Let My Prayer Be As Incense!

Part 6 of 10

We couldn't rightly talk about New Covenant sacrifices without also looking at New Covenant incense, for this too was to be a sacrifice in and of itself. The morning and evening sacrifice, the lighting of the lamps and the burning of the incense were vital components of the entire Old Covenant economy.

The burning of the incense occured at the altar of incense. Here, different spices would be burned and the smoke would waft upward toward heaven as a sacrifice. It is important to note that every piece of furniture found in the tabernacle finds it's ultimate New Covenant fulfillment in Christ and His church (the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Shewbread, the Golden Lampstand, the Brass Laver and the Brass Altar). For now, however, we will only look at the altar of incense, as related to our New Covenant sacrifice.

Old Covenant Incense?

The altrar of incense was the piece of furniture right before the veil, in the Holy Place of the tabernacle structure. It had four horns and rings of gold for staves to carry it through the wilderness wandering. The details of it's construction can be found in Exodus 30:1-10, and 37:25-28.

The only purpose of this altar was to have incense burnt upon it, morning and evening. Also, once a year (on the great Day of Atonement), sacrificial blood was sprinkled on it. It was the blood of atonement that gave power to the incense before the Lord for the nation of Israel. Even so today, it the blood of the Lamb that enpowers our incense and worship. Without Him, there would be no worship.

Only Aaron, the high priest, was permitted to offer incense at this altar (Exod 30:7-10; Heb 5:1-5). Anyone who presumed to offer incese directly to God was judged (Lev 10:1-3; Num 16; 2 Chron 26, etc).

Was it to be eternal?

Some Scriptures would seem to imply that Old Covenant incense was to be a perpetual practice. However, this conclusion can only be arrived at by a cursory glance.. A more thorough study of New Covenant principles will show us that, once again, these truths have been elevated to a higher, greater and spiritual plane at the cross of the Lord Jesus. This elevation is the only means by which they can be deemed eternal.

"For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts" (Mal 1:11).

These things are often said to be fulfilled in the coming restored Mosaic economy. But as we have seen, there will be no restored Mosaic economy. God would never forsake the eternal antitype to revert back to the mere type. That would be taking a step backwards, in the wrong direction.

New Covenant Incense?

The Bible is clear as to the interpretation of literal incense. Notice these Scriptures that interpret it for us:

"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" (Ps 141:1-2).

"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints" (Rev 5:8).

"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" (Rev 8:3-4).

"According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense" (Lk 1:9-10).

We see therefore, that our New Covenant incense is not a literal thing. God no longer accepts the wafting upward of burning ground spices. Rather, He wants the altar of incense to be found in one's heart! New Covenant incense is simply Godly communion!

To be continued...