What was the significance of the altar of incense?

The altar of incense was an important part of the tabernacle and temple worship in ancient Israel. Here is an overview of its significance and meaning according to the Bible:

Purpose and Location

The altar of incense stood in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle and temple (Exodus 30:6). This altar was smaller than the bronze altar of sacrifice which stood outside in the court of the tabernacle.

The purpose of the altar was to burn incense before God as part of the daily worship. God commanded Moses: “You shall make an altar to burn incense upon…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” (Exodus 30:1, 7-8).

So twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, the high priest would burn incense on this altar made of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold (Exodus 30:1-3). The incense itself was a specific mixture of spices and gum resins made according to God’s instructions (Exodus 30:34-38).

Meaning and Symbolism

The incense altar symbolized the prayers and intercession for the people being lifted up to God. David wrote: “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you” (Psalm 141:2). And in Revelation 5:8 the incense is connected to the “prayers of the saints.” The smoke of the incense, and the prayers of God’s people, ascended into His presence.

The incense also signaled atonement for sin. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would burn incense before the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant (Leviticus 16:12-13). This incense offering allowed him to enter into God’s presence to make atonement for his own sins and the sins of the people.

Further, combining the incense with the burnt offerings on the bronze altar outside provided a pleasing aroma before God. The whole tabernacle was filled with the fragrant smoke, signifying the acceptability of the sacrifice and prayers (see Exodus 40:26-27; Numbers 16:46-47).

Access to God’s Presence

The incense altar stood just outside the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence dwelt. Only once a year on the Day of Atonement could the high priest enter the Most Holy Place, and not without a sin offering and burnt incense (Leviticus 16:12-14). The writer of Hebrews explains the significance of this:

“The point of what we are saying is this: we do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man…he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Hebrews 8:1-2; 9:12).

Jesus Christ is now our high priest who has entered into God’s presence in the heavenly tabernacle once for all by the shedding of His own blood for our sins (Hebrews 9:24-26). He is able to make intercession for us before God’s throne of grace (Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:25). Our prayers are like incense offered up to God through our great high priest Jesus Christ.

Old Testament Foreshadow

In the tabernacle and temple, the altar of incense foreshadowed access to God through prayer that would later be fulfilled in Christ. Though the people under the old covenant could not personally enter into God’s presence, the altar of incense represented that access through the high priest’s mediation and intercession.

The book of Hebrews explains that the entire tabernacle system – with its furnishings, ceremonies, and sacrifices – was an earthly copy and shadow of the true, heavenly tabernacle where Christ now ministers on our behalf (Hebrews 8:5). Therefore, understanding the pattern and symbols in the earthly tabernacle helps reveal the reality found in Christ’s superior priestly ministry.

The altar of incense ultimately pointed to Jesus as the mediator through whom we can boldly approach God’s throne to “receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

NT Counterpart

In the New Testament book of Revelation, there is a reference to an altar of incense in heaven. The apostle John sees an angel standing at this golden altar holding a censer full of incense to offer with the prayers of the saints (Revelation 8:3-4). This heavenly altar seems to correspond to the incense altar in the earthly tabernacle.

Some commentators believe this incense altar before God’s throne depicts Christ functioning as high priest, adding His righteousness and merits to our imperfect prayers (see Romans 8:26-27). The incense represents all that Christ has done for us in providing access into God’s holy presence (Hebrews 10:19-22). Our prayers are received because they are offered up to the Father through our advocate Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1).

Controversies About Incense

Since incense was part of the tabernacle/temple worship mandated by God in the Old Testament, why do most churches not use it in their services today? Here are 3 common reasons:

1. Some believe the ceremonial laws about incense were abolished when Christ fulfilled their symbolism. Now that we have direct access to God through Christ, the representative rituals are no longer needed (Hebrews 9:11-14).
2. Throughout history, incense has been associated with pagan worship practices and idolatry. Many Christians today avoid using incense to distance themselves from those connections (Jeremiah 1:16; 44:3).
3. Incense is absent from any descriptions of early church worship in the New Testament. Christians did not seem to carry over its use into their new covenant gatherings.

However, some churches today do include incense as part of their services, both in liturgical Protestant and Catholic/Orthodox traditions. They may argue:

1. Its scent and smoke can create a unique sensory atmosphere for worship.
2. It serves as a physical symbol for prayers ascending to heaven (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8).
3. Its use has ancient historical precedent in temple worship ordained by God.

So there are reasonable debates around the appropriateness of using incense in Christian worship today. There are faithful biblical arguments on both sides.

Lessons for Today

Though Christians may disagree about the use of literal incense in worship services, we can still learn important spiritual truths from the altar of incense in the Bible:

1. God wants us to approach Him regularly with prayers, praise and worship (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
2. We should depend on Jesus as our great high priest; our access to the Father is only through Him (John 14:6).
3. Our offerings, both physical and spiritual, are only acceptable when placed on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice for us.
4. Our prayers are enriched as we offer them by faith, with repentance, sincerity and reverence.
5. We can be confident our prayers are heard by the Father through Jesus’ mediation and advocacy for us (Romans 8:34).
6. Our worship on earth should reflect the magnificent worship continually taking place in heaven (Revelation 4:8-11).

Though the specifics and symbols of worship change between the old and new covenants, these principles remain relevant for our worship today. Jesus has forever opened the way for us to approach God’s throne with prayers of intercession, petitions, thanksgiving and praise (Hebrews 4:16).