Exodus 30:1-10

Incense before the LORD

Read the passage

1“You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense.

2It is to be square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns must be of one piece.

3Overlay with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns, and make a molding of gold around it.

4And make two gold rings below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it.

5Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

6Place the altar in front of the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony—before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony—where I will meet with you.

7And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps.

8When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come.

9On this altar you must not offer unauthorized incense or a burnt offering or grain offering; nor are you to pour a drink offering on it.

10Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he shall make atonement on it annually with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. The altar is most holy to the LORD.”

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

The incense altar is made of acacia wood covered with gold and placed in front of the veil, near the ark and mercy seat. Aaron must burn fragrant incense on it when he tends the lamps each morning and at twilight.

This altar has a particular use. No unauthorized incense, burnt offering, grain offering, or drink offering may be placed on it. Even something commanded elsewhere in worship does not belong here. God determines how each part of the sanctuary is to serve Him.

Once a year, Aaron must make atonement on the altar's horns with blood from the sin offering of atonement. The beautiful fragrance does not remove the need for cleansing. This most holy altar belongs within God's provision for a sinful people to approach Him.

Psalm 141 later compares prayer to incense rising before God. That gives us a biblical way to connect this reading with prayer, while remembering that Exodus itself is giving instructions for actual incense and an actual altar.

Questions

1 Where does God tell Moses to place the incense altar?

AnswerIn front of the veil before the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat. Aaron will burn incense there morning and evening as he tends the lamps.

2 May Aaron use this altar for any offering he chooses?

AnswerNo. God forbids unauthorized incense and also burnt, grain, and drink offerings on it. The altar is set apart for the purpose God specifies.

3 What must happen on its horns once a year?

AnswerAaron must make atonement with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. Its place in holy service does not remove the need for this cleansing.

4 How might the prayer in Psalm 141 help us pray today?

AnswerThe psalmist asks God to receive his prayer like incense. We can ask God to hear us and offer our praise or need sincerely, trusting Him rather than the elegance of our words.

What This Means for Us

Prayer is something we bring before God, not a way to manage Him. If all you can say today is a simple request for help, say it honestly. If there is something good to thank Him for, name it.

The incense altar reminds us that worship belongs to the LORD. We receive His welcome with gratitude and let His word guide our approach.

Prayer

We pray: God who hears prayer, draw our household back to You morning and evening. Keep our prayers reverent rather than manipulative, and make our ordinary attention to You sincere and steady. Amen.

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