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The Golden Altar (The Altar of Incense, the Altar of prayer)

From the table of showbread (as we studied the last time I was up here) we pass to the golden altar of incense. The showbread represents Christ and the importance of Bible study –eating of the spiritual manna daily for spiritual growth. The Golden Altar represents prayer. The Christian who lives in the holy place will live a life of prayer. For only in constant communion with Christ can he be perfected “only thus can he be sanctified.” (Heb 10:14)

  • The details of the Golden Altar are found in Exodus 30:1-10. Could I have a volunteer read that? You can also see the details of the Golden Altar in Exodus 37.
  • The cubit is the distance between the tip of the elbow to the tip of the tallest finger. About an 18 inch span.  So it is 18 inches by 18 inches. About 3 feet tall to the base ( not including the horns.( 36 inches)
  • The golden altar or prayer altar had 4 horns-represents the POWER of Christ available for all who have learned to pray. ( prayer needs to be learned) The disciples asked Jesus if He would teach them to prayer didn’t they?  4 horns pointing in different directions – pointing north, south, east, west. This is where prayer took place. The power of prayer can reach the 4 corners of the earth.
  • Crown of gold round about. This crown molding (a raised area) around the golden altar was there to prevent articles from slipping off. The staves and the poles were for transportation.
  • The location was just before the 2nd veil and nearer to the mercy seat and shekinah in the MHP than any other article of furniture.
  • We read it was made of shittim wood (wood that is rot resistant) and overlaid with pure gold. It had a crown of gold round about it. The two staves with which it was carried were also made with wood overlaid with pure gold.
  • Here morning and evening, with the prayers of the saints, the high priest offered the incense –symbolizing the righteousness of Christ ( which makes prayer acceptable and effectual) –as we just read in Ex 30:6-8
  • The golden censer was kept with this altar when not used on the day of atonement. EW p. 251-252.
  • Nothing but the sacred fire (which God kindled Himself) as well as the prescribed incense was ever placed upon it, except on the day of atonement when the sanctuary was cleansed, the high priest touched its horns with the blood.  
  • Can our prayers be hindered? Yes indeed. One of the things that hinders our prayers is selfishness.  The Bible says, “The perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy unto the Lord.”Because of the pure and holy character of the righteousness of Christ which the incense represented, the penalty for using it for selfish purposes was “Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall be cut off from His people. Ex 30:36-38. Such selfish use of incense seems to represent selfish prayers. Such prayers instead of lifting us up to God cuts us off from Him. It is said that Raphael (the Italian Renaissance painter and architect) used to wear a candle in a paste board cup so that while he was painting his shadow would not fall upon his work. Many a prayer is spoiled by our own shadow. Too often we pray for what we want rather than that which will be for the glory of God.

(Ex 30:9,10)

  • Going back to the horns on the altar- the 4 horns point to Christ. They signify strength, power, honor, and victory. Prayer is the Christians personal strength in overcoming sin. It is his power in working for others. Prayer does bring victory and surely it is an honor to be invited by the Most High to commune with Him at the place nearest His throne.
  • What is the significance of the incense? It was composed of 4 sweet spices.
  • Stacte -( the finest Myrrh)
  • Onycha-supposed to be an odoriferous shell
  • Galbannum-a gum resin
  • Frankincense – a dry resinous aromatic gum obtained from a tree that grows in Arabia. This is the same frankincense that was put on the showbread.

Of each of these four fragrant ingredients there was an equal weight, and when tempered together they produced a most fragrant perfume esp. when burned.

In Exodus 30:8 we read the incense “a perpetual incense” -Day and night the incense diffused its fragrance throughout the sacred apartments and without– far around the tabernacle. Prayers should be the breath of the soul. We are to “pray without ceasing”. Never give up prayer. 1 Thess 5:17.  Goliath came out to mock the Israelites during their times of prayer-morning and evening. He knew when he could be the most disturbing to Israel. 1 Sam 17:16 “And the Philistine (Goliath) drew near morning and evening and presented himself forty days.”

Who offered the incense? God’s instruction to Moses was Aaron ( the High Pries) shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning (Ex 30:7-8) When Aaron offered incense, the divine glory rested upon the mercy seat, indicating that God accepted the offering. Thus our prayers are presented to God by our heavenly Father and Intercessor, who offers His merits continually in our behalf, as sweet incense before God.

“Every sincere prayer is heard in heaven. It may not be fluently expressed; but if the heart is in it, it will ascend to the sanctuary where Jesus ministers and He will present it to the Father…as His own desire in that soul’s behalf-beautiful and fragrant with the incense of His own perfection” DOA 667. 

“Prayer is the breath of the soul” we need to pray just as much as we need to breathe. We can only survive a few minutes without breathing.  I used to have what is called Athletic induced asthma when I was a junior in high school.  I was on the cross country team. When I was anxious and exhausted it would flair up. There would be some days when I would be running at the end of practice and I would struggle to breathe. I would

When a baby is first born you check to see if it is breathing.  Without the ability to breathe the baby will die. You can be a born again Christian and if you’re not breathing ( prayer) it’s like holding your breath after birth. We are dependent on prayer just as much as we are dependent on air. How is your prayer life today?

We should be vulnerable, real, authentic with God. Bear your soul to God. Tell God everything on your mind. It is the example of what intimacy should be. “Talking to God as to a friend.”

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