“You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood” (Ex. 30:1).
According to Matthew Henry, the incense altar described in today’s passage typified the mediation of Jesus Christ. The brazen altar in the court was a type of Christ dying on earth, and the golden altar in the sanctuary was a type of Christ interceding in heaven, by virtue of His satisfaction. The court, being outside the Holy of Holies aptly represented earth and the time when Jesus walked among men. The sanctuary, of course, aptly represented heaven, for Jesus ascended there after His resurrection to stand before the throne of God as our advocate. This intercession before the Father is a sweet-smelling savor to our God, just as the incense burned upon the altar was sweet. The prayers of the Son are sweet and precious to the Father, for they are offered according to His divine will and are most holy to God.
It is also significant that this altar had a crown fixed to it, for Christ intercedes not as a servant but as our King. He is our majestic, glorious Lord, who stands on our behalf before the Father because we are unworthy to do so. This should remind us to go before Christ humbly and reverently, for He is our risen Savior and the King of glory. Too often, we present Him with a wish-list, as if He were a servant to do our bidding. Instead, we should approach Him with reverence and respect, for He is our King.
The incense also represented the devotions of the saints, whose prayers were set forth before God as incense (Ps. 141:2). When the priest burnt the incense, the people prayed to signify that prayer is the true incense. This incense was offered daily, morning and evening, and so our prayers should rise regularly to our Father. It is also significant that the lamps remained burning at all times, suggesting that our prayers are illumined by the light of the Word. The reading of Scripture is our duty, and naturally can accompany and inform our prayers and praises. When we speak to God, we need to hear what God says to us, making communion complete. Such devotions are well-pleasing to God, but it is the sacrifice and intercession of Christ that makes them acceptable (Rev. 5:8). Without Christ, we cannot go to the Father in prayer, for His blood alone removes our guilt, and His intercession alone brings us into the presence of the Holy of Holies. If we want to be accepted by God, we need Christ, for He is the only way.
Meditate on Psalm 5 today. Why did David need to pray to God? What did David pray for? What did he mean by “morning by morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation”? What does it take to motivate you to pray? Ask God to help you pray with David’s motives and consistency.