The Seven Furnishing Items Of The TabernacleSample

THE GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE

The golden altar of incense as the fifth piece of furniture of the tabernacle, stood right in front of the veil of the Holy Place, but slightly deeper in than the table of showbread and the golden lampstand. The golden altar of incense is the third item in the Holy Place. It stood right in front of the ark of God, where the throne of God was. The veil separated the altar of incense and the ark.

The Lord's instruction regarding the golden altar of incense is recorded in Exodus 30:1-10, 34-36

The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. The altar of incense had four horns and a golden moulding around the top of the altar to prevent the coals from falling off. Incense had to be burned every morning and every evening on this altar. The hearth had to be full of burning coals. The coal came from the brazen altar where offerings were made, and it was these coals that ignited the incense on the golden altar of incense. We read about it in Leviticus 16:13: And he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the Testimony. Once a year during the Day of Atonement, the high priest did atonement on the horns of the golden altar of incense: with the blood of the sin offering of atonement (Exod. 30:10). The first mention of an altar in the Bible is that of Noah. And it was for worship: Then Noah built an altar to the Lord . . . and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. (Gen 8:20-21).

When we look at the altar of incense, we recall the twofold nature of Christ in the acacia wood and gold which covered the altar of incense - Christ's human nature (the wood) and His divine nature (the gold). The golden crown around the altar of incense speaks to us of the elevated and glorified Christ at the right hand of the Father as our advocate (Heb. 7:25; 8:1; 1 John 2:1).

The four horns, as in the case of the brazen altar, also speak of power. In the case of the brazen altar it spoke of the power in the blood; in this case it speaks to us of power in prayer. Who is it that strengthens our prayers other than Christ? We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1).

This altar occupied a central place in the Holy Place - it stood between the table of showbread and the golden lampstand right in front of the veil. The altar of incense was also the tallest item in the Holy Place, and also speaks of the greatest possible act of worship, prayer, praise, intercession and worship. Prayer is the most important ministry. At the brazen altar we find blood that was shed to make atonement possible; at the altar of incense we find Christ living in heaven on our behalf interceding for us. The brazen altar thus speaks of the death of Christ; the altar of incense speaks of the living, raised and praiseworthy Lord Jesus Christ. These two altars therefore speak of the death and resurrection of Christ; it is also the gospel (1 Cor. 15:3, 4).

Aaron burnt sweet incense every morning and evening on the altar of incense as a perpetual incense of sweet aroma before the Lord. It filled the entire tabernacle and especially the Holy of Holies, where the ark and the mercy seat with the cherubim were. We read of this incense in Exodus 30:34-38. It was incense that had four ingredients: stacte, onycha, galbanum - spices and pure frankincense, all in equal quantities (Exod. 30:34). Each of these ingredients has its own aroma, but when they are mixed, they spread as one. The four combinations of incense speak of Christ's life, death, resurrection and ascension (Eph. 5:2; Heb. 7:27). These four aspects of Christ are inseparable from each other; one cannot be fully understood without the other. Each one gives the other full meaning. 

Salt had to be added to the incense (Exod. 30:35). The Bible speaks of the covenant of salt (Num. 18:19; 2 Chron. 13:5) and it represents the Word of God. An unbreakable covenant. Salt is not subject to destruction, and is therefore an image of durability. A firm, continuous commitment that is actually repeatedly renewed when the salt is added to the incense. Jesus Himself once said: For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another (Mark 9:49, 50). Prayer must be mixed with the Word. Is it not written: You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent (Isa. 62:6). The value of the altar was in the incense, and the incense speaks of prayer. King David says in Psalm 141:2: Let my prayer be set before You as incense. The apostle John tells us in his vision of heaven: Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints (Rev. 5:8).

Furthermore, we read in Revelation 8:3, 4: Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. 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. The priests never came into the Holy Place without offering incense with thanksgiving and intercession. Before the morning incense burned out, the evening sacrifice was lit, so that there was continuous incense before the Lord. So Christ always lives to intercede for us by the Father, and so we (the Church) through Him can bring our thanksgiving offerings, our offerings of praise, our worship and our prayers as a sweet smelling aroma (Heb. 13:15; Ps. 141: 2). 

We read in Luke 1:5-13 that the priest Zacharias served as priest before God in the order of his division. According to the priestly custom the lot fell on him to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And all the multitudes of people were outside praying at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. . . the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard. 

With regards to the believers, it is said of them: Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing (2 Cor. 2:14, 15).

The Lord made it clear that the spices of the incense must be pure and holy (Exod. 30:35, 37). King David asked: Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart (Ps. 24:3, 4). Therefore, every believer must revere the Lord God in their heart so that they can bring to the Lord a pleasant and sweet smelling offering with the fruit of their lips (Heb. 13:15).