Antonio Mcgowan
Incense is offered to God in worship throughout the Bible, at his own divine command. God gave Moses and Aaron detailed instructions for the times, places, and methods of burning incense. The Bible mentions various uses for incense but gives special attention to the blend burned inside the tabernacle. The mixture that God instructed the Israelites to use within the tent consisted of plant and shellfish extracts. The high priest burned incense twice daily, once before the morning sacrifice and again after the evening sacrifice. The smoke symbolized the prayers of the people and protected the high priest from the direct presence of God, ensuring his survival. However, the Bible also warns against the use of incense in pagan practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Burning incense is | A divine command |
| Incense is burned | To please God |
| Incense is burned | To symbolise worship |
| Incense is burned | To symbolise prayers |
| Incense is burned | To symbolise forgiveness of sins |
| Incense is burned | To symbolise acceptance and pleasure with devotion |
| Incense is burned | To symbolise protection |
| Incense is burned | To symbolise purification |
| Incense is burned | To symbolise atonement |
| Incense is burned | To symbolise a holy act of worship |
| Incense is burned | To symbolise a sacred act |
| Incense is burned | To symbolise a true expression of loving worship |
| Incense is burned | To symbolise a wholesome thing |
| Incense is burned | To symbolise respect |
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What You'll Learn
Incense is offered to God in worship throughout the Bible
The burning of incense played a crucial role in the Israelites' worship of God. After God liberated the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, he instructed them to build a tabernacle, a portable sanctuary they were to use for worship during their 40-year desert journey. Within this sacred tent, the burning of incense signified the Israelites' worship ascending to God, and its fragrant aroma depicted God's acceptance and pleasure with their devotion. The high priest burned incense twice daily, once before the morning sacrifice and again after the evening sacrifice (Exodus 30:7-8).
In addition to its use in the tabernacle, incense was also offered in the Temple when it replaced the Tabernacle (1/3 Kings 9:25). However, when the people fell into sin and idolatry, their offering of incense was hated by God (Isaiah 1:13) because it was not a true expression of loving worship. Isaiah prophesied that incense would be received by God again and offered by all the nations of the earth in worship of the Lord in his true Temple (Malachi 1:11; Isaiah 60:6-7), which is understood to be the Body of Christ, the Church.
Incense is mentioned in the last book of the Bible, Saint John's Revelation, where it is described as being used in heavenly worship (5:8). Incense represents and carries the prayers of the saints, both martyrs in heaven and those living on earth, up to God (8:3-4). The practice of burning incense as a form of worship has been carried on by the Church to the present day.
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God gave Moses and Aaron instructions for burning incense
God gave Moses and Aaron detailed instructions for burning incense. In Exodus 30, God tells Moses to "make an altar for burning incense" and provides specific instructions for its construction: it is to be made of acia wood and overlaid with gold, measuring three feet high and eighteen inches square, with a horn on each corner. This altar is to be placed in the Holy Place, the outermost room of the Tabernacle, directly in front of the entrance to the Holy of Holies.
God also provided instructions for the incense blend to be burned on this altar. In Exodus 30:34-35, God tells Moses to "take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense, of each shall there be an equal part, and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy." Stacte, also known as gum resin, is derived from the bark of myrrh bushes. Onycha is made from ground mollusk shell scrapings, while galbanum is a resin obtained from the ferula plant. Frankincense is another resin, sourced from boswellia trees. Salt, with its antibacterial properties, not only helps to preserve the incense but also symbolizes the purity of its ingredients.
The high priest was assigned the role of burning this sacred blend on the altar of incense. This was done twice daily: once before the morning sacrifice and again after the evening sacrifice (Exodus 30:7-8). On the Day of Atonement, a special ceremony involving incense took place. The high priest entered the Holy of Holies with incense burning, creating a protective cloud of smoke over the mercy seat, which represented the presence of God (Leviticus 16:12-13). This ritual was performed by Aaron to make atonement and stop a plague (Numbers 16:46-49).
God's instructions emphasized the exclusive use of incense for worship, and the Israelites were prohibited from using the sacred blend for personal use as a fragrance (Exodus 30:36-38). God also prohibited the Israelites from using "unauthorized" or "strange" incense on the altar (Exodus 30:9), further underscoring its sacred purpose. The burning of incense was a holy act of worship, and when the Tabernacle was replaced by the Temple, incense continued to be offered there (1 Kings 9:25).
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The rising smoke signified the Israelites' worship ascending to God
The burning of incense is a divine command. God gave Moses and Aaron detailed instructions for the times, places, and methods of burning incense. It was to be burned perpetually before the Lord, and it was a holy act of worship (Exodus 30). The Israelites were liberated from slavery in Egypt by God, and their ultimate purpose was to worship God without restriction. After crossing the parted Red Sea, God instructed the Israelites to build the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary they were to use for worship throughout their 40-year desert journey.
The Tabernacle was a sacred tent where burning incense played a crucial role. The rising smoke signified the Israelites' worship ascending to God, and its fragrant aroma depicted His acceptance and pleasure with their devotion. The Bible mentions various uses for incense but gives special attention to the blend burned inside the Tabernacle. The mixture that God instructed the Israelites to use within the tent consisted of plant and shellfish extracts. God instructed Moses to take equal parts of sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, and make an incense blend seasoned with salt, pure and holy (Exodus 30:34-35).
The high priest burned incense twice daily, once before the morning sacrifice and again after the evening sacrifice (Exodus 30:7-8). The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, measuring three feet high and eighteen inches square, with a horn on each corner. It stood in the Holy Place, the outermost room of the Tabernacle, directly in front of the entrance to the Holy of Holies. The incense offered to God on the altar of incense symbolized the prayers of God's people rising up to Him.
Incense is offered to God in worship throughout the Bible, at His divine command. This practice has been continued by the Church through to the present day. Its sweet fragrance is pleasing to the human senses and helps worshippers physically and spiritually lift up their hearts to God.
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Incense is used in the Divine Liturgy of Saint James
Incense has been offered to God as an act of worship throughout the Bible. In Exodus 30, God gave Moses and Aaron detailed instructions on when, where, and how to burn incense. The burning of incense is a divine command, and it is to be burned perpetually before the Lord.
The Divine Liturgy of Saint James is one of the oldest Christian liturgies, dating back to the first century. It is a form of Christian liturgy used by some Eastern Christians of the Byzantine rite and West Syriac Rite. It is still the principal liturgy of the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Maronite Church, the Syriac Catholic Church, and other churches employing the West Syriac Rite.
The liturgy is attributed to James the Just, a patriarch among the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. It is believed to have evolved from an ancient Egyptian form of the Basilean anaphoric family and is influenced by the traditions of the rite of the Church of Jerusalem. The Liturgy of Saint James is quite long, taking several hours to complete. It is commonly celebrated on the Feast of Saint James (July 25) and the first Sunday after Christmas.
During the liturgy, the priest offers the following prayer:
> O God, who accepted the gifts of Abel, the sacrifices of Noah and Abraham, the incense of Aaron and Zacharias, accept from the hands of us sinners this incense for a sweet fragrance and forgiveness of our sins and those of all your people. For you are blessed and to you belongs glory, to the Father with your only-begotten Son and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.
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Burning incense is an ancient Christian tradition
Burning incense is a tradition that dates back to ancient times, with evidence of its use in religious rituals in ancient Egypt, China, India, and the Middle East. The practice of burning incense has been adopted by various religious groups, including Christians, who have incorporated it into their worship ceremonies.
In the Christian tradition, the burning of incense is seen as a holy act of worship and is often used to symbolise the ascent of prayers to God. The Bible mentions incense multiple times and provides detailed instructions for its preparation and use. For example, in Exodus 30, God instructs Moses and Aaron on the specific times, places, and methods of burning incense, emphasising its exclusivity for worship.
The early Jewish converts to Christianity continued to incorporate incense into their worship practices, as evidenced by its inclusion in the Divine Liturgy of Saint James, one of the oldest Christian liturgies. Incense was also used in the ancient Church, with evidence suggesting its presence in the earliest church buildings.
Incense continues to play a significant role in Christian worship today, particularly within the Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic tradition, and some Lutheran churches. It is used during the celebration of the Eucharist, solemn vespers, funerals, and other religious services. The act of burning incense is believed to physically and spiritually uplift the hearts of believers towards God, creating a sacred atmosphere.
While Christians have the freedom to choose whether to burn incense or not, some caution against it due to its historical association with pagan religions. The use of incense in Christian worship should not be motivated by a desire to enhance the power of prayers or to please God, as this could lead to legalism or mysticism. Instead, the focus should be on approaching God with confidence and full assurance of faith, while also considering the potential impact on other Christians who may have different convictions.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense is mentioned several times in the Bible, and God instructs Moses and Aaron on the times, places, and methods of burning incense. It is to be burned perpetually before the Lord and is a holy act of worship.
The rising smoke from burning incense signified the worship of the Israelites rising to God, and its fragrant aroma depicted His acceptance and pleasure with their devotion.
God instructed Moses on the ingredients for incense, which included "sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy."
While there is no explicit instruction to burn incense in Scripture, it is mentioned as an act of worship in the Bible. Some Christians may associate incense with pagan religions, but others view burning incense as a way to send a pleasing aroma to God, which He honours if it comes from an honest and pure heart.
God instructed that incense be burned on an altar in the tabernacle, and it was the role of the high priest to burn incense twice daily: once before the morning sacrifice and again after the evening sacrifice.
