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.—Exodus 30:6-8
From my study this morning I learned that the alter of incense was the piece of furniture closest to the mercy seat. Incense in Scripture is always a picture of prayer. I think we are never closer to God than when we pray. Perhaps that is the reason why prayer is so hard for me. Satan knows that prayer is where I draw near to God. He knows that prayer is where the stench of sin and unforgiveness are dissipated as the sweet fragrance of Christ envelops me. He knows that prayer is where the power is. This is why he opposes it… vehemently and relentlessly.
Beloved…stay the course and in the grace and power of the Spirit, pray! He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Pray for your enemies…pray for your family and friends. Live your life in an attitude of prayer. Bring every situation and every conversation you have to God in prayer. Let Him go before all your words and all your actions.
The altar of incense was a sweet smelling place. As you pray then, there will be a sweetness about you. Your heart and your mind will be focused on those things that are above. You will desire what God desires. Oh, worship God in the beauty of holiness and allow the sweet fragrance of Christ to cover and permeate every aspect of your heart and your life.
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice,—Psalm 141:2
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.—2 Corinthians 2:14-17
17 Unless the LORD had been my help,
My soul would soon have settled in silence.
18 If I say, "My foot slips,"
Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.
19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.—Psalm 94:17-19
