S168P1 – Fragrant offerings: the altar of incense
Exo. 30:1,7-8
You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood. And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations.
The basic principle behind aromatherapy is that we can be moved by fragrances. Some scents will serve to calm the anxious or nervous person. Other scents will bring focus to the one who cannot think clearly or concentrate easily. Even if we do not agree with all the theories which make up this practice, each of us has been moved by an aroma. Perhaps the smell of a certain food brings the memory of a place or experience. Maybe a perfume reminds you of a person. The point is that the aromas serve a purpose, and it is no different with this altar of incense. The fragrance of the incense, which has been interpreted differently by different people, has as its purpose to move and please God.
Some have interpreted the smoke of this incense to be the prayers of God’s people rising day and night to the heavens. These prayers would include praise and worship of the Lord as well as petitions for help. That is what prayer is, making confessions and asking questions. If we hold this perspective, then we should be focusing on our regular prayer lives. We should want to be sending that fragrance up to the heavens. Another interpretation is that the smoke from this incense represents the prayers of Jesus to the Father. It is a picture of his intercession on our behalf, which would please the Father. These words of Jesus would follow the same model of prayer, glorifying God while also making petitions for us.
Whichever metaphor we think fits, or even if we subscribe to both options, the end result is the same. The purpose of these prayers is to move and please God. Our confessions about who He is show our faith in those truths, and our requests for him to intercede express our faith in his answering our prayers. The prayers of Christ illustrate the same faith and dependence by the Son toward the Father. It is through prayer that we move God, and we have the opportunity to do that day and night. For God, it is never a bother but a sweet and pleasing aroma. Father, give us the desire to please You by remaining in communion with You through prayer, interceding for your Church day and night.