Antonio Mcgowan
The burning of incense in the temple is a significant part of Jewish and Christian scripture, symbolizing the prayers of the people rising to God. Priests would burn incense on the altar, which was located in the Holy Place, and the smoke would rise to the Holy of Holies, where God resided above the Ark of the Covenant. Only authorized incense could be offered on the altar, and it was to be burned by the priests, the sons of Aaron, who were consecrated to perform this task. The incense was made from costly materials, including various combinations of spices such as frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon, and saffron. The altar of incense was considered holy, and it served as a reminder to pray and a symbol of the intercession of Christ.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who was authorized to burn incense to the temple | Priests, the sons of Aaron |
| When was incense burned | Every morning and evening |
| Where was incense burned | Tabernacle of Israel, Temple in Jerusalem, Holy Place outside the Most Holy Place |
| What was the incense made of | Stacte, onycha, galbanum, frankincense, myrrh, cassia, spikenard, saffron, costus, aromatic bark, cinnamon, Carshina lye, Cyprus wine, Sodom salt, Jordan amber |
| Why was incense burned | To mask the odors of livestock and unwashed bodies, to pay tribute to the king's position, to symbolize prayer |
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What You'll Learn
The role of priests
The act of burning incense was deeply symbolic and held great significance in the religious practices of the time. Incense was often associated with prayer, and the rising smoke was believed to symbolize the ascent of prayers to God. The priests, therefore, played a pivotal role in facilitating the communication between the people and God. The priests taught that the smoke from the altar made the prayers of the people rise to God, and it was their duty to ensure that this symbolic act was performed correctly and continuously.
In the Bible, we find an account of Zechariah, a Temple priest, who was tasked with tending to the Altar of Incense. Zechariah's story is recounted by Luke, where he encounters the angel Gabriel, who foretells the birth of Zechariah's son, John the Baptist. Zechariah's role as a priest tending to the altar underscores the importance of this act of worship in the religious traditions of the time.
Additionally, priests were also involved in the annual ritual of atonement for the altar of incense. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would put blood on the horns of the altar to cleanse it, symbolizing the importance of purity in worship and prayer. This ritual underscores the role of priests as intermediaries between the people and God, ensuring that their prayers were acceptable and pleasing to God.
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The altar of incense
The incense was burned morning and evening, and the smoke rising from the altar symbolised the ascent of prayers to God. The priests taught that the smoke from the altar made the prayers of the people rise to God. The incense was also burned to mask the unpleasant odours of daily life, such as livestock, and to pay tribute to the king and God.
In the Bible, it is stated that only the priests, the sons of Aaron, were authorised to burn incense on the altar. This is demonstrated in the story of King Uzziah, who was struck with leprosy when he tried to burn incense on the altar.
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Incense as a symbol of prayer
The use of incense in prayer has a long history in religion, particularly in Judaism and Christianity. The altar of incense was considered a holy site, situated in the Holy Place, outside the Most Holy Place, where God resided in the Temple above the Ark of the Covenant.
In the Bible, incense is often associated with prayer. In Psalm 141:2, David prays, "May my prayer be set before you like incense". The smoke from the incense is thought to symbolise the ascent of prayers to God. In Luke 1, Zechariah the priest is offering incense in the temple, while "all the assembled worshippers were praying outside". The incense was burned with fire from the altar of the burnt offering, and this is likened to how our prayers must be kindled with heaven's grace.
The altar of incense was purified by the sprinkling of blood, symbolising the need for atonement for our prayers to be heard. In the Book of Exodus, the altar of incense is described as "most holy to the Lord", and only specific incense was to be burned there. The recipe for this incense is described in the Book of Exodus and includes costly and sweet-smelling spices such as frankincense, myrrh, and cinnamon. The ingredients were to be ground and mixed by the Kohen Gadol, or high priest, and burned on the altar.
The perpetual burning of the incense symbolises the perpetual nature of prayer, as described in Luke 18:1 and 1 Thessalonians 5:17. The sweet-smelling aroma of the incense also symbolises the pleasing nature of prayer to God when we approach Him through Christ Jesus.
In summary, incense has been used as a symbol of prayer throughout history, with the smoke and sweet aroma representing the ascent of prayers to God and their pleasing nature when offered through Christ.
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Incense ingredients
Incense is made from a blend of natural ingredients, including herbs, spices, roots, barks, resins, and essential oils. The art of incense-making involves carefully selecting and blending these ingredients to create unique and pleasing aromas.
The base of the incense is an important consideration. Bases such as sandalwood, cedar, and pine have strong scents and can add depth to the blend. Other bases, like red sandalwood, alder, and charcoal, have low scents and are easier to work with, allowing the aromatic ingredients to shine through.
The binder is another critical component of incense. Binders act as a glue to hold the incense together and can be made from gum or wood. Gum binders, such as guar gum or xanthan gum, are more potent than wood binders and require precise measurements to avoid affecting the burnability of the incense. Wood binders, like joss powder ("makko") or "tabu no ki," are easier to work with and often double as base materials.
The aromatic ingredients are the stars of the show when it comes to incense. These ingredients provide the desired scent and can include a wide range of herbs, resins, and woods. Frankincense, myrrh, cassia, and cinnamon are just a few of the spices mentioned in the Book of Exodus for sacred incense. Other aromatic ingredients like patchouli, benzoin, and agarwood contribute unique and exotic scents to incense blends.
The blending process is a delicate art that requires skill and precision. The quality, balance, and ratio of each ingredient must be carefully controlled, as even slight variations can significantly impact the resulting fragrance. The moisture content, drying time, and production methods also play a crucial role in the final product.
Overall, the creation of incense involves a complex interplay of natural ingredients, careful blending, and traditional techniques, resulting in a product that matures and improves with time.
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Incense offerings
The altar of incense was considered part of the holy of holies, where God resided in the Temple above the Ark of the Covenant. It was a horned "altar" that held burning coals -- upon which the priests would sprinkle three aromatic spices. The incense offering was related to perfumed offerings on the altar of incense in the time of the Tabernacle and the First and Second Temple period, and was an important component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem. The sacred incense prescribed for use in the wilderness Tabernacle was made of costly materials that the congregation contributed. The Book of Exodus describes the recipe: "Take unto yourself sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And you shall make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together [salted], pure and holy: And you shall beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with you."
The altar of incense was holy to the Lord and was atoned for with the blood of the sacrifice. It is believed that our prayers are holy because of Jesus’ sacrifice, and therefore they are pleasing to God. The altar of incense can also be seen as a picture of the intercession of Christ. Just as the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard was a type of Christ’s death on our behalf, the altar of incense in the Holy Place was a type of Christ’s mediation on our behalf—Christ’s work on earth and in heaven.
The incense offering was burned in the morning and evening, creating a pleasing aroma to God. The smoke from the incense also created a cloud of covering. The incense was always burning, symbolizing that prayers should always be made. The incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offerings, and our prayers must be kindled with heaven’s grace.
Only authorized incense could be offered on the altar, which shows that God is zealous to determine how He is worshiped. The Lord hates the worship and prayers of all those who do not approach Him in Christ Jesus, and so we must never join in interfaith services with an aim to worship the true God.
In the Bible, King Uzziah grew proud and went into the temple to burn incense on the altar. He was met there by Azariah the priest and 80 other priests who opposed him, telling him that only the priests, the sons of Aaron, were consecrated to burn incense.
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Frequently asked questions
Priests were authorized to burn incense to the temple. In the Bible, Zechariah is described as a Temple priest whose job was to tend the Altar of Incense inside the Temple.
The altar of incense was considered holy to the Lord. The incense was burned to create a pleasing aroma for God. It is also seen as a symbol of the prayers of God's people, rising to God like smoke from the incense.
The incense was made of costly materials contributed by the congregation. The Book of Exodus describes the recipe as containing sweet spices, stacte, onycha, and galbanum, with pure frankincense, in equal weights.
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