.
• The sacrifice was made on the Brazen Altar, but the Atonement is complete on the Golden Altar.
Leviticus 16:27
" And the bullock for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place."
All this is clear and beautiful. The living priest on the other side of death as seen in the death of the victim on the Brazen Altar is a picture of resurrection, The Holy Place is a picture of Heaven. The priest entering there is our Lord Jesus Christ after His resurrection taking the blood of the Cross to the throne of God in Heaven.
• Scripture teaches, only in resurrection does our Lord become a priest. Had He not risen His death would have
been of no avail and our faith would have been in vain;
Corinthians 15:17
" If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins."
• On the morning of the resurrection as the risen and immortal priest He took His blood within the veil and made
Atonement & reconciliation.
6. Only after the blood of atonement is on the Golden Altar Is the censer of incense brought in and swung before
the Mercy Seat;
Leviticus 16:12, 13.
" And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hand full of
sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail. And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the
LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not."
ISUSUA STREET PROPHECY at turn of the century
• There will come a day people will worship and praise a God they do not obey
• It was the blood that gave value to the incense.
• It is the blood of Christ, (CHRIST’S death as the perfect Lamb of God), that makes our prayers worth-while when
He presents them.
" There was given him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints."
• Literally rendered it reads thus:
" There was given him much incense that he might add to the prayers-of all saints."
• Incense added to the prayers. Added to the prayers, not of some saints, but all saints. All who believe are "
saints " whether of this or any other dispensation. There may be greater or lesser attainment spiritually, but
they are all saints.
7. The Burning Of the Incense on the Golden Altar was to be continual
Exodus 30:8
" He shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD."
• The intercession of our Lord is perpetual; that it is continual, unchanging, it never varies, falters fails. He ever
liveth to make intercession
Hebrews 7:25
" He is able to save them to the uttermost come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to intercession for
them."
• I am no longer a debtor, the blood has cancelled the debt, the risen Christ is in Heaven as my living receipt;
Here is the glorious truth. He is in Heaven as the believer's representative. As much as He represented me on
the cross and endured for me, He is in Heaven living for me.
• As much as He was the believer's sin on the cross, He is the believer's righteousness in Heaven. As He is our
righteousness in Heaven and has been accepted at the Father's right hand, sits there as His beloved Son,
likewise is it true God the Father beholds us seated with Him and owned as His accepted sons; …THAT’S THE
MEANING OF EPEHSIANS 2:26
" And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
We used to sing this song a lot years ago:
He paid A debt he did not owe
I owed a debt I could not pay
I needed someone …to wash my sins away
And now I sing a brand new song Amazing Grace
Christ Jesus paid a debt That I could never pay
• Debt paid….living receipt given…..taken into Heaven….seated at God's right hand. Because of Jesus we are just
as near as He.
THINK ABOUT IT….WHAT MORE COULD WE NEED TO BE STRONG AND TO FAITHFULLY SERVE JESUS DAILY IN A WORLD THAT REJECTS HIM. BUT THERE IS MORE….
" Who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8:34.)
• And added to that-this:
Ever living for me, ever presenting me in His perfection before the Father, ever interceding for me, praying for
me, constantly listening to MY prayer, ….taking that prayer, sweetening it with the frankincense, the
compounded perfume of His blood, His holiness and His unchanging love for me.
• It sets before us the great truth that the work of Christ on behalf of those of us who have claimed and
confessed Him is both finished and unfinished.
• Finished on the Cross where He met all the claims of divine righteousness against us in the perfection of His
own death in our name so that His death was our death and therefore our personal atonement for sin, the
wiping out of all remembrance of sin against us for ever; Unfinished, in that He is ceaselessly taken up with our
individual interests. That is the wonder of it. He never gets done thinking about us; so that the Psalmist writes:
Psalm 139:17, 18.
" How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, 0 God I how great is the sum of them I If I should count them,
they are more than the sand: when I am awake, I am still with thee."
• (That is, still before Him, still the object of His thinking.) Always that throne on which He sits is approachable for
us. Always we may go to Him in the assurance that the cares of running his universe will not come in between
us and His thought about us.
Hear what the Apostle says and let us hear it with fresh meaning:
" For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15, 16.)
• He is our Golden Altar Our place of refuge.
• He is our priest, ministering at the Golden Incense Altar of the throne of God.
