THE ALTAR OF INCENSE

 

Text: Exodus 30:1-10; 37:25-29

 

The altar and its carrying poles were made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. The altar was 1.5 feet square and 3 feet high. It had a crown similar to the Table of Shewbread. It had sides (not legs). It had a “horn” at each corner. Incense was burned on this altar every morning and evening.

This piece of furniture is called both the Golden Altar and the Altar of Incense.

 

Exodus 40:26-27; 30:6– The altar of incense was “before the veil” (in front of the veil).

It was in a straight line with the Brazen Altar and Laver in the court, and before the Ark of the Covenant, showing, in type that you cannot get to God without going through all of these:

• Altar of Sacrifice (salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice, repentance after salvation)
• Laver (baptism and afterwards, as a child of God, cleansing by repentance and confession of sins)
• Altar of Incense (prayer)

 

1. Altar of Incense is a type of the prayers of the saints. There are conditions to be met before prayer is heard.

Exodus 30:9– strange incense or misuse of a sacrifice meant incense (prayers) not reaching God

Hebrews 10:31- willful sin hurts prayers

Psalm 141:1-2– Prayer set before God as incense

Revelation 8:3-4– In heaven, the altar of incense (golden altar) is before the throne. The angel had a golden censer with much incense, to offer up the prayers of all saints to God upon His Throne.

Luke 1:5-13– John the Baptist’s father Zechariah was in the temple, incense burning on the altar, when angel appeared to answer his prayers. V.6 Elisabeth and Zechariah were in fellowship with God so prayers were answered (righteous before God and walked in His commandments).

1. Before prayer is heard, there must be salvation at the brazen altar, baptism and daily cleansing at the laver, and there must be anointing:

2 Corinthians 5:14-21- Prayers after salvation should be heard, new creature, love is constraining us to live for God, keeping us unspotted from world, like ambassadors.

2 Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1- Being separate means our prayers are received. When we cleanse ourselves and “perfect” holiness.

1 John 2:20-27– Anointing which we have received

1. We are anointed and have the Holy Spirit as Comforter, Convicter, and Guide as a result of Church membership.

Exodus 29:7; Psalm 133– As the high priest was anointed for service, our anointing sets us up for a life of service also (when we joined ourselves to His Church).

Acts 10:38; 1:8- The same power God the Father gave Jesus (anointing from the Spirit) while he was here is available for use today in His Church (through the Spirit as Comforter) to carry out His work.

Psalm 145:18-19– God is near and answering prayers through His Spirit… when in truth and them that fear Him (reverence, respect, in fellowship).

 

2. Sin is the cause for unheard and unanswered prayer.

Psalm 66:18– Iniquity = sin, as saved children of God, when we allow sin in our hearts, God will not answer our prayers.

Isaiah 59:2- sin separates us from God, prayers not heard. God cannot look upon sin (Jesus was forsaken by God the Father on the cross when He took our sin upon Himself). Romans 8:3 God condemns sin.

Isaiah 64:7; Micah 3:4- Hide His face.

Proverbs 15:29; 28:13– God far from us, we won’t prosper, no mercy.

Isaiah 55:6-7- God won’t hear, won’t pardon and give mercy.

1 Peter 3:12- Righteous are heard.

Acts 2:41-42- Continued in prayer (heard/answered) because they were following God.

Isaiah 1:15- hands full of blood = evil deeds, prayers not heard.

John 9:31- God hears prayers of those that worship Him and do His will.

2 Chronicles 7:14- Turning (repenting) of our sin, praying in humility to God will be a prayer that God hears.

1. Answered prayer begins with the prayer of salvation. Until we are saved we are not in a position to be looked upon by God, He does not see Jesus blood covering if we are lost and cannot look upon sin.

1 John 1:8-10- Acknowledgment of our sins and confession is required in order to once again be in a position for our prayers to be heard.

1. The fire from the altar of incense was lit by the fire from the brazen altar (which came from God):

Leviticus 9:24– Fire came from God.

Leviticus 6:12 – 13– Was to never go out.

Leviticus 10:1-2, 10– When Nadab and Abihu offered fire that was not from the brazen altar they were killed. God demands a difference between holy and unholy.

1. Christ is our Altar, or Mediator between us and God.

1 Timothy 2:5- There is one mediator between us and God, Jesus.

Romans 8:34- Jesus at the right hand of God, interceding for us.

Hebrews 4:14-16– Better than Aaron, our high priest is sinless, we can come boldly to God’s throne because of Jesus.

Hebrews 7:25- Jesus our high priest will forever be able to intercede for us.

John 16:23- Prayer needs to be through Jesus to reach God the Father.

1. Any preacher, church member, or church will not learn much or have any power without a strong prayer life:

James 5:13-18- Prayer works when we are righteous, have faith, and are fervent.

Acts 4:24, 31- Power of prayer when done together can be mighty.

II. Incense represents the prayers of the saints-

Revelation 5:8- Odors is incense, vials full of incense.

1. Incense is sweet and precious to God:

Exodus 30:34-35- Incense was reserved just for God’s use.

1. Selfish, foolish prayers are abominations to God.

Ecclesiastes 10:1- Prayers mixed with selfish or misguided motives cause the whole prayer to stink before God.

James 4:2-3- When our desires don’t match up with God’s will, our prayers are “amiss”. We ask and receive not.

Proverbs 28:9– When we ignore God’s Word, don’t read it, don’t listen to it, don’t heed what it says, our prayers are meaningless. God’s Word is God speaking to us, if we shut Him out, He will shut us out.

1. Abomination = hateful and despised- Psalm 66:18 iniquity.

1. The incense was to be burned when the lamps were trimmed, Exodus 30:7.

1. God does not appreciate one way communication. If Aaron had just trimmed the lamps (picture of God’s Word, God speaking to us) and not burned the incense (picture of prayers going to God), it would have been a one way communication.
2. Bible study and prayer (two way communication) go hand in hand.

The Candlestick and altar of incense went hand in hand.

Aaron needed the candlestick burning before he could burn the incense, showing we need God’s Word and the Spirit (oil in candlestick represents Spirit) to know the proper way to approach God in prayer.

Luke 11:1- As Jesus taught how to pray, God’s Word does that for us.

John 15:7- God’s Word in us helps our prayers.

1 Timothy 4:12-16- When God’s Word and Prayer are together, V.16 God’s work can be accomplished.

3. God’s Word tells us to pray.

1 Thessalonians 5:17- without ceasing.

Acts 6:4- Continually.

4. The lamps were trimmed in the morning and evening (when incense was to be burned) Shows that prayer and God’s Word are to be considered frequently.

Psalm 55:17- Prayer is to be often.

Daniel 6:10- Even when it was hazardous to his health Daniel prayed 3 times a day, towards the temple (where God’s house was).

5. Exodus 30:10; Lev 16:11-19, 33- Altar of Incense on the Day of Atonement.

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, for Priest, Tabernacle, and People (V.33).

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the priest took coals from the altar of incense and put them in a censer; after entering the Most Holy Place, he put the two handfuls of incense on the burning coals, and the cloud of the incense covered the mercy seat. Than the blood of the sacrifice offerings (bull and goat) were sprinkled on the mercy seat. V.18 Afterward he put blood of the bull and of the goat on the horns of the altar of incense.

1. The blood on the horns of the altar of incense came from the sacrifice at the brazen altar. Showing that a sacrifice was needed when it came to prayers.

For us today, Jesus’ blood (sacrifice) enables us to approach God’s throne, and for our prayers to be heard and answered because of that blood.

Hebrews 10:10- We are sanctified or made acceptable by Jesus offering of Himself.

Hebrews 4:16– We can come boldly to God’s throne because of our High Priest Jesus.

John 20:17- Jesus’ blood was required at the throne of God in order to fulfill the price for our sins, for our prayers to be heard by God; just as the blood on the horns of the altar of incense.

1 John 5:14- Prayers that are within God’s will are going to be heard.

2. The four horns on the altar of Incense show us Christ’s prayer went out to the four corners of the world (went to all people). His blood was shed for all (blood on the horns went to four corners).

1 Timothy 2:1-4– It is our job today to reach out (pray for) to all people.

Galatians 6:10- Especially those in our Church and in the work.

Ephesians 5:25-30- Jesus loved the Church and died for it.

Acts 20:28– Church is special, purchased with Jesus blood.

Malachi 1:11- Jesus’ name is great and prayers (incense) should be proclaiming this throughout the world.

Conditions to answered prayer:

Romans 8:26- We need the Spirits help with our prayers. We need the Spirits conviction also to remind us of those unconfessed sins that hinder prayer.

1 Corinthians 14:15– We need the Spirit and we need to know what we are praying for, understanding God’s will, praying outside of God’s will means prayer not answered.

Matthew 6:5-15- Model prayer, example from Jesus on how to pray, not to recite.

Are we always repeating the same thing in prayer, v.7 vain repetitions, just to have something to say? In congregation prayer, when we are praying, we are talking to God, not to each other, we should not have mindset that we are impressing anyone with our prayer.

John 15:17– Having issues with our Brethren will cause prayers to be not heard.

1 John 3:22- Disobedience (not keeping His commandments) means not receiving what we ask.

1. Abiding in Christ (in His body) affects prayers:

Luke 19:46- The Church (God’s house) is the House of Prayer.

2. Fellowship and obedience affects prayers:

Isaiah 56:6-7– Those that are obedient (saved, faithful member of His Church) are in a position to come to Church which is the House of prayer and have our prayers heard by God.

2 Chronicles 6:5-6; 7:15-16– The tabernacle was the place where God was to hear their prayers (altar of incense). Then the Temple. Today, the Church. V.15 “God’s eyes and ears will be attentive to prayers made in this place”. V.16- That is where God meets with us, where we worship, which includes prayer.