Anisha Riggs
The altar of incense was a significant part of worship in the tabernacle and temple. It was constructed according to God's detailed instructions to Moses and stood in the Holy Place, symbolizing the Israelites' prayers rising to God. The incense's sweet-smelling smoke served as a reminder to the Israelites that their prayers were constantly being carried to God and were acceptable to Him due to Christ's sacrifice. The altar of incense also represented Christ's mediation and righteousness, emphasizing the importance of sincere prayers offered in His name. Today, while the priestly rituals are no longer required, the altar of incense continues to hold symbolic value, reminding believers of the power of prayer and their direct access to God through Jesus Christ.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To symbolise the prayers of God's people rising to God |
| Symbolism | Sweet smell of incense symbolising the sweetness of prayers to God |
| Incense type | Sacred incense made from gum resin, onycha, and galbanum |
| Incense burner | Carried by the high priest into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement |
| Incense offering | Made in the morning and evening |
| Construction | Made of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold |
| Size | 18 inches square by 36 inches high |
| Location | Holy Place between the golden lampstand and the table of showbread |
| Function | To pleasantly scent the air |
| Ritual | Part of the daily priestly ritual, along with the lampstand and the table of showbread |
| Senses | Addressed the senses of sight, smell, and taste |
| Hearing | Addressed through the bells on the high priest's garments |
| Intercession | Symbolises Christ's mediation on behalf of humanity |
| Cleansing | Purified by the sprinkling of blood |
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What You'll Learn
The smoke rising from the altar symbolized the prayers of God's people
The altar of incense was a significant part of the worship of the tabernacle and temple. The smoke rising from the altar symbolized the prayers of God's people rising before the Lord. In Luke's Gospel, the angel Gabriel announces the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah, the priest, at the altar of incense. This symbolizes that both Zechariah's prayer for a son and Israel's prayer for a Messiah were about to be answered.
The altar of incense also served the practical purpose of pleasantly scenting the air. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. The incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offerings, and the sweet-smelling smoke issued from it day and night. The incense was always burning, symbolizing the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation and reminding the people that their prayers were constantly being carried to God.
The altar of incense was considered holy, and once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would put blood on its horns to cleanse it. This was a reminder that God desired for His people to be holy, not just in their formalities but in their hearts and lives as well.
The altar of incense can also be seen as a symbol of Christ's mediation and our prayers ascending to God. David prayed, "May my prayer be set before you like incense" (Psalm 141:2). Our prayers, made acceptable through Christ's sacrifice, rise to God as sweet-smelling incense.
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The altar of incense reminded Israel to pray
The altar of incense was a significant aspect of worship in the wilderness tabernacle, reminding the Israelites of the importance of prayer in their relationship with God. Standing in the Holy Place, the altar was constructed according to God's detailed instructions to Moses. It was made of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold, and featured a horn at each corner.
The altar of incense served as a powerful symbol of the prayers of God's people rising to heaven. The sweet-smelling smoke that filled the tent of meeting represented the Israelites' prayers ascending to God, a concept echoed by David's prayer, "May my prayer be set before you like incense" (Psalm 141:2). This symbolism was evident to Zechariah, a priest who received the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah, while tending the altar of incense.
The incense on the altar was unique and required regular tending by the priests, who would refill the special mixture in the morning and evening. The continuous burning of incense signified the perpetual nature of prayer and the mediation of Christ on behalf of His people. The fragrance of the incense, rising above the veil, reminded the Israelites that their prayers were constantly carried to God.
The altar of incense was also associated with the Day of Atonement, when the high priest would sprinkle blood on its horns for cleansing. This ritual underscored the importance of a sincere heart attitude, as expressed by John Calvin: "The altar of incense was purified by the sprinkling of blood, that they might learn that their prayers obtained acceptance through sacrifices." Today, it is through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus that our prayers are acceptable to God.
The altar of incense, with its symbolism and rituals, served as a powerful reminder to Israel of the centrality of prayer in their spiritual lives. It represented the sweet fragrance of their prayers rising to God and the constant mediation of Christ, making their prayers acceptable.
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The incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offerings
The altar of incense was a significant aspect of worship in the tabernacle and temple. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with four "horns," one at each corner. The altar was situated before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Testimony resided, symbolizing God's presence.
The incense burned on this altar was unique and sacred, made from a special mixture of gum resin, onycha, and galbanum, following a recipe provided by God Himself. Priests would refill the incense on the golden altar twice daily, in the morning and evening, ensuring a continuous sweet-smelling smoke. The fire used to burn the incense was always taken from the altar of burnt offerings outside the sanctuary.
The altar of incense served both practical and symbolic purposes. Practically, it pleasantly scented the air, creating a rich multisensory experience for God and those offering sacrifices. Symbolically, the altar of incense represented the Israelites' prayers rising to God. The smoke of the incense ascending in the sanctuary was likened to the ascent of prayers to God.
David's prayer, "May my prayer be set before you like incense" (Psalm 141:2), underscores this symbolic nature. Additionally, in John's vision of heaven, he saw elders holding golden bowls full of incense, representing the prayers of God's people (Revelation 5:8; 8:3). The perpetual burning of incense on the altar signifies the ongoing mediation of Christ on our behalf, a sweet-smelling savor to God.
Today, we no longer need priestly mediators like Zechariah to bring our prayers to God. Through Christ, our Great High Priest, we can approach God directly with our prayers and petitions, trusting in His sacrifice for our atonement.
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The altar was purified by the sprinkling of blood
The altar of incense was situated before the mercy seat of the Ark, and it served as a symbol of the prayers of God's people. The incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offerings, and the smoke rising from it was thought to symbolise prayers ascending to God.
The act of sprinkling blood was not limited to the altar of incense. In Exodus 24, Moses sprinkled blood on the people as a symbol of the covenant between God and the people of Israel. This ritual was also performed during animal sacrifices, where half the blood was thrown on the altar and the other half was kept in bowls. The blood was sprinkled on the congregation to represent the sealing of a promise.
Today, Christians no longer offer animal sacrifices, but instead find atonement through faith in Jesus Christ. His blood was considered the seal of the new covenant, and his sacrifice served as a fulfilment of the Old Testament rituals.
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The altar was situated before the mercy seat of the Ark
The altar of incense was situated in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, directly in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. This altar was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, as were all the furnishings of the Tabernacle. The top of the altar, where the incense was burned, was also made of gold.
The placement of the altar of incense directly before the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant is significant. The mercy seat was the lid of the Ark, made of pure gold, and it was here, between the cherubim, that God's presence was said to dwell. This was the most sacred spot in all of Israel, the place where God's glory resided and where he communicated with his people.
The altar of incense, then, was placed in a position of utmost importance and reverence. It stood as a threshold of sorts between the people and God's presence. When the priests burned incense on this altar, the smoke and fragrance would waft into the Holy of Holies, symbolically carrying the prayers of the people into the very presence of God.
The act of burning incense on this altar was a sacred ritual, performed twice daily by the priests. It accompanied the morning and evening sacrifices and was also a part of the Sabbath and special festival rituals. The sweet fragrance of the incense represented the pleasing aroma of the people's prayers rising to God.
The placement of the altar of incense before the mercy seat underscores the importance of prayer in the biblical narrative. It serves as a reminder that prayer is not just a ritual but a means of entering into the presence of God, of standing before his throne, and of having our petitions carried directly to him.
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Frequently asked questions
The altar of incense symbolized the prayers of God’s people rising to God. The smoke rising from the incense is likened to the prayers rising to God.
The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. It was about 18 inches square by 36 inches high.
The altar of incense was burned with coals brought in from the brazen altar in the courtyard. The incense itself was made from gum resin, a tree sap; onycha, made from a Red Sea shellfish; and galbanum.
