What was the significance of the altar of incense?

Answer

The altar of incense is first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The top of the altar was square—one cubit per side—and the whole altar was two cubits high. A cubit was about twenty inches, or just under two feet. The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It had four “horns,” one at each corner, similar to the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard (Exodus 30:2;cf: 27:2). Rings of gold were built into the altar so that it could be carried with acacia wood poles that were slipped through the rings. The altar of incense was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. On the other side of the veil was the Ark of the Testimony, where the presence of God was «And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. », (Exodus 25:22).

Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight, every day, as a regular offering to the Lord (Exodus 30:7-8). God gave the recipe for making the incense and stipulated that no other incense ever be burned on the altar (verses 34–38). The fire used to burn the incense was always taken from the altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary «and he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: », (Leviticus 16:12). The altar of incense was never to be used for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings. It was instructed, “You shall offer no strange incense on it, nor burnt sacrifice, nor grain offering; neither shall you pour drink offering on it.”, (Exodus 30:9). Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest was to apply blood on the horns of the altar of incense to purify it. This altar was deemed as “most holy to the Lord” (verse 10).

God’s primary desire for His people is holiness. Merely performing the rituals mandated by the Law—including burning incense on the altar of incense—was insufficient to reconcile the Israelites with God. The Lord desired their hearts and lives to be righteous, not just their outward practices. During Isaiah’s era, despite the people’s disobedience, they continued the temple ceremonies. This led God to declare through the prophet, “Stop presenting meaningless offerings! Your incense is abhorrent to me” “Bring no more worthless oblations; incense is an abomination to me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot endure; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.”, (Isaiah 1:13). More crucial than correctly burning incense at the right time, with the proper fire and tools, was having a sincere heart before God.

In the Bible, incense is frequently linked to prayer. David prayed, “May my prayer be set before you like incense” “Let my prayer be set forth before you as incense; And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”, (Psalm 141:2). In his heavenly vision, John observed that the elders around the throne “were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”As people” (Revelation 5:8; cf: 8:3). When Zechariah the priest was offering incense in the temple in Luke 1:10, “all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.”

The altar of incense can be seen as a symbol of the prayers of God’s people. Our prayers ascend to God as the smoke of the incense ascended in the sanctuary. Just as the incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offering, our prayers must be kindled with heaven’s grace. The perpetual burning of the incense signifies that we should always pray (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). The altar of incense was holy to the Lord and was atoned for with the blood of the sacrifice; it is the blood of Christ applied to our hearts that makes our prayers acceptable. Our prayers are holy because of Jesus’ sacrifice, and therefore, they are pleasing to God.

The altar of incense can also be seen as a picture of the intercession of Christ. Just as the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard represented Christ’s death on our behalf, the altar of incense in the Holy Place symbolized Christ’s mediation on our behalf—Christ’s work on earth and in heaven. Positioned before the mercy-seat of the Ark—a representation of our Advocate’s standing in the presence of the Father (Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:24). The incense was to burn continually on the altar of incense, illustrating the perpetual nature of Christ’s mediation. Christ’s intercession on our behalf is a pleasing aroma to God.

It is comforting to know that God regards the prayers of believers as a sweet-smelling incense. Through Christ, we can now approach God’s holy presence with faith and full assurance (Mark 15:).

38%3BHebrews+4%3A16″>(Mark 15:38; Hebrews 4:16). We present our prayers on the altar, relying on Jesus, our eternal, flawless, and trustworthy High Priest (Hebrews 10:19-23).