“Moreover, you shall
make an altar as a place for burning incense; you shall make it of acacia
wood.” Ex. 30:1
Standing before the curtain which separated the Holy Place from the
Ark of the Covenant was the altar of incense.
This altar was made of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold and had a
small firebox on top for burning coals to be placed. As ornamentation there were horns on each of
the top corners. When the priest would
come to trim the wicks and refill the lamps in the morning and evening, he
would also offer incense before the Lord.
Hebrews 7:25 tells us the Lord Jesus is our High Priest who saves us and
ministers to us through His continual intercessions. The incense altar reminds us of our Lord’s
intercessions for us but also the prominence of our intercessions before the
Lord. Twice daily the tent of the
tabernacle was filled with the sweet and clean aroma of this incense reminding
us that our Spirit-filled prayers and sweet to God. The horns on the corners of the altar and its
portability also remind us the prayer reaches out in all directions and that
intercessions can be made in any place we happen to be. It is also noteworthy that the smoke of the
incense filled both the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place. This can remind us that though we cannot see
the heavenly realm with our eyes, our intercessions and worship on earth do
penetrate the veil that separates us. Next time: The Altar of Incense Pt. 2
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