God's Provision For Intimacy [Exodus 30]

 ²"Its length shall be a cubit, and its width a cubit, it shall be square, and its height shall be two cubits; its horns shall be of one piece with it.

 ³"You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and its sides all around, and its horns; and you shall make a gold molding all around for it.

 ⁴"You shall make two gold rings for it under its molding; you shall make them on its two side walls--on opposite sides--and they shall be holders for poles with which to carry it.

 ⁵"You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

 ⁶"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.

 ⁷"Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims the lamps.

 ⁸"When Aaron trims the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense. There shall be perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.

Exodus chapter 30 is all about the altar of incense. It was a special altar just for the burning of incense. The incense was a special mixture of spices that was to be kept burning all day and night forever. The altar was placed right in front of the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. According to Revelation 5:8, the incense represents the prayers of the saints.

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.

God equates our prayers with a special fragrance. God also prays through us and for us.

Romans 8:26
 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

Romans 8:27
and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.


Romans 8:34
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.