Antonio Mcgowan
The altar of incense, constructed of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, is a symbol of Christ's mediation on behalf of humanity. The altar of incense was situated before the mercy seat of the Ark, and the perpetual burning of incense on it symbolizes the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation and intercession for humanity. The incense also symbolizes the prayers of God's people, as the smoke rises to heaven, and because of Christ, we can now enter God's presence by faith. The altar of incense points to Christ's ongoing intercessory work and the prayers that believers can offer because of their relationship with Jesus Christ.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Symbolism | The altar of incense symbolized the prayers of God's people rising to God like smoke. |
| Intercession | The altar of incense points to Christ's intercessory prayers and the prayers believers can offer through their relationship with Jesus. |
| Mediation | The altar of incense represents Christ's mediation on behalf of believers, his work on Earth, and in heaven. |
| Materials | The use of gold and acacia wood in the altar's construction points to the twofold nature of Jesus as "wholly God and wholly man." |
| Proportions | The altar's proportions, including its height, emphasize the heavenly character of the altar and the ascension of the incense cloud. |
| Sacrifice | The altar of incense, purified by blood, symbolizes how prayers are accepted through sacrifices, specifically the sacrifice of Jesus. |
| Worship | Incense was burned as a form of worship and tribute to God in the tabernacle, which was his earthly throne room. |
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What You'll Learn
- The altar of incense symbolises the prayers of God's people
- The smoke from the incense represents the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation
- The materials used to make the altar of incense point to Jesus' twofold nature
- The height of the altar of incense emphasises its heavenly character
- The altar of incense is a symbol of Christ's intercessory work
The altar of incense symbolises the prayers of God's people
The altar of incense is a symbol of the prayers of God's people. The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. The acacia wood speaks to the true, incorruptible manhood of Jesus Christ, while the gold speaks of His divine majesty. The two materials represent the twofold nature of Christ, who is "wholly God and wholly man in a mysterious hypostatic union impossible of definition".
Incense was burned on the altar day and night, and the smoke ascended to God, just as our prayers ascend to Him. The sweet-smelling incense is said to symbolise the prayers of the saints, which are acceptable to God through the sacrifice of Jesus. The altar of incense was situated before the mercy seat of the Ark, a picture of Christ's standing in the presence of God the Father.
In Scripture, incense is often likened to the prayers of God's people. For example, in Psalm 141:2, David prays, "Let my prayer be set before you as incense". In Revelation 5:8, John sees the elders around the throne holding "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people". Similarly, in Luke 1:10, Zechariah the priest is offering incense in the temple while the assembled worshippers pray outside.
The altar of incense was also connected with sacrificial rituals. When a sin offering was required, the blood of the sacrifice was smeared on the horns of the altar and poured out at its base. This points to the atoning work of Jesus Christ, who is our Great High Priest. Through His sacrifice, we can approach God without fear and with the assurance that our prayers are acceptable to Him.
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The smoke from the incense represents the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation
The altar of incense is a significant piece of furniture in the Holy Place, pointing to Jesus Christ and our relationship with him. The smoke from the incense represents the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation, with the incense being burned continually, symbolizing the ongoing nature of Christ's intercession for us.
The altar of incense was situated before the mercy seat of the Ark, a picture of Christ's standing in the presence of God the Father. The incense, with its sweet-smelling savor, represents the prayers of believers, which are acceptable to God through Christ. The smoke from the incense constantly rising from the altar symbolizes the prayers of God's people constantly ascending before the Lord. This is expressed in Psalm 141:2, where David prays, "Let my prayer be set before you as incense."
The altar of incense, made of gold and acacia wood, also speaks to the twofold nature of Christ. The acacia wood, being white and resolute, represents the true and perfect humanity of Christ, while the pure gold speaks of His Divine majesty. The union of these two materials, yet without blending, points to Christ being "wholly God and wholly man in a mysterious hypostatic union."
The height of the altar of incense is also significant, promoting the ascension of the incense cloud to fill the Holy Place and cover the priests and vessels therein. This emphasizes the heavenly character of the altar and reminds us of Christ's exaltation and unceasing intercession for us.
In conclusion, the smoke from the incense on the altar of incense represents the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation through its constant burning and ascension, symbolizing the ongoing intercessory work of Christ on our behalf.
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The materials used to make the altar of incense point to Jesus' twofold nature
The altar of incense was made from materials fit for a king: gold and acacia wood. The use of these materials points to Jesus's twofold nature in several ways. Firstly, gold is a precious metal, symbolic of royalty and divinity. Its use in the altar of incense reflects Jesus's divine nature as the King of Kings and Son of God. The altar's gold composition points to Jesus's heavenly glory and His status as the Messiah, the anointed one.
Secondly, acacia wood is strong and durable, symbolic of humanity's resilience and strength through Jesus. The use of acacia wood in the altar of incense can be seen as a representation of Jesus's human nature and His earthly ministry. The wood may symbolize the cross on which Jesus was crucified, pointing to His sacrifice for the salvation of humanity.
The combination of gold and acacia wood in the altar of incense thus reflects the harmonious union of Jesus's divine and human natures. This duality is central to Christian theology and is often referred to as the "hypostatic union," emphasizing Jesus's unique role as both fully God and fully human.
Additionally, the incense itself, made from costly and sweet-smelling spices, can be seen as symbolic of the prayers of God's people rising up to Him like a sweet fragrance. This is seen in Psalm 141:2, where David prays, "Let my prayer be set before you as incense." The continual burning of incense on the altar points to the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation and the assurance that our prayers are acceptable to God through Jesus's sacrifice.
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The height of the altar of incense emphasises its heavenly character
The altar of incense is one of three pieces of furniture in the Holy Place, the others being the table of shewbread and the golden lampstand. These three vessels speak of the present ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in the sanctuary, that is, heaven itself, on behalf of His people. The altar of incense stood inside in the Holy Place, speaking of Christ's ongoing work for believers in heaven. The brazen altar, on the other hand, stood outside in the court of the Tabernacle, speaking of Christ's finished work on earth.
The altar of incense was situated before the mercy seat of the Ark, a picture of Christ's standing in the presence of God the Father. The incense was to be continually burning on the altar, symbolising the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation and intercession on our behalf. The sweet-smelling savour of the incense symbolises how Christ's intercession is pleasing to God.
The altar of incense was overlaid with pure gold, speaking of Christ's Divine glory in heaven. The brazen altar, in contrast, was overlaid with copper, speaking of the judgment experienced by Christ on earth. The incense altar was also the tallest of the measured items of furniture, further emphasising its heavenly character.
The smoke from the incense rising from the altar symbolised the prayers of God's people constantly ascending before the Lord. In the tabernacle, only the priests could offer incense, serving as mediators between the people and God, bringing their prayers into His presence. Now, in the new covenant, we no longer need priestly mediators because we can draw near to God through Christ, our Great High Priest.
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The altar of incense is a symbol of Christ's intercessory work
Incense was an essential part of the worship of the tabernacle and temple, though it is no longer required for new covenant worship. The sweet-smelling incense symbolized the prayers of God's people, which are acceptable to God through the sacrifice of Christ. The altar of incense was purified by the sprinkling of blood, symbolizing that prayers are accepted through sacrifices. Today, the perfect sacrifice of Jesus ensures that God hears our prayers.
In the tabernacle in the wilderness, there were two altars: the bronze altar and the golden altar of incense. The bronze altar symbolized the atoning death and finished work of Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary. The golden altar pointed to Christ's ongoing intercessory work of prayer. The first altar pointed to the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, while the golden altar speaks of what the Lord Jesus Christ continues to do in heaven.
The materials used to construct the altar of incense also point to Christ. The acia wood speaks of the true, incorruptible manhood of Christ, while the pure gold speaks of His divine majesty. The twofold nature of Christ is typified by the pure gold and acacia wood, with the gold pointing to His equality with God and the wood to His taking on the form of a servant.
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Frequently asked questions
The altar of incense speaks of the perfection of Jesus' intercession as our High Priest in heaven.
The altar of incense symbolizes Christ's mediation on our behalf, as the incense was to be continually burning on the altar, showing the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation.
The acacia wood and the pure gold used to construct the altar of incense symbolize the twofold nature of Jesus Christ, who is "wholly God and wholly man in a mysterious hypostatic union".
The smoke from the incense symbolizes the prayers of believers, which ascend to God as sweet-smelling savour.
