The Golden Altar of Incense (Ex. 30:1-9)

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1 The Golden Altar of Incense (Ex. 30:1-9) This is our final study of the Tabernacle for this year. I trust it is significant that, in the plan of God, we are approaching this evening the Golden Altar of Burnt Incense. In the New Year we shall enter into the Holy of Holies, - the dwelling-place of God s Shekinah glory. To recap over these last ten weeks we have come out of captivity in Egypt on our way up to the Promised Land of Canaan. But the old sins and idols of Egypt caused us to make a detour into the Wilderness of Sinai. There, on Mount Sinai, the Ten Commandments and the Law were given to Moses. They included instructions how to build a Tabernacle according to the express Word of God. So we have traced how the Israelite in the desert would have brought his offering for sacrifice in through the only Gate, he came to the Altar of Burnt Offering where he would slaughter the lamb and its blood would atone for his sin. Then we looked at the fire of God descending on the sacrifice. As we proceeded a little further we saw the place where the priests would wash themselves before entering into the Holy Place, - which was forbidden to all but the priests of Levi. And we considered the measurements of the Holy Place, - the curtain door, in particular, - before we entered, and then we went over to the Candlestick and to the Table of Shewbread. Tonight we are standing in front of the Golden Altar of Burnt Incense. Let s notice, first of all, ITS POSITION The Psalmist cried, Ps. 84:1 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. As you have passed through the various stages you will have had different emotions, Anticipation as you walked in through the Gate, A sense of foreboding as you waited your turn to come to the Altar of Burnt Offering, Sadness, if you felt anything for the little lamb you were going to sacrifice,

2 D.G. 2 Release, as you felt the weight of your sin being lifted off your shoulders, Joy, for the work of redemption. And I assure you that by the time you reach this Altar you would have understood those words of the psalmist, - My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God, - and you can feel the Holiness of God! He is the Lord of Hosts Who extends to His people the privilege of entering into His most Holy presence. It is totally undeserved and all of grace, and do you know? this was the place reserved for those who desired to do real business with God! As the priest, - as the psalmist describes, - would have stood outside at this Golden Altar of Incense their hearts would have been beating so fast in anticipation at coming into the nearer presence of the Holiness of God. I guarantee you it was not mere emotionalism that had been frantically whipped up or a dead formalism steeped in empty tradition, this was a living experience of the presence of God, and there at the Altar you could feel the Holiness of God! Yes, there had been another Altar, - the Altar of Burnt Offering, - and if it hadn t have been for that Altar I couldn t have stood before this Altar. For at the Altar of Burnt Offering my sins had been dealt with in the lamb whose blood had been shed for me, At the Altar of Burnt Offering I was being confronted with the awfulness of my sin; here, at the Golden Altar of Incense I was meeting with the Holiness of God. ITS POSITION. ITS PURPOSE Aye, this Altar was for a different purpose, - it wasn t used to offer animals for sacrifice, - only sweet burning incense could be burnt here. There was no blood on the sand, nor anywhere in the Holy Place. The blood had been shed, the lamb had been sacrificed, and you were now on new ground with God.

3 D.G. 3 The incense was altogether special (Ex :38), - it was to be made with four components, and nobody was to copy it (they weren t allowed, for example, to have the same incense in their homes!) No, this pleasant odour was for God alone and would rise up before Him. When Jesus was in Bethany on His way to Jerusalem for the final time, he was at a meal with Lazarus, Mary, Martha and the disciples, - here is what we read, Jn. 12: 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. You could smell it; and here in the Holy Place too you could only see the smoke, you could smell the incense; what could all this mean? How does the Bible explain it? Ps. 141: 2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Rev. 8: 3 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. The Bible is so clear on this subject, - we cannot miss its meaning! It is the prayers of the saints that rise up before God, - imagine the privilege of talking with God! When you pray, - whether audibly or inaudibly, - your prayers are taken, and presented before the Throne of God. When we lived in France, sometimes the prayers were in English, sometimes in French, - we heard them in German, in Japanese, in many languages, - but they were all taken and translated into the language of Heaven and brought before God. Sometimes you mightn t think your prayers make much sense, or perhaps you would love to pray a beautiful prayer with all the ornate decorative language, Wait, it s not always how it comes from the lips, but it is always how it comes from the heart! Don t you worry about fancy language; but, on the other hand, don t treat God like a pal you would meet down the street!

4 D.G. 4 He is the King of kings, He is the Almighty God, He is the Judge of all the earth, and we are His children in accordance with His mercy, and electing and saving grace. And there in the Tabernacle, - like the prayers of God s people, - the incense burned on the Altar and offered up a sweet odour onto the Lord. ITS PEOPLE Only a special people were allowed by God to come this far into the Holy Place, - the Levite priests, - and these were a people who were prepared. But in the New Testament economy every born-again believer has ready access into the presence of God. You don t have to have me with you when you talk to God, you yourself as His child can speak to Him freely. Begin by telling Him how much He means to you, He is your Saviour, your Lord; He guides you, He is your Companion, He is your closest Friend, He is God, the all Holy and magnificent Lord of lords. There is no-one that compares to Him, - He is the Centre of all glory and majesty in Heaven and earth and Hell. Worship is the highest gift that you as a child of God can offer to your Heavenly Father; Worship is all for Him, It is not coming to Him half-heartedly and out of habit. It is not glossy emotionalism, happy songs and dancing, Neither is it candles burning in a huge ornate building where self-righteousness and self-glorification are the order of the day. You know, it is very true, what you worship is what you become. Worship of God is something that man of himself cannot achieve in all its fullness. William Cowper wrote, The dearest idol I have known, Whate er that idol be, Help me to tear it from Thy Throne, And worship only Thee.

5 D.G. 5 Worship is the setting aside of me, in order to concentrate upon God. and true worship can only be offered up by the child of God who stands justified by grace, and has made adequate preparation for His presence. The blood on the Altar has been shed, and the invitation is now given you to offer up before God that which is acceptable in His sight, glorifying unto His Name, and in keeping with the Word of God. Only God s people, in accordance with God s grace, could stand at this Altar and offer up the sweet-smelling odour that came from the incense. CONCLUSION. Once again, God is exalted, - that is the whole purpose of the Altar of Burnt Incense. Would you have been apprehensive at coming to this Altar? Perhaps it would demand too much from you, - more than you are willing to give, just at this particular time. Perhaps you will wait, - you will put it on your agenda to get round to. Perhaps it s not for me, - it s for him/her, - but it s not for me, I m happy enough just trundling along! What a privilege to come before God this evening, - unworthy of ourselves, yet found worthy in Christ, Ps. 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 23 I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.