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The Golden Altar of Incense is a picture of Christ our Interceding High Priest. We have been saved by Christ’s death on the cross, but are kept saved by Christ’s heavenly intercession!

Christ – Our Golden Altar Of Incense

Exodus 30:1-11

We return once more this morning to our study of the Tabernacle.  The Tabernacle is a wonderful, detailed portrait of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The various objects in the Tabernacle point to His various ministries to His people.

• The Bronze Altar points to Christ as our Savior. The bronze altar was the place where animals were killed and sacrifices were offered to God. Innocent animals took the place of guilty sinners. Here Christ is our propitiation.

• The Bronze Laver points to Christ as our Sanctifier. Not only does he atone for sin at the cross, but then He continues to purify us from sin through His Word day by day.

• The Table of Showbread points to Christ as our Satisfier. He is the Bread of Life, and as we fellowship with Him, He satisfies our souls with Himself.

• The Golden Lampstand points to Christ as our Enlightener. Christ continues to illumine truth and expose sin in our lives.

• The Golden Altar of Incense points to Christ as our Intercessor. He is our Great High Priest who always lives to make intercession for us.

• The Ark of the Covenant points to Christ as our Sovereign. He rules and reigns over us from His throne of glory.

This morning lets zero in on the golden altar of incense and see all that it will reveal to us about Jesus Christ, and our life in Him.

1. The Symbolism

Everything in the Tabernacle points to Christ in some way. So, how does the golden altar of incense point to Christ?  Well, let’s first see if the rest of Scripture throws any light on the symbolism behind the burning of incense.

Psalm 141:1-2 “May my prayer be counted as incense before You; the lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.”

Revelation 5:8 “When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

Revelation 8:3-4 “Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.”

In all these texts, incense is associated with prayer.  Just as burning incense wafts heavenward in a smoky cloud, so too our prayers ascend to heaven.

The altar of incense seems to indicate the intercession of Jesus Christ on behalf of His people.

Now, remember that there are two altars – the bronze altar and the golden altar.  However, these two altars are very different from each other.

Bronze Altar                                                 Golden Altar

Overlaid with bronze                                         Overlaid with gold

Speaks of death of Christ                                  Speaks of intercession of Christ

In Outer Court – His earthly ministry           Inside Holy Place – His heavenly ministry

Connected with shedding of blood                 Connected with burning of incense

So, the golden altar of incense is teaching us about Christ’s present heavenly ministry.  Hebrews 7:25 says, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

2. The Function

Exodus 30:1 says, “Moreover, you shall make an altar as a place for burning incense…”  Verse 9 says, “When Aaron trims the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense. There shall be perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.”  There we have its purpose – to burn incense before the Lord.

Notice verse 9, “You shall not offer any strange incense on this altar, or burnt offering or meal offering; and you shall not pour out a drink offering on it.”  This altar was not to be associated with an offering. It was to be associated with the burning of incense.  This altar does not speak about Christ’s suffering and death.  It speaks about His resurrection and life. It does not speak about His earthly ministry. It speaks about His heavenly ministry at God’s right hand.

Notice verse 7, “Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims the lamps.”  The KJV calls it “sweet incense.”  The incense had a sweet smelling fragrance. It was pleasant, and delightful.  My own sense of smell is very bad. I can hardly smell anything anymore. However, when Debbie puts perfume on, I can still smell it, and it’s really nice.  All of this points to how God regards the intercession of Christ. It is sweet, fragrant, and pleasing unto Him.

Notice also that in Exodus 30:9, the priests were forbidden to offer any strange incense on this altar.  Exodus 30:34-38 tells us about the holy incense, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take for yourself spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, spices with pure frankincense; there shall be an equal part of each. With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy. You shall beat some of it very fine, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you. The incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the LORD. Whoever shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people.”  There was to be a special, holy incense used at the altar of incense.  It was never to be made by the people and used for common use.  If the priests used any other incense than this one, they would be guilty of offering strange incense.  My friends, I believe many people today are guilty of offering strange incense before the Lord. What do I mean? I remember a time when Kelly Salas and I decided to go down to an outdoor multi-church rally in the amphitheatre behind Lowe’s.  Many different churches were coming together to have a night of worship. In between the praise songs, different ministers would get up and offer prayer. Well, things were going fine until a woman minister got up and began praying. She was thanking God that He is the God of all religions, and that we are all united together, no matter what particular faith we held to.  Well, when she began to pray like that, Kelly and I looked at each in astonishment. We couldn’t believe what we had just heard. Then, we very quickly, got up and left. That was strange incense. God will not hear prayer that does not come through His Son. Folks, no one has any access to God except through Jesus Christ. I’m sorry, but God does not hear the prayers of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, or anyone else that does not go through Jesus Christ. How could He? Isaiah 59:1-2 says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”  There is no way for this separation from sin to be removed except through the atoning work of Jesus Christ.  My friends, God dwells in unapproachable light. There is no way we can approach Him unless we are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. All prayer that is not in Jesus’ name is strange incense.

3. The Horns

Exodus 30:3 tells us that the golden altar of incense had horns on it.  Both the bronze altar and the golden altar had horns.  Horns are the symbol for power in Scripture.  God is communicating through these horns that there is power in the blood of Christ (bronze altar), and there is power in prayer (incense altar).  This is speaking specifically about the power of Christ’s intercession as our High Priest.  The truth is, that whatever Jesus prays for, He gets. His intercessions are powerful! Jesus said in John 11:42 at the grave of Lazarus, “I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”  Jesus always prays according to God’s will. Jesus always prays with pure motives. So, the Father always answers His prayers.

So, just exactly what does Christ pray for us about?  We are not left in the dark about that question. We have a sample of Christ’s high priestly ministry in John 17. On the night before Jesus went to the cross, He prayed to His Father.

Who did Jesus pray for?  John 17:9 says, “I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours.” Now, who is Jesus talking about? Who are those that the Father gave Him?  According to John 6, they are the ones that come to Christ, and that Christ will never lose. They are the ones that the Father draws to Christ, and whom Christ will raise up on the last day.  John 10 tells us that they are Christ’s sheep, and they hear Christ’s voice, and they follow Him, and Jesus gives them eternal life, and they will never perish.  So, who are those whom the Father gave to Jesus?  God’s elect! They are the ones that God chose in Christ before the foundation of the world to be adopted into His family and be eternally saved.  Jesus said that He does not pray for the world. In John 17:20 Jesus said, “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word.”  Christ only prays for believers, those who have believed through grace. Christ is not praying from the right hand of God today for those who will never be saved. He is interceding for believers alone.

What is He praying for? 

John 17:11, “I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.”

John 17:15, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.”

John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”

John 17:24, “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

In Luke 22:31-32, we have another example of Christ’s high priestly prayers, this time on behalf of Simon Peter. This is what Jesus told Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

So, let’s sum up what we see in these passages. What does Jesus pray for His elect about?  He prays that the Father would keep them in His name, that they would be kept from the evil one, that God would sanctify them in the truth, that they would see Christ’s glory, and that their faith would not fail.”

My friends, do you know that one of the greatest reasons in Scripture that you are absolutely secure in Christ, and can never be lost, is the intercession of Jesus Christ your high priest?!  Notice the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 8:33-34, “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” The reason that no one, including Satan, can condemn you, is not that you are so awesome! It’s not that you have it all together! It is because Christ died for you, and that He is at the right hand of God interceding for you!

We are saved at the bronze altar, but we are kept at the golden altar. How will you and I finally make it to glory?  Will it be because of our faithfulness?  No, it will be because of His faithfulness! Listen to how Paul puts it in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”  Jesus prays that the Father will bestow upon me all the blessings He purchased for me. What are they?  Forgiveness, regeneration, adoption, justification, sanctification, perseverance, and glorification.

Listen to how Paul puts it in Romans 5:10, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”  What is Paul saying?  We were reconciled to God through the death of Christ. But we shall be kept reconciled and be everlastingly saved through the resurrection, ascension, and intercession of Christ.  You and I need to give God thanks for the ministry of Christ our high priest! Without His intercession not a one of us would ever make it to heaven!

4. The Location

Where was the altar of incense located?  Exodus 30:6 says, “You shall put this altar in front of the veil that is near the ark of the testimony, in front of the mercy seat that is over the ark of the testimony, where I will meet with you.”  The ordinary priests were never permitted to enter behind the veil into the holy of holies. The closest they could ever get to the manifest presence of God was at the altar of incense. The altar of incense was just on the other side of the veil that separated the holy of holies from the holy place.  The ark of the covenant represents the throne of God.

My friends, we are never closer to God than when we are in prayer to Him.  We think that by doing, working, serving we get close to God. The truth is that we draw close to the Lord as we commune with Him in prayer.  The three objects in the holy place represent three facets of the Christian life.  The table of showbread represent a life of fellowship with Christ through the Word.  The golden lampstand represents our testimony for Christ through witness and good works.  But the golden altar of incense represents our intimacy with Christ through prayer.  Now, as Christians we need a balance of all three.

These three aspects of the Christian life are represented in Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.  In John 12 we find Jesus going to their home for a special supper.  Lazarus reclined at the table with Him.  He is pictured in the Table of Showbread. He communed with Christ at the table.  Martha was serving. She is pictured at the Golden Lampstand. She let her light shine through serving, and good works.  However, it was Mary who took the pound of very costly perfume and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. She is pictured by the altar of incense – the place of intimate prayer and worship.  We need to be in the Word, we need to let our light shine in good works and witnessing, and we need to be people of prayer. However, prayer is that one activity that will draw us closest to Jesus Christ!  Yes, being in the Word is important! Yes, shining God’s light through witness and good works is important! But nothing is more important than your own communion with Christ through prayer. And this is usually the aspect of the Christian life that we neglect the most! I’m pretty sure that if I asked you privately which of these three areas do you neglect the most – the Word, witness or private prayer, many of you would have to admit it is prayer. I’m afraid I would have to admit that.  Let’s recommit ourselves today to a life of prayer.

5. The Frequency

Look at Exodus 30:7-8, “Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims the lamps. When Aaron trims the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense. There shall be perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.”  The priests were to burn incense every morning and every evening when they trimmed the lamps. Morning and evening. Morning and evening. Perpetually. Throughout your generations. Burning incense before the Lord was to be an ongoing, regular, consistent activity throughout their generations.

My friends, Jesus Christ intercedes for His church regularly, consistently.  He never slumbers or sleeps. He never drops the ball on us. He never flakes out. He is the Ultimate Prayer Warrior!

Folks, we should take a cue from Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. 5:17 says “pray without ceasing.”  We are always to be at prayer, either active conscious prayer, or intermittent prayer. We are to cultivate the spirit of prayer in our lives. We can pray when we are working, or driving, or playing. We can invite Christ into every aspect of our lives. We are to burn the incense before the Lord morning and evening, perpetually.

Conclusion

Put Your Confidence In Christ Your High Priest.  Why do you expect to make heaven? Do you really feel you have what it takes to keep yourself on the narrow way that leads to life?  Do you really have what it takes in yourself to overcome the world, and the flesh and the devil?  Are you able to kill the sin in your life, and hold onto Christ unto the end?  No, if our confidence were in ourselves we would all be damned! Not a one of us would ever make it. But our confidence is not in ourselves. Our confidence is in our gracious Savior who keeps us, who intercedes for us, who prays for us that our faith will not fail, that the Father will keep us in His name, keep us from the evil one, sanctify us, and to keep us from stumbling and make us stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy!!! Never take your eyes off of Him and put them on yourself.  For every look within, take 100 looks at Jesus Christ! He is our all in all.

Follow The Example of Christ Your High Priest.  He is an intercessor. He prays for His people, constantly, vigilantly, perpetually.  How much do you intercede for others?  I’m not talking about praying for yourself. That’s not intercession. That’s supplication. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But you can go a little higher. Rather than being obsessed with your own needs and desires, how much are you praying for those around you?  How often do you pray for your Pastors?  How often do you pray for those in the church?  How often do you pray for the lost at your job, or in your neighborhood, or in your family?  Folks, one of the great things about a house church is that it is pretty easy to get to know everyone in the church. We have no excuse for not praying for one another. I want to encourage you to make a list of all the people in the church. When you go to prayer, bring your list with you. As you think of different people in the church, pray for them. Pray Scripture for them. Take the prayers in the Bible, and pray them for one another. When we are interceding for others, we are following in the steps of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s pray.

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