LIFE SCRIPTS

1 “Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. 2 It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high —its horns of one piece with it. 3 Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. 4 Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. 5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 6 Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law—before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law—where I will meet with you. 7 “Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. 8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come. 9 Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. 10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the Lord.”
Exodus 30:1‭-‬10 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/exo.30.1-10.NIV.

The altar of incense was located just outside the most holy place separated from it by a curtain. It was made of acacia overlayed with gold and having knobs to carry it using poles where necessary. God instructed the Israelite priests to burn incense everyday and to ensure that it doesn’t run out at any time. Incense represents the prayers of the saints as highlighted in Revelation. Communion with God in prayer should be a daily engagement much in the same way the altar of incense always had a sweet aroma of incense before God. But also there was a warning not to burn strange incense…or not to use any other strange offerings such as drink or any kind of food. The altar of incense had horns protruding from it where the blood of the sacrificial animal used to atone for the sins of the nation was applied annually. This was done on the day of atonement or Yom Kippur. So the priests were not to substitute the incense fragrance with any other offering as that would substitute the work of the cleansing and atoning blood. As we pray, we must remember that our cleansing and atonement comes from the cleansing power of the blood of Christ. It is upon it’s redemptive work that we’re able to offer prayers, supplications and thanksgiving to God. In the same way, the blood from the sacrificial animal was offered once a year in Israel, our Lord, Jesus Christ was offered once and for all for all of us. The horns on the altar of incense symbolised the cross of Christ…the place upon which our freedom was purchased. So let’s not be weary of calling upon Him in prayer and supplication everyday.