REFLECTIONS OF CHRIST IN THE TABERNACLE
Chapter 5
The Altar of Incense
“We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle” this verse in Hebrews 13:10 speaks of the brazen altar. Although the brazen altar was outside the court yard it had a direct relationship to the altar of incense inside the tabernacle. The brazen altar was a place of judgment for sin, but the coals from this altar of judgment were taken and placed on the altar of incense. It was upon these coals of judgment that God received the incense and the sweet savor to Himself. The incense was placed upon these coals and ascended up into His presence.
We think of prayer many times in the simple sense of “to pray,” but there is much more that is categorical about prayer. For instance, prayer is intercession. Interceding for others as Christ intercedes for us; therefore, showing concern for those of like faith and praying on their behalf. We should be praying for those who serve the Lord in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have also prayer in thanksgiving. We should offer up thanksgiving to God for all we have, all that we are, and all that we’ll ever be, and for all that Christ is to us. Then we have prayer in a worship sense. This is presenting God’s Son to Him in all the beauties of the Lord Jesus Christ and the character that is in Him, and all that He has done for us at Calvary. This is worship! In Hebrews 2:12, the Lord said, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” When you are praying to God, praise Him for what He has done for us — this is the prayer of praise. Since the Lord Jesus said . . . “I will declare thy name unto my brethren,” how much more then should we declare His name to our brethren and to others as well.
The Lord Jesus Christ is our great Intercessor. He is the one in Revelation 1:12, who tends the golden candlestick and the golden altar. He makes sure that our prayers are received by God the Father as they are ascending. And God the Holy Spirit also make intercession for our prayers, as sometimes even what we pray is not acceptable to God. According to Romans 8, the Holy Ghost also makes intercession for our prayers. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:27) He takes the crying from our hearts and presents it to God the Father. “Whereof he is able to save them to the uttermost that came unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25) The Lord Jesus Christ not only presents our prayers to God, but in times when we have strayed away from God, Christ intercedes for us before the throne of grace. He presents His nail pierced hands and His wounded side to God. “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:33,34)
In the Gospel of John, chapter 17, we have the great intercessory prayer of the Lord Jesus when He prayed for those who would remain in the world. In like manner, we ought to pray for those who we know in the Lord Jesus Christ. “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks in His name.” (Hebrews 13:15) Remember that this incense went up from the coals of judgment; therefore, when we are praying to God, we should be examining our hearts. Part of prayer is saying in effect, “God show me how I can be more conformed to the Lord Jesus Christ. Put me upon those of coals of judgment that I may offer up that sweet incense to Thee — the sins that are in my life, Lord, use those coals of judgment on the golden altar to reveal them to me, that my prayers might be sweet unto Thee.” Let us offer up the sacrifice of our loves continually to the Lord Jesus Christ and the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” (John 4:23)
When we come to God in the Spirit to worship — remember that we are not only to worship in Spirit but also in truth. Consider the priest of the tabernacle
This article is written by M.C.H.
The Altar of Incense, Part II, Chapter 5 coming soon.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible (KJV)