#206 Incense

“Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. 2 It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high—its horns of one piece with it. 3 Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. 4 Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. 5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 6 Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law—before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law—where I will meet with you.

7 “Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. 8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come. 9 Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. 10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the Lord.” Exodus 30: 1-10 NIV

It is easy for us to become intrigued with the material side of rituals, but that would not be the end and only superstition. When an act makes us feel or appear holy then it becomes a form of idolatry or self worship. This reads so much differently to me now vs. my youth, where I was just trying to get through. Other religions burn incense and make sacrifices, and so it is I would have guessed back then that this God of the Hebrews, must be fond of blood and sandal wood. I do now relish the picture of intercession, of prayer going up before the Lord, who so loves His people that they are given and Intercessor, and that we may now offer up our own prayers, ever searching the will of God.

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16