The Dwelling Place of God with Man - Alter of Incense P-2

Exodus 30:10 KJV 1900

And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the Lord.

Intro: The sin offering was offered on the Brazen Altar which was a picture of the cross. When we began to look at the instruments of the Tabernacle we discussed the order in which they were given by God. The Ark, Mercy Seat, Table of Shewbread and Candlestick all preceded the Brazen Alter. After the Brazen Alter, the instructions for the Brazen Laver was given and lastly the Alter of Incense was given. That is because those things that came after the Brazen Alter were only made possible through the sacrifice for sins made upon it. The priesthood of Christ and His work of intercession on our behalf is wholly possible by His blood spilt on the cross. If he had not died and met the claims of God’s divine justice against us then He could not intercede for us… His priestly intercession for the believer is on the basis of that blood and the fact that He intercedes for us is a demonstration of the fact that His blood has not only been applied, but has been accepted by the Father on our behalf.

The access to the Holy Place by a living priest was only through the death of the victim on the Brazen Alter. The is a picture of the resurrection, the Holy Place being a picture of Heaven, and the Priest that enters is a picture of our Lord being resurrected to enter into that place and apply His own blood upon the throne of God in Heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:17 KJV 1900

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

It is only after the blood atonement is on the horns of the Golden Altar of incense that the censer of incense is brought in and swung before the Mercy Seat!

Leviticus 16:12–13 KJV 1900

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: 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:

Without the blood, the incense had no value… The blood of Christ, the merit of Christ’s death, is what makes our prayers worth while before the Father!

Exodus 30:8 KJV 1900

And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–17 KJV 1900

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.

These things are concerning what is to be done but what about the warnings given?

Exodus 30:9 KJV 1900

Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.

The Lord had a specific purpose through the Alter of Incense, and anything done outside of that purpose was to defile it. Just as Ex. 30:9 which comes after the commands for a perpetual incense

1 Thessalonians 5:18–24 KJV 1900

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

We know that even though God warned against strange incense that it was still offered.

Leviticus 10:1–3 KJV 1900

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

The process of entering the Most Holy place could only be accomplished by first entering through the Gate; then passing the Brazen Alter, the Brazen Laver, the Table of Shewbread, the Golden Candlestick, and then finally the Alter of Incense. For us the picture is simple, we should not be able to arrive at the Throne of God, without giving thorough consideration, reflection and praise for the instruments we passed in getting there. It is when we do that, that we arrive before the Throne of God as a sweet incense.

Psalm 100:4–5 KJV 1900

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations.

Revelation 5:8 KJV 1900

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.

Psalm 141:2 KJV 1900

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Revelation 8:3–4 KJV 1900

And another angel came and stood at the altar, 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. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

Luke 1:10 KJV 1900

And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.