Chapters 29 and 30 of Exodus are an assault on the olfactory system, that is, the way we react to the world through smell. Yesterday’s 5MC, “Your Neighbor’s Barbecue” discussed the burnt offering that dealt with sin and the fact that it was a “pleasing aroma to the Lord.” And not only the Lord but this fresh meat roasting on the altar would have smelled pretty good to the people around the temple as well. The sense of smell is powerful. I’ve read studies that determined that out of our five senses, smell is the highest as far as triggering psychological reactions such as memories and emotions. Our sense of smell is a highly tuned part of our being that God built not just to allow us to better experience His world, but it seems He built it within us as a “super sense”, allowing us to recall much of this life using only our noses.
Today in chapter 30 we encounter the altar of incense. We’re given the dimensions, the materials and the location of where it will be situated within the tabernacle. We’re given the specific directions of how it will be used and even enlightened as to the secret recipe of the incense that will be burned upon it. But what is its actual purpose? I’m glad you asked.
The altar of incense speaks of prayer, and we know this because God’s Word references incense as a symbol of prayer and praise in many places. David for instance in Psalms 141:2 says, “Let my prayer be set before you as incense.” In Revelation 8:3 we see the incense offered by an angel in the throne room of Heaven as he mixes it with the prayers of the saints on an altar of incense. You see, incense is a figure of the Lord Jesus Christ, our intercessor. Did you know that Jesus Christ is in Heaven praying for those who follow Him? Yep, even right now if you have called upon Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life, He is in Heaven at the right hand of God, praying for you. An intercessor for you to very ears of God the Father. Praise be to Jesus, our intercessor, even this very day in Heaven!
But at this altar of incense we mention this morning, guess who would pray for you? A priest. You see, in this Old Testament setting before Jesus came, a priest would go to God for you. God would ordain a priest, train a priest, outfit a priest, cleanse a priest and only then could he approach God and pray for the people. The common man could not approach God, it just was not possible.
Now picture this with me. The first High Priest of the tabernacle was Aaron, Moses’ older brother by three years. He was of the tribe of Levi and God would sanctify (set aside) this tribe to care for, transport and perform the worship duties within the temple. So, Aaron in His daily duties in the tabernacle would grab the Holy incense and offer it upon the altar of incense. You see, only Aaron or one of the other Levite priests could pray to God at the altar of incense. And the incense that they offered was rare indeed and would have been very, very pleasing and fragrant. We’re told in this very chapter of its ingredients. Sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum and pure frankincense. Stacte was a resinous gum from a local tree on Mount Gilead. Onycha came from a species of local shellfish. Galbanum was from the leaves of a Syrian plant. These were all blended together with pure Frankincense to create a secret formula that was to only be used at this very altar as the priests prayed for the people.
So, as the priest would burn the incense and pray for the people, guess what? Yep, the incense would completely permeate his clothes. And guess what would happen as he left the temple and went about his daily routine among the people in the camp? He’d pass somebody and as they caught a whiff of his clothes, they would smell the sweet aroma of the incense. That beautiful, pleasing smell would hit their noses and cause the olfactory to spring into action. To remember. To associate. You see that’s what a memory really is, us associated and remembering a situation from the past. The people knew that the priests were praying for them and as they smelled this fragrance upon the priests, they knew that this particular priest was praying to God on their behalf. This aroma became one of comfort and goodness to the people. The smell of your soul being prayed for.
So, what about today? Do priests pray for us today. Nope, as a believer in Jesus Christ you are a priest. You are a saint. Every true believer in Christ can pray directly to God. As Jesus hung and died on that Cross, the veil tore and access to God was given to all through Jesus. No more priests, no more need for someone to go to God for you. You can go straight to God through Jesus Christ.
As believers offer up prayers to God through Jesus, imagine the altar of incense. We no longer need it today, but just picture yourself as a saint of God that you are. Imagine approaching the altar and placing that fragrant incense upon it. The smoke wafting up as the burning releases the intense aroma of the sweet ingredients. The smell hits your nostrils and it causes your olfactory synapses to fire as your brain reacts to the smell. Now think about how you smell after this prayer time every day. As you walk this world do you smell of prayer to God? When you pass through the world today, do people recognize that you’ve been on your knees in front of God? Folks, you might think I’m crazy, but if you’re in constant prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ throughout your day, you will smell sweet to the world around you. Let your prayers before God be as sweet incense and it will permeate your garments. You will smell of prayer. Many people will not have any memory triggered from this aroma as they have never been to the altar in prayer, but they will smell that sweet fragrance on you, the sweet smell of Jesus.
Exodus 30:8 tells us, “When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come.” There is to be perpetual prayer to the Lord. I hope today that you will pray without ceasing. (1 Thes. 5:16-18) That in every struggle, in every trial, in every opportunity, you will offer up your prayers as sweet incense before the Lord. And as a result, those all around you will experience the sweet smell of what it is to call Jesus Christ your Lord and King.
If you’re reading this, you’re being prayed for.
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