Tabernacle #8 Golden Altar
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Key verse
Exodus 25:8,9
And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may
dwell among them.
9 According to all that I shew thee,
after the pattern of the tabernacle,
and the pattern of all the instruments thereof,
even so shall ye make it.
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Review
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The Altar of Incense Exodus 30:1-10
1.“You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it
of acacia wood.
2 A cubit shall be its length and a cubit its width—it shall be
square—and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall
be of one piece with it.
3 And you shall overlay its top, its sides all around, and its horns
with pure gold; and you shall make for it a molding of gold all
around.
4 Two gold rings you shall make for it, under the molding on both
its sides. You shall place them on its two sides, and they will
be holders for the poles with which to bear it.
5 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with
gold.
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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.
9 You shall not offer strange incense on it, or a burnt offering, or
a grain offering; nor shall you pour a drink offering on it.
10 And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year
with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year
he shall make atonement upon it throughout your
generations. It is most holy to the LORD.”
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Exodus 30: 34-38
34 And
the LORD said to Moses: “Take sweet spices, stacte and
onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense
with these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts of
each.
35 You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to
the art of the perfumer, tempered, pure, and holy.
36 And you shall beat some of it very fine, and put some of it
before the Testimony in the tabernacle of meeting where I will
meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.
37 But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not
make any for yourselves, according to its composition. It shall
be to you holy for the LORD.
38 Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from
his people.”
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Two Altars of the Tabernacle
• Outside in the outer court
• Acacia wood
• Covered with brass.
• Brazen Altar
• Altar of burnt offering
• Place of Sacrifice
• Inside in the Holy Place
• Acacia wood
• Covered with gold
• Golden Altar
• Altar of Incense
• Place of worship.
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Why not mentioned in Ex 25,26?
a) The articles in Ex 25,26 pointed to: God in Christ
coming to His people - display of grace.
The articles in Ex 30 – God’s provisions for us
to go to Him – responsive love.
b) Ex 28,29 – Appointment, consecration of priests
Until there was a priest to burn incense…
c) Last object to reach from the gate – worship is the
highest state to be reached on earth.
“Father seeks worshippers – Spirit and truth – John 4.
Went through Samaria to meet one sinner
and make her a worshipper!
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Its Significance
Its Materials
Its Dimensions
Its Decoration
Its Function
Its Rings and Staves
Its Coverings.
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1. Its Significance
v.1 You shall make an altar to burn incense upon…
Before any mention of materials, size or position –
the purpose is mentioned.
Gives the Key to its interpretation - Altar speaks of Christ
Incense speaks of His intercession and praises.
Mentions immediately after the consecration of Priest –
Portrays the ministry of our
Great High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.
Seated – but not inactive – sweet fragrance of His own
perfections; petitions & praise of His people.
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Position of golden altar – Holy place
Christ gone to appear before God on our behalf
Crown of gold round about – Reminds Heb 2:9.
Brazen Altar – Christ made sin for us, judgment.
Golden Altar – Christ is risen, alive for evermore,
presenting our petitions in all His majesty.
Paul’s Thesis in Romans:5 and 8.
Enemies – reconciled to God; How much more being
reconciled – saved by His life.
Who shall lay charge against God’s elect?
Christ died, risen, makes intercession at God’s right hand.
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“Let my prayer be set forth before thee as an incense and the
lifting up of mine hands as the evening sacrifice” Ps 141:2
"Having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of
incense, which are the prayers of saints.” Rev 5:8
"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that
come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make
intercession for them." Heb 7:25.
Golden Altar foreshadow Christ praying for His people.
Intercession is not for completion of our salvation…
“by that one offering He has perfected forever them that are
sanctified.” Heb. 10:14
His intercession maintains us through the pilgrimage journey.
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Illustration – Num 16 - Korah’s Rebellion
Rejected Aaron as their high priest.
Claimed equal nearness to God for all Israel.
Fire came out, consumed 250 men who offered
incense.
Gainsaying of Korah (rebellion) – denial of Christ’s
person and sacrificial work.
Aaron took censor – put fire from altar – put on incense
– made atonement.
He stood between the dead and living.
Picture of Christ interposing on behalf of his people.
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Cannot limit the “Incense” to intercession.
Includes offering of praises to God.
"In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee" Heb. 2:12
"By Him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God
continually." Heb 13:15
He is the One who receives the praises of His people
and presents them to God.
"Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house,
an holy priesthood, to offer us spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5
Christ makes our worship acceptable to God.
Therefore the incense has to be burned upon the altar.
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2. Its Materials
Acacia wood - Figure of perfect humanity.
Altar of burnt offering – covered with brass.
Indestructible humanity that endure the fire of God’s wrath.
Altar of showbread – covered with gold.
Our fellowship with the son of God the bread of life.
Altar of incense – covered, crowned with gold.
Christ’s intercession on our praise and prayers.
Not a dead Christ on the cross
but a living one received up to glory –
Gives boldness as we bow in his presence.
Christ Himself the meeting place between God and His people.
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3. Its Dimensions
"A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth
thereof; foursquare shall it be; and two cubits shall be the
height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same“
One commends:
“One cubit length – Christ need not repeat His plea – Jn 11:42
Tense of the verb in Lk 22:32 – Christ prayed but once for Peter.
Breadth of one cubit – the extend of one body –
I pray not for the world – John 17:9.
Two cubits height – Christ presents the praises of both, those on
earth and in heaven.
Foursquare – His intercession is scattered abroad to all the four
corners of the earth.”
In application to us – intercession be made for all men – all saints.
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4. Its Decoration
"And thou shall overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and
the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof.”
Horn – symbol of power – Habk 3:4
Christ’s intercessory power.
Lit. ‘of itself shall be its horns’ –
Jn 17 - person of Christ gives power with God.
Three articles of Tabernacle had crown upon it.
Ark of the covenant – crown of the law – magnified – Isa 25:24
Table of showbread – crown of fellowship – our privilege.
Golden altar – crown of priesthood – seated on throne.
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5. Its function
"And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense“ v.7
Fire for incense - off the brazen altar – sin offering consumed
Intimate connection with the two altars.
Identifies Priest’s service at both altars.
High priest pleads - no blessings for which his blood not shed
"I have glorified Thee on the earth; I have finished the work
which Thou gave Me to do“ Jn 17:4
That’s the foundation on which all his pleas are based.
‘Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a
nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Thine
altars O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God’ Ps. 84:3.
Both altars together - provides rest for the poor, needy soul.
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Isaiah’s lips were cleansed on the value of sacrifice.
"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either
of them his censer and put fire therein, and put
incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the
Lord, which He commanded them not. And there
went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and
they died before the Lord“ Lev 10:1,2.
Their fire was not taken from the brazen altar.
Worship offered on another foundation unacceptable.
King Uzziah usurped priest’s office – severely punished.
None but priests of the seed of Aaron would handle it.
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Composition and preparation of the incense.
1. It was sweet – Odor exceedingly fragrant. Ex 30:7,34
Acceptability and preciousness of His intercessions.
2. It was pure – nothing of the flesh enters the priestly
ministry of our redeemer. V.35.
3. It was most holy – Excellencies of His person. V.36
4. Like weight – equal amount. No grace or attribute
predominates in the Lord – perfect balance. Jn 1:14
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"And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every
morning: when he dresses the lamps, he shall burn
incense upon it. And when Aaron lights the lamps at
even, he shall burn incense upon it" (vv. 7, 8).
Maintenance of the lamp inseparably connected with
service at the altar.
Reminds – our worship is ever in proportion to the
manifestation of the Spirit’s power.
Perpetual incense – Christ is ever before God .
Merits of his person and value of his work - continuous.
He ever lives to make intercession – eternal security.
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"Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burntsacrifice, nor meat-offering; neither shall ye pour
drink-offering thereon" (v. 9).
Levites not to confuse it with the brazen altar.
Instruction for our worship : We should not be preoccupied with our sins and the sacrifice only.
Lord Jesus Christ Himself and His finished work .
His appearing before the presence of God in glory.
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6. Its Rings and Staves.
Reminds of the provision to be carried in their journeys.
While we are pilgrims today here below,
we enjoy Christ’s priestly intercession on high.
Only as we maintain the pilgrim character, we can appropriate
and enjoy the blessings the golden altar points to.
"Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing
His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we
seek one to come. By Him therefore let us offer the
sacrifice of praise (the burning of incense) to God
continually, that is, fruit of our lips giving thanks to His
name“ - Heb13: 13,15.
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7. Its Coverings
"And upon the golden altar they shall spread a
cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of
badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves
thereof" (Num. 4:11).
Blue cloth reminds of the present heavenly
ministry of Christ.
Badger’s skin reminds that presently this is not
made known to the earthly people.
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Lesson for Life
• How will you consider your intercessory prayer
life in the light of today’s study?
• Do you make time to be there at the golden altar
both in the morning and in the evening?
• Will you make a commitment to join with our
High Priest daily at the golden altar of incense?
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