At the Golden Alter

There was a sanctuary in the wilderness. In this holy place you could worship God with all your senses. The light of the lampstand reflected the warm golden glow of the wall and by it's light you could also see the embroidered wings above you. You could taste the bread of the Presence and touch the ornate rim of the table. As you neared the holy of holies the sweet smell of incense filled the air with the faint sound of crackling glowing embers beneath it.

Twice daily the priest would go to the Golden Alter and burn incense. The fire for the alter of incense had to come from the alter of sacrifice. This was a reminder that before attempting to approach God in prayer and worship there had to be repentance. The composition of the four sweet spices used for this incense was to be holy to the LORD, this perfume was only to be experienced in this place of worship.

Our sense of smell comes from our olfactory bulb. It is part of the brain's limbic system and is so closely associated with memory and feeling it's sometimes called  the "emotional brain."  "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." (Psalm 141:2) The incense unlocked the emotional brain and the prayers and worship that were presented to a Holy God deeply effected the one who offered them.

The Golden Alter of Incense giving off the odor of sweet perfume in the holy place was a shadow of another alter spoken of in Revelations 8:3,4 "And another angel came and was given much incense to offer with the prayers of the saints on the golden alter before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints rose before God from the hand of the angel." Jesus is our high priest who invites us to draw near to God, since he always lives to make intercession on our behalf.

Father, just as You provided a sanctuary for the children of Israel to worship You in the wilderness I seek sanctuary in my worship of You. The world presses in and I cry out. Let my prayers not simply be words but the deepest plea of my heart and let them be counted as incense before You.