O Altar, Altar!!

Exodus  30:1  And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it. 

Praise the Lord!!

Today we will meditate upon the incense. The most important part of the tabernacle. Its importance is shown in God's jealousy that Israel offered strange incense to other gods.

What is an incense?

Psalms  22:3  But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
 
Incense in the old testament were sweet smelling substance which was offered after the lamps were lit by the chief priest.

Today incense are prayers and praise that you offer to the Lord. Lord dwells in the praise of his people.

Exodus  30:7  And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.  

Every Morning as we offer praise and pray to our Lord Jesus. He comes in midst of us and sanctions our petitions.

Psalms  92:2  To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,

Every morning we must remember the blessings and remind him the favour that he did to us.

Lord is particularly concerned when his children offer strange incense.

What is a strange incense

Exodus  30:9  Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.  

Isaiah  1:13  Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.  

Strange incense are:

1. Prayers which are not directed to Jesus.
2. Prayers which are self centered.
3. Prayers which seek harm to others.

King David understood the importance of incense and so he write such.

Psalms  141:2  Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 

Notice how in Malachi wanted all should offer prayers to him and him alone.

Malachi  1:11  For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.  

Revelation  8:4  And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Saints, we are living in end times, Lord Jesus will soon come to judge this world.

Pray so that you may not fall into temptation.

God bless