Exodus 30:1-10
~15 min read
TRANSCRIPT
Our text for today's message is taken from Exodus 30:1–10. If you have been asked to describe the worship of God, how would you describe it? By that, I mean—how are we involved in the worship of God? Which part of our being is involved? Is it just our physical presence, or our emotions, our feelings, our thinking, or our heart's desires?
Some people may answer, ‘Well, worship is an experience whereby our hearts and minds are totally immersed and consumed with the thought of coming before God.’ While that may be true, I think a better way to describe the worship of God is through the Tabernacle. Allow me to briefly explain.
So far, we have learned about the elaborate construction of the Tabernacle, and the Tabernacle was primarily about the worship of God. One theologian gave this vivid picture of the children of Israel approaching the Tabernacle to worship God, and he said: ‘Consider this: there were things they could touch—the fine linen fabric and skins of the animals covering the Tabernacle. There were things they could see—the bright lights, golden furniture, and colourful curtains. There were things they could taste—the offering of meat, bread, and wine. There were things they could hear—the bells ringing on the garments of the high priests. And there were things they could smell—the aroma of the burning sacrifices, and inside the holy place, the sweet smell of the incense burning.’ In other words, their entire being, with all the sensory organs, was involved in the worship of God.
In a similar fashion, as we come before God for worship, we have to bear in mind that our entire being is involved—not so much the physical aspect, but the spiritual aspect. We serve God with our hands; we sing the spiritual songs with our mouths; we see and hear the Word of God with our spiritual eyes and ears; we taste the goodness of God as we partake of the Lord's Supper; and when we pray, our prayer will be like a sweet savour ascending unto the Almighty God.
And this is what we want to learn from today's passage in Exodus 30:1–10, which is about the altar of incense. As the incense burned, the smoke ascended as it were, like a sweet savour unto God. The title of our message is ‘Sweet Hour of Prayer’.
I. The Description Of The Altar Of Incense
Firstly, we want to consider the description of the altar of incense. The altar of incense was the last piece of furniture that God had instructed Moses to put in the Tabernacle. Chapter 25 mentioned the other furniture that went into the Most Holy Place and the Holy Place. There was the Ark of the Covenant, the table of shewbread, and the golden lampstand. Then, God gave specific instructions on how the Tabernacle ought to be constructed, including the outside courtyard and the ordination of the priests.
After everything was said and done, finally, God mentioned the altar of incense. Some scholars who were critical of the Bible believe that this section was added onto the Bible later on, which means it was not part of the original Holy Scriptures, as if it was an afterthought or an appendix. Most certainly, it was not true. If this section was added later on, then it would make sense to put it in chapter 25 together with the rest of the furniture, right?
We, who uphold the Bible as infallible and inerrant, and we must not add or subtract from it, ought to believe that this section was truly the Word of God and it should be where the Bible placed it. The most possible answer as to why this piece of furniture was mentioned only after the entire Tabernacle was constructed was because God was focusing on the worship offered in His sanctuary. You see, once God had explained how the priests were to be ordained, He then described their duties. In other words, the altar of incense was not mentioned until there was a priest to burn incense on it.
The altar of incense was not very large. It was about 1.5 feet square and about 3 feet high. Like the other furniture in the Tabernacle, verses 1 to 5 tell us that it was made of shittim wood, covered with gold, including the top and the sides as well. It had four horns, one on each of the four corners, and it was designed to be portable. So, there were rings on the two sides of the altar, allowing it to be lifted up by the pair of staves and carried wherever God would lead. So as the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness from place to place, the Tabernacle would move along with them.
Look at verse 6: "And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee." The location of the altar of incense was situated in front of the curtain that separated the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was, from the Holy Place. So, it was right before the veil, most likely in between the table of shewbread and the golden lampstand. This means when the priest stood at the altar of incense, they were standing right in front of God.
Verse 7: "And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations." (Exodus 30:7-8) Just as every morning and evening the priests had to keep the golden lampstands burning by trimming the wicks and replenishing the oil, at the same time, they would have to burn sweet incense on the altar. This routine was to be repeated day after day, from one generation to another.
The priests were not free to use anything they wanted to burn on this altar. As verse 9 says: "Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon." This altar was only for incense, and the only incense they were allowed to use was a special blend of spices described for us in verses 34 to 38. It was made up of stacte (a kind of gum), onycha (a kind of seashell gum), galbanum (another type of sweet spice), and frankincense, and they were to be of the same amount of weight. These were mixed together and specially ground into powder to form this incense (Exodus 30:34-38). This mixture of incense was not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible because it was not to be used in any other place or for any other purpose except for God.
If we want to understand how strict God was in regards to burning the incense on this altar, all we need to remember is Nadab and Abihu, who were struck dead. They were killed because, instead of offering the sweet smell of incense, they offered strange fire unto God. You can read about that in Leviticus 10:1–2. The word “strange” means unauthorised, foreign, or profane. Though the Bible does not explain to us what kind of strange fire they offered, it could well be because they did not follow the specific instructions given, or they had approached God in an ungodly and callous way, or they were drunk, as Leviticus 10:9 seems to suggest. Whatever it is, the lesson we need to take note of is that God not only judges the outward show of spirituality, but more importantly, the inward motivation and intention of the heart.
Dear friend, we may tick all the boxes in regards to the order of worship—the singing of hymns, the doxology, the benediction, the services, the giving of tithes and offerings, etc.—but if our hearts are not right and our motivations are wrong, God will judge, and the consequences will be very severe. We must never play the fool with the worship of God.
II. The Significance Of The Altar Of Incense
Now, the question is, what does the altar of incense signify? Scholars have differing views in regards to the significance of the altar of incense. Some think the incense was a form of tribute—it was like a pleasant aroma for God. Some think it was a symbol of royalty because, in ancient times, the kings also had their special blend of incense to be burnt in their presence. Others think it was meant to overpower the smell of the animal sacrifices and the blood of the animals outside the Tabernacle, which means it was like an air refresher. Yet others think that the smoke, coming from the incense, was a form of protection to protect the priests from the holy presence of God. But none of those suggestions is fully acceptable.
If it was just for the sake of royalty, our Almighty God is greater than all the kings on this Earth, and no earthly spice could ever be good enough for Him. If it was for the protection of the priest from His holy presence, that was the purpose of the veil that separated the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place. Most certainly, it was not just for the sake of making the Tabernacle smell nice. There ought to be something important about it; there ought to be a symbolic significance to it.
The best way to understand the significance of the altar of incense is to use Scripture to interpret Scripture. So, if we were to study the other Bible verses, we will have a better understanding of what it means. In Psalm 141:1–2, the psalmist David said: "LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice."
Here, David was crying out for help, and he asked God to hear his prayers. Interestingly, he made a connection between his prayers and the daily ritual of burning incense in the temple. Even though he was not a priest and therefore did not have the right to burn incense on the altar, yet David asked God to receive his prayers like the way God received the incense in the temple.
In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, there was a priest named Zacharias, and he was visited by an angel proclaiming the good news about the coming Messiah. Here is what the Bible says: "And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.” Which means it was his turn to burn incense on the golden altar. And as he prepared to burn incense, “the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense" (Luke 1:8–11).
So, at the same time when the incense was offered in the Holy Place, the people were gathered outside in the courtyard, and they were praying. And the priest himself was also praying. How do we know he was praying? Look down to verse 13: "But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John"—referring to John the Baptist (Luke 1:13). So, the offering of incense was a time of intercession. The people and the priests were praying.
In Revelation 8:3–4, the Apostle John saw a vision of heaven, and this is what he says: "And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand." In other words, the prayers of God's people were intermingled with the incense they offered. And just as the smoke of the incense rose up to heaven, likewise their prayers also rose up to God.
All these passages, and many more, connect the offering of incense with the life of prayer. Prayer played an important part in the life of God's people, and they had to rely on the priests who interceded for them day and night, morning and evening, as they offered the incense on the altar. And the only way the priest could do that was on the basis of the sacrifice. That was why verse 10 says: "And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD."
The sin offering was the blood sacrifice of the unblemished animal to atone for their sins. And “once in the year” was on the Day of Atonement, this offering was made for all of God's people on the bronze altar outside in the courtyard. When the animal was sacrificed, its blood was carefully collected in a bowl and then carried inside the Tabernacle. Some of it was sprinkled on the mercy seat in the Most Holy Place, and some was sprinkled on the altar of incense. On the basis of the blood of the animal sacrifice, their sins were forgiven, and then the incense could be burned and ascend unto God as a sweet savour.
In other words, only after their sins were forgiven, then their prayers were acceptable to God. Some people have asked, does God hear the prayers of the unbelievers—people who do not believe in the one living and true God? There is a sense in which God hears everything; He is omniscient, all-knowing. There is nothing that anyone can say that will escape His notice, whether it be a cry for help, a desperate plea for deliverance, or a prayer for blessing. God hears everything. However, whether God is obligated to answer the prayer, or whether He will accept the prayer, that is the real question.
There is something that separates man from God, and that is sin. Man deserves to be punished for his sins, how much less to have fellowship with God in prayer? It is only when a man has received the forgiveness of his sins that he can have fellowship with a holy God in prayer. So, the children of Israel had to offer the sin offering on the Day of Atonement, and then they could have their prayers heard before God.
Today, that sin offering, that sacrifice, was made available to us when Jesus Christ once and for all died on the cross of Calvary. When Jesus died and shed His precious blood, He not only secured the forgiveness of sins for us, He also opened the way for us to come before God in prayer. That is the reason why you and I always pray in Jesus' name. When we pray in Jesus' name, we are not simply using His name like signing off a letter with ‘yours sincerely’. We are acknowledging the fact that it is the very basis of our praying to God. It is the very basis why God will hear and answer our prayers. It is the very reason why our prayer will ascend unto God like a sweet savour.
It is all because of Jesus Christ. And to pray in Jesus' name also reminds us that, like the children of Israel who depended on the priests to intercede on their behalf day and night, morning and evening, we need someone to represent us. But we do not need the pastor, preacher, or minister to represent us before God. We go straight to Him through Jesus Christ, our great High Priest. Our Lord Jesus is no longer on the cross; He was risen from the dead, and He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God, interceding for us at every moment of our lives.
We often use this phrase—that Jesus is interceding for us at every moment of our lives—but we forget that it also means we are expected to pray at all times. Just as the incense was always burning on the altar and the smoke was ascending unto God continuously as a sweet savour, we should always be praying at all times.
Do you realise that nowhere in Scripture are we commanded to be singing without ceasing, or serving without ceasing, or preaching without ceasing? While it is true that we are to preach the Word of God in season and out of season, what it means is that we are to preach the Word of God when the season and opportunity are there. But you and I are commanded to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), which means at all times.
The amazing thing is that our prayer is described as the sweet smell of incense ascending unto God, which means God loves to hear from us all the time. If we are happy, we express our happiness to Him. If we are afflicted, we commit our afflictions to Him. We should be praying at work. We should be praying during vacation. We should be praying when we are with our friends. When we meet someone who does not know Jesus Christ, we pray that God would draw the person to Himself and use us as the instrument to share the gospel message. We should pray in times of victory and in times of defeat—at all times. That is what it means to pray without ceasing.
If I may end with this illustration: when you apply for a job, you present your résumé. From the year 1990 to 2000, actively working in this company. From the year 2000 to 2020, actively working in that company. And then from the year 2020 to 2025—empty, nothing, blank. Immediately, your potential employer will ask, ‘What happened during that period of time? Why was there no activity during that period?’ Is that a picture of our prayer life? From this period to that period, there were prayers because there were trials. From this period to that period, there were prayers because there were afflictions. And then from this period to that period—empty, nothing. God does not hear from us. Why? Because everything is well and good. God forbid! There should be no situation in our lives where God does not hear from us. We must pray at all times, just as the smoke from the incense would rise up as a sweet savour unto the Almighty God.
As the hymn Sweet Hour of Prayer says, it is a ‘Sweet hour of prayer that calls me from a world of care, and bids me at my Father's throne’. Whether ‘in seasons of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief’. And I will ‘cast on Him my every care’. I will continue to pray, and one day, finally, ‘I [will] shout while passing through the air,’ and that is the time when I will say, ‘farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer’. Because that is the time, whether by death or by the rapture, we will see our Lord face to face and be with Him forever and ever.
Dear friend, as believers, as we live our days on this earth, we must learn to cherish and live every moment, and share that moment with our Almighty God in prayer. Again, I reiterate: there should be no situation in our lives that God will not hear from us. We must pray at all times.
Let us pray:
Our Father in heaven, indeed Thou hast taught us spiritual lessons that we can draw from this passage. Even as we study the altar of incense and consider the other Bible verses, Thou hast taught us the connection between offering the incense, the smoke ascending unto Thee as a sweet savour, with the prayer of Thy people. We ought to pray all the time, just as the incense ought to be burning all the time.
Forgive us if there are times we have neglected our prayer life. Forgive us if there are times we only pray in times of trials, tribulations, and afflictions, but in times of happiness, victories, and successes, there is this void in our prayer lives. May Thou forgive us, for Thou hast reminded us that our Lord Jesus is interceding for us at every moment of our lives. And that means we are expected to pray at all times. Help us that we will obey this command to pray without ceasing. And all this is to the glory of Thy precious name. We pray all this in Jesus' name, Amen.
THE BOOK OF EXODUSGod’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To PassGod’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To PassExodus 1:1-7
From Prosperity to PersecutionFrom Prosperity to PersecutionExodus 1:8-14
God’s Protection in the Midst of AdversitiesGod’s Protection in the Midst of AdversitiesExodus 1:15-21
The Faith of JochebedThe Faith of JochebedExodus 1:22-2:10
Moses in EgyptMoses in EgyptExodus 2:11-15
Moses in the Desert of MidianMoses in the Desert of MidianExodus 2:16-25
Moses and the Burning BushMoses and the Burning BushExodus 3:1-9
Who Are You?Who Are You?Exodus 3:10-15
Who Am I?Who Am I?Exodus 3:10-15
God’s Message to Israel and EgyptGod’s Message to Israel and EgyptExodus 3:16-22
What If They Still Don’t Believe?What If They Still Don’t Believe?Exodus 4:1-9
Send Someone ElseSend Someone ElseExodus 4:10-17
Moses’ Return to EgyptMoses’ Return to EgyptExodus 4:18-20
When Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got WorseWhen Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got WorseExodus 5:10-21
When We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble ComesWhen We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble ComesExodus 5:22-6:5
Having to Learn the Same Lesson TwiceHaving to Learn the Same Lesson TwiceExodus 6:6-12
Faithful or UnfaithfulFaithful or UnfaithfulExodus 6:13-27
What God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and ObedienceWhat God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and ObedienceExodus 6:28-7:7
The First Plague - The River of BloodThe First Plague - The River of BloodExodus 7:14-25
The Second Plague - The FrogsThe Second Plague - The FrogsExodus 8:1-15
The Third PlagueThe Third PlagueExodus 8:16-19
The Fourth PlagueThe Fourth PlagueExodus 8:20-32
The Fifth PlagueThe Fifth PlagueExodus 9:1-7
The Sixth PlagueThe Sixth PlagueExodus 9:8-12
The Seventh PlagueThe Seventh PlagueExodus 9:13-35
The Eighth PlagueThe Eighth PlagueExodus 10:1-20
The Tenth PlagueThe Tenth PlagueExodus 11:1-10
The First PassoverThe First PassoverExodus 12:1-13
The Feast of the Unleavened BreadThe Feast of the Unleavened BreadExodus 12:14-28
Departure From EgyptDeparture From EgyptExodus 12:29-42
This Do In Remembrance of MeThis Do In Remembrance of MeExodus 12:43-51; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!Exodus 12:48-49, Colossians 2:11-12
Redemption and ConsecrationRedemption and ConsecrationExodus 13:1-2, 11-16
Precious Lord, Take My HandPrecious Lord, Take My HandExodus 13:17-22
Between the Desert and the Red SeaBetween the Desert and the Red SeaExodus 14:1-14
Crossing the Red SeaCrossing the Red SeaExodus 14:15-31
The Song of PraiseThe Song of PraiseExodus 15:1-21
Will You Obey Or Not?Will You Obey Or Not?Exodus 15:22-27
The Danger of a Complaining SpiritThe Danger of a Complaining SpiritExodus 16:1-3
God’s Response to Israel’s ComplaintsGod’s Response to Israel’s ComplaintsExodus 16:1-10
The Test of FaithThe Test of FaithExodus 16:11-20
Lessons About the SabbathLessons About the SabbathExodus 16:21-36
Do Not Test GodDo Not Test GodExodus 17:1-17
Lift Up Your HandsLift Up Your HandsExodus 17:8-16
The Blessedness of ReunionThe Blessedness of ReunionExodus 18:1-12
Why Do We Have Leaders?Why Do We Have Leaders?Exodus 18:13-27
I Will Carry You On Eagles’ WingsI Will Carry You On Eagles’ WingsExodus 19:1-6
Approach God Fearlessly or FearfullyApproach God Fearlessly or FearfullyExodus 19:7-15
God Reached Out And SpokeGod Reached Out And SpokeExodus 19:16-25
Thou Shalt Have No Other GodsThou Shalt Have No Other GodsExodus 20:1-3
Thou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesThou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesExodus 20:4-6
Thou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s NameThou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s NameExodus 20:7
Thou Shalt Keep The Sabbath DayThou Shalt Keep The Sabbath DayExodus 20:8-11
Honour Thy Father And Thy MotherHonour Thy Father And Thy MotherExodus 20:12
Thou Shalt Not KillThou Shalt Not KillExodus 20:13
Thou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryThou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryExodus 20:14
Thou Shalt Not StealThou Shalt Not StealExodus 20:15
Thou Shalt Not LieThou Shalt Not LieExodus 20:16
Thou Shalt Not CovetThou Shalt Not CovetExodus 20:17
The Response To The Ten CommandmentsThe Response To The Ten CommandmentsExodus 20:18-21
How God Wants Us To Worship HimHow God Wants Us To Worship HimExodus 20:22-26
Why Would God Allow Slavery?Why Would God Allow Slavery?Exodus 21:1-11
The Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a lifeThe Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a lifeExodus 21:12-17
The Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eyeThe Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eyeExodus 21:18-36
The Punishment Deters The Crime — property lawsThe Punishment Deters The Crime — property lawsExodus 22:1-15
The Character Of GodThe Character Of GodExodus 22:16-20
Reaching Out To The Down-And-OutReaching Out To The Down-And-OutExodus 22:21-24
The Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of GodThe Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of GodExodus 22:25-31
Truth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But TruthTruth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But TruthExodus 23:1-9
Remember Who God IsRemember Who God IsExodus 23:10-19
What Must We Do To Have VictoryWhat Must We Do To Have VictoryExodus 23:20-33
How We Ought To Worship GodHow We Ought To Worship GodExodus 24:1-4, 7
On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?Exodus 24:4-8
Responding To God’s InvitationResponding To God’s InvitationExodus 24:9-18
The Right Attitude Of GivingThe Right Attitude Of GivingExodus 25:1-8
There I Will Meet YouThere I Will Meet YouExodus 25:9-22
Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?Exodus 25:23-30
Let Your Light So Shine Before MenLet Your Light So Shine Before MenExodus 25:31-40
The Veil That SeparatesThe Veil That SeparatesExodus 26:1-37
A Day In Thy Court Is Better Than A ThousandA Day In Thy Court Is Better Than A ThousandExodus 27:1-19
Who Can Represent Us Before God?Who Can Represent Us Before God?Exodus 27:20-28:14
How Can We Know God’s Will?How Can We Know God’s Will?Exodus 28:15-30
Is Our Worship Attire Really Important?Is Our Worship Attire Really Important?Exodus 28:31-43
The Ordination Of PriestsThe Ordination Of PriestsExodus 29:1-21
The Provision For PriestsThe Provision For PriestsExodus 29:22-29
Remind Us For We Always ForgetRemind Us For We Always ForgetExodus 29:36-46
Sweet Hour Of PrayerSweet Hour Of PrayerExodus 30:1-10
If Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceIf Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceExodus 33:12-23
