Daily Devotions
Exodus
"Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and their children forever!" Deuteronomy 5:29
Text: Exodus 30 : 1-3, 5-9
THE ALTAR OF INCENSE
Another altar was to be built and put into the Tabernacle. This altar is to be distinguished from the altar where sacrifices were offered.
“You shall make an altar to burn incense on;
you shall make it of acacia wood…And you shall put it before the veil that is before
the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat
that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you.”
EXODUS 30:1,6
THE MATERIALS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ALTAR OF INCENSE
As may be expected, only the best of material must be used to construct the altar. There is no mistaking the same kind of attention given to constructing this altar of incense.
“It shall be square…
And you shall overlay its top, its sides all around,
and its horns with pure goldâ?¦You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overly them
with gold…”
EXODUS 30:2, 3, 5
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ALTAR OF INCENSE
What was the distinct significance of the altar of incense as opposed to the altar of sacrifice? The following text reveals its function.
“Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning;
when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it.
And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall
burn incense on it,
a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your
generations. You shall not offer strange incense on it,
or a burnt offering, or a grain offering; nor shall you
pour a drink offering on it.”
EXODUS 30:7-9
The special incense was to represent ardent prayers offered from a heart full of faith and love! Express prohibition against the offering of “strange incense”. (Incense was not only used by the children of Israel. Other nations also used incense to offer to their idols. However, the type of incense to be used by Israel was unique to the nation.) No other types of offering may be offered on this altar!
The ministry of offering incense on a daily basis fell on Aaron the high priest. As he ensures that the lamps in the Tabernacle were kept brightly lit, he must also make sure that he offers incense to the Lord every single morning!