Key verse Exodus 25:8,9

Tabernacle #8 Golden Altar 1

Key verse Exodus 25:8,9

8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof,

even so shall ye make it.

2Tabernacle #8 Golden Altar

Review



The Altar of Incense Exodus 30:1-10 1.“You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it

of acacia wood. 2 A cubit shall be its length and a cubit its width—it shall be

square—and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it.

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

4 Two gold rings you shall make for it, under the molding on both its sides. You shall place them on its two sides, and they will be holders for the poles with which to bear it.

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


6 And you shall put it before 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.

7 “Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it.

8 And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.

9 You shall not offer strange incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering; nor shall you pour a drink offering on it.

10 And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement upon it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD.”


Exodus 30: 34-3834 And the LORD said to Moses: “Take sweet spices, stacte and

onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense with these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts of each.

35 You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, tempered, pure, and holy.

36 And you shall beat some of it very fine, and put some of it before the Testimony in the tabernacle of meeting where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.

37 But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make any for yourselves, according to its composition. It shall be to you holy for the LORD.

38 Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people.”



Two Altars of the Tabernacle

• Outside in the outer court• Acacia wood

• Covered with brass.• Brazen Altar

• Altar of burnt offering• Place of Sacrifice

• Inside in the Holy Place• Acacia wood

• Covered with gold• Golden Altar• Altar of Incense• Place of worship.


Why not mentioned in Ex 25,26?a) The articles in Ex 25,26 pointed to: God in Christ

coming to His people - display of grace.The articles in Ex 30 – God’s provisions for us

to go to Him – responsive love.b) Ex 28,29 – Appointment, consecration of priests

Until there was a priest to burn incense…c) Last object to reach from the gate – worship is the

highest state to be reached on earth.“Father seeks worshippers – Spirit and truth – John 4.

Went through Samaria to meet one sinner and make her a worshipper!


1. Its Significance2. Its Materials3. Its Dimensions4. Its Decoration5. Its Function6. Its Rings and Staves7. Its Coverings.


1. Its Significancev.1 You shall make an altar to burn incense upon…Before any mention of materials, size or position –

the purpose is mentioned.Gives the Key to its interpretation - Altar speaks of Christ

Incense speaks of His intercession and praises.Mentions immediately after the consecration of Priest –

Portrays the ministry of our Great High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.

Seated – but not inactive – sweet fragrance of His own perfections; petitions & praise of His people.


Position of golden altar – Holy placeChrist gone to appear before God on our behalfCrown of gold round about – Reminds Heb 2:9.Brazen Altar – Christ made sin for us, judgment.Golden Altar – Christ is risen, alive for evermore,

presenting our petitions in all His majesty.Paul’s Thesis in Romans:5 and 8.

Enemies – reconciled to God; How much more being reconciled – saved by His life.

Who shall lay charge against God’s elect?Christ died, risen, makes intercession at God’s right hand.


“Let my prayer be set forth before thee as an incense and the lifting up of mine hands as the evening sacrifice” Ps 141:2

"Having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of saints.” Rev 5:8

"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make

intercession for them." Heb 7:25.Golden Altar foreshadow Christ praying for His people.

Intercession is not for completion of our salvation…“by that one offering He has perfected forever them that are

sanctified.” Heb. 10:14His intercession maintains us through the pilgrimage journey.


Illustration – Num 16 - Korah’s RebellionRejected Aaron as their high priest.

Claimed equal nearness to God for all Israel.Fire came out, consumed 250 men who offered

incense. Gainsaying of Korah (rebellion) – denial of Christ’s

person and sacrificial work.Aaron took censor – put fire from altar – put on incense

– made atonement. He stood between the dead and living.

Picture of Christ interposing on behalf of his people.


Cannot limit the “Incense” to intercession.Includes offering of praises to God.

"In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee" Heb. 2:12"By Him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God

continually." Heb 13:15 He is the One who receives the praises of His people

and presents them to God. "Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house,

an holy priesthood, to offer us spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5 Christ makes our worship acceptable to God.

Therefore the incense has to be burned upon the altar.


2. Its MaterialsAcacia wood - Figure of perfect humanity.

Altar of burnt offering – covered with brass. Indestructible humanity that endure the fire of God’s wrath.

Altar of showbread – covered with gold.Our fellowship with the son of God the bread of life.

Altar of incense – covered, crowned with gold.Christ’s intercession on our praise and prayers.

Not a dead Christ on the cross but a living one received up to glory –

Gives boldness as we bow in his presence.Christ Himself the meeting place between God and His people.


3. Its Dimensions"A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be; and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same“

One commends:“One cubit length – Christ need not repeat His plea – Jn 11:42Tense of the verb in Lk 22:32 – Christ prayed but once for Peter.

Breadth of one cubit – the extend of one body – I pray not for the world – John 17:9.

Two cubits height – Christ presents the praises of both, those on earth and in heaven.

Foursquare – His intercession is scattered abroad to all the four corners of the earth.”

In application to us – intercession be made for all men – all saints.


4. Its Decoration"And thou shall overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and

the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof.”Horn – symbol of power – Habk 3:4

Christ’s intercessory power.Lit. ‘of itself shall be its horns’ –

Jn 17 - person of Christ gives power with God.Three articles of Tabernacle had crown upon it.

Ark of the covenant – crown of the law – magnified – Isa 25:24

Table of showbread – crown of fellowship – our privilege.Golden altar – crown of priesthood – seated on throne.


5. Its function"And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense“ v.7

Fire for incense - off the brazen altar – sin offering consumedIntimate connection with the two altars.Identifies Priest’s service at both altars.

High priest pleads - no blessings for which his blood not shed"I have glorified Thee on the earth; I have finished the work

which Thou gave Me to do“ Jn 17:4 That’s the foundation on which all his pleas are based. ‘Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Thine

altars O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God’ Ps. 84:3.Both altars together - provides rest for the poor, needy soul.


Isaiah’s lips were cleansed on the value of sacrifice. "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either

of them his censer and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the

Lord, which He commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and

they died before the Lord“ Lev 10:1,2.Their fire was not taken from the brazen altar.

Worship offered on another foundation unacceptable.King Uzziah usurped priest’s office – severely punished.None but priests of the seed of Aaron would handle it.


Composition and preparation of the incense.1. It was sweet – Odor exceedingly fragrant. Ex 30:7,34

Acceptability and preciousness of His intercessions.

2. It was pure – nothing of the flesh enters the priestly ministry of our redeemer. V.35.

3. It was most holy – Excellencies of His person. V.36

4. Like weight – equal amount. No grace or attribute predominates in the Lord – perfect balance. Jn 1:14


"And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresses the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lights the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it" (vv. 7, 8).

Maintenance of the lamp inseparably connected with service at the altar.

Reminds – our worship is ever in proportion to the manifestation of the Spirit’s power.

Perpetual incense – Christ is ever before God .Merits of his person and value of his work - continuous.He ever lives to make intercession – eternal security.


"Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt-sacrifice, nor meat-offering; neither shall ye pour

drink-offering thereon" (v. 9).

Levites not to confuse it with the brazen altar.

Instruction for our worship : We should not be pre-occupied with our sins and the sacrifice only.

Lord Jesus Christ Himself and His finished work .His appearing before the presence of God in glory.


6. Its Rings and Staves.Reminds of the provision to be carried in their journeys.

While we are pilgrims today here below,we enjoy Christ’s priestly intercession on high.

Only as we maintain the pilgrim character, we can appropriate and enjoy the blessings the golden altar points to.

"Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we

seek one to come. By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise (the burning of incense) to God

continually, that is, fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name“ - Heb13: 13,15.


7. Its Coverings

"And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of

badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves thereof" (Num. 4:11).

Blue cloth reminds of the present heavenly ministry of Christ.

Badger’s skin reminds that presently this is not made known to the earthly people.


Lesson for Life

• How will you consider your intercessory prayer life in the light of today’s study?

• Do you make time to be there at the golden altar both in the morning and in the evening?

• Will you make a commitment to join with our High Priest daily at the golden altar of incense?


Documents

Key verse Exodus 25:8,9