Antonio Mcgowan
Incense was burned in the tabernacle as an offering to God. The practice is first mentioned in Exodus 30, where God gives Moses a recipe for the sacred incense, which was to be burned on an altar in the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The incense was made from costly materials, including sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. The burning of incense symbolized the prayers of God's people ascending to God and was an important part of priestly liturgy. In the New Testament, incense is mentioned several times, including a reference to the coals from the altar of incense on the Day of Atonement. Today, incense is still used in liturgical rites in some Christian churches.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To pleasantly scent the air, to mask the odors of livestock, to pay tribute to the king, and to symbolise the prayers of God's people |
| Materials | Gold, acacia wood |
| Shape | Square top, four "horns" |
| Size | One cubit per side, two cubits high |
| Location | Tabernacle, Holy Place, outside the Most Holy Place |
| Timing | Every morning and evening, or at twilight |
| Recipe | Sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, frankincense, and other ingredients |
| Source of fire | Altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary |
| Usage restrictions | Only priests could offer incense, and only authorised incense could be used |
| Ritual significance | Symbol of prayer, intercession of Christ, and atonement |
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What You'll Learn
The incense symbolised the prayers of God's people
The burning of incense in the tabernacle is referenced several times in the Bible. The practice is first mentioned in Exodus 30, which describes the altar of incense as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. According to Exodus, Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a regular offering to the Lord. The incense was made from costly materials contributed by the congregation, including sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense.
The act of burning incense is often associated with prayer in Scripture. For example, David prays in Psalm 141:2, "May my prayer be set before you like incense." Similarly, in Revelation 5:8, John describes the elders around the throne as "holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people." The smoke from the incense is thought to symbolize the prayers of God's people ascending to the Lord, much like how our prayers rise to God.
The altar of incense is also seen as a symbol of Christ's mediation on our behalf. Just as the smoke of the incense ascended to God, our prayers are made acceptable and pleasing to God through the sacrifice of Jesus. In this way, Jesus serves as our mediator or priest, interceding for us so that our prayers are heard.
The practice of burning incense in the tabernacle is no longer required for new covenant worship. However, the symbolism of incense as a representation of prayer continues to be significant in Christian liturgy and art.
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It was made from costly materials
The incense used in the Tabernacle was made from costly materials. The Book of Exodus describes the recipe as follows:
> Take unto yourself sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be an equal weight: And you shall make it into a perfume, a confection after the art of the perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.
The recipe for the incense was given by God, who stipulated that no other incense should ever be burned on the altar. The incense was made from a mixture of fine spices, including stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. These spices were costly and were contributed by the congregation.
The incense was burned on a special altar, known as the incense altar or the altar of incense. This altar was located in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, next to the curtain dividing it from the Most Holy Place. The altar was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with four "horns" at each corner. It was approximately two cubits high, or just under four feet. The incense altar served the practical purpose of pleasantly scenting the air, but it also had a symbolic significance. The smoke from the incense symbolized the prayers of God's people ascending to the Lord, and the altar itself represented the work of the Israelites in offering prayers to God.
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It was burned morning and evening
The burning of incense in the tabernacle was a significant ritual performed morning and evening by priests in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. The incense was burned morning and evening, as a regular offering to the Lord. This ritual is referenced in Exodus 30:7–8, which states: "Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps, he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations."
The altar of incense was constructed from costly materials such as gold and acacia wood, with a square top and four "horns" at each corner. This altar was positioned at the end of the Holy compartment of the tabernacle, next to the curtain dividing it from the Most Holy. The incense itself was made from a combination of sweet spices, including stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, as prescribed in the Book of Exodus.
Burning incense morning and evening held several symbolic meanings. Firstly, it represented the prayers of God's people ascending to God, as mentioned in Psalm 141:2 and Revelation 5:8. The smoke of the incense symbolised the constant offering of prayers before the Lord. Additionally, the pleasant fragrance of the incense may have served a practical purpose by masking any unpleasant odours in the tabernacle.
The burning of incense was also associated with the concept of holiness. The altar of incense was considered "most holy to the Lord" (Exodus 30:10), and it was purified annually with the blood of a sin offering (Exodus 30:1-10). This ritual emphasised that true holiness comes from having a sincere heart before God, rather than merely performing rituals or formalities.
Furthermore, the burning of incense in the morning and evening can be understood in the context of the multisensory experience of the Tabernacle. The scent of incense, along with the light of the lampstand and the taste of the showbread, engaged the senses of sight, smell, and taste. This rich sensory experience was designed as an offering to God and a way to acknowledge the goodness of the senses He has given.
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It was used to purify the altar
The burning of incense in the tabernacle was used to purify the altar. The altar of incense was located in the Holy Place of the tabernacle, next to the curtain dividing it from the Most Holy. According to Exodus 30:1-10, the altar of incense was made of costly and richly ornamented materials like gold and acacia wood, with rings of gold built into it so it could be carried with poles of acacia wood.
The incense burned on this altar was made from a specific recipe prescribed by God and contributed by the congregation. The recipe included sweet spices like stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, which were mixed and tempered together to create a sacred perfume. This incense was burned on the altar by a priest each morning and evening as a regular offering to the Lord.
The smoke from the incense symbolized the prayers of God's people ascending to God and served as a reminder to Israel to pray. In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayer, such as in Psalm 141:2, where David prays, "May my prayer be set before you like incense." The altar of incense, therefore, represented the work of the Israelites in offering their prayers to the Lord.
Additionally, the altar of incense was purified with blood, symbolizing the need for atonement and sacrifice for prayers to be acceptable to God. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would put blood on the horns of the altar of incense to cleanse it. This ritual ensured that the altar was "most holy to the Lord."
The incense and its smoke served a practical purpose in pleasantly scenting the air, especially to mask the odors of livestock. However, the primary purpose of burning incense was symbolic and spiritual, representing the purification of the altar and the offering of prayers to God.
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It was part of a rich multisensory experience
The burning of incense in the tabernacle was part of a rich multisensory experience. The incense altar was located in the Holy Place of the tabernacle, next to the curtain dividing it from the Most Holy. The altar was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with four "horns" at each corner. According to Exodus, the incense was to be burned every morning and evening, and only by priests. The incense was made from costly materials, including sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, as prescribed by God.
The smoke from the incense symbolized the prayers of the people ascending to God and was seen as a holy act. In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayer, such as in Psalm 141:2 and Revelation 5:8. The pleasant scent of the incense also served a practical purpose, masking any unpleasant odors. The altar of incense, along with the lampstand and the table of showbread, provided a multisensory experience, engaging the senses of sight, smell, and taste.
The burning of incense in the tabernacle was more than just a ritual; it was a way to engage the senses and create a meaningful connection between the people and God. The priests acted as mediators between the people and God, offering the incense as a symbol of the people's prayers. The altar of incense was also a reminder of the presence of God and the need for holiness and purity in worship.
The altar of incense was not just a functional piece of furniture but a symbol of the intercession of Christ. Just as the smoke of the incense ascended to God, so too do our prayers ascend through the mediation of Jesus. The altar of incense represented the work of the Israelites, their prayers, and their devotion to the Lord. It served as a visual and olfactory reminder of the presence of God and the importance of prayer and holiness in their lives.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense was burned in the tabernacle to symbolise the prayers of God's people constantly ascending before the Lord.
The incense altar was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It had four "horns", one at each corner, and rings of gold built into it so that it could be carried with acacia wood poles.
Only priests were allowed to burn incense in the tabernacle, acting as mediators between the people and God.
