“Then make another altar of acacia wood for burning incense” (Exodus 30:1 NLT).
The Lord gave Moses specific instructions for the furnishings inside the Tent of Meeting. Among these instructions were detailed plans for the making and use of an altar for burning incense. Meditation on these furnishings are a worthy pursuit for the Christ-follower. For they each symbolize a different aspect of Christ’s ministry. Therefore, let us consider how the incense altar points to its fulfillment in Christ.
Consider the incense. It was a special fragrant incense that Aaron was to offer every morning and evening as a regular offering to the Lord. The incense represented the intercessory prayers of the high priest and of God’s people. As David wrote, “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you” (Psa. 141:2).
Next, notice the Incense Altar’s pattern. It had a square top with horns on its four sides, making it like a smaller version of the Burnt Offerings Altar (See Ex. 27:1-8). Its four horns were to be consecrated with the blood from the sin offering for atonement taken from the Altar for Burnt Offerings. Even the fire that was used to burn the incense was to be taken from the Altar for Burnt Offerings. However, the Incense Altar was overlaid with gold and only used for burning incense, while the Burnt Offerings Altar was overlaid with bronze and was used for all the sacrificial offerings. The Incense Altar was made holy by the blood and fire from the Burnt Offerings Altar, just as the prayers of the saints are made holy by the blood of the Lamb, Christ Jesus.
Finally, consider the placement of the Incense Altar. It was to be placed “in front of the veil by the ark of the testimony” (Ex. 30:6). In other words, the Incense Altar was to be placed on the outside of the veil that separated the holy place from the holy of holies, directly in front of where the ark of the covenant was placed inside the holy of holies. The ark represented God’s presence. The veil represented the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity. So, every time Aaron offered incense, he was facing the mercy seat of God, yet he was unable to approach it fully because of the veil. The smoke from the incense passed over the veil where Aaron couldn’t enter, except once a year, on the Day of Atonement when he carried the blood of the lamb to be sprinkled on the mercy seat, which was the lid of the ark.
Yet, the veil was torn in two when Christ died on the cross (Matt. 27:51), opening up “a new and living way” for believers to approach God (Heb. 10:20). And 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. For just as the incense was offered day and night, so now Christ always intercedes for us. As the book of Hebrews says, “Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them” (Heb. 7:25). Everything in the Tabernacle points to Christ. The Altar of Incense points to Christ’s intercessory ministry as our Mediator.
PRAYER: Dear Father, as we read Your Word, we are amazed at how everything is fulfilled in Christ. Help us to meditate on Your Word with the help of Your Spirit. Strengthen us to carry Your Word to the nations. In Jesus’ name, amen.