The Altars

inspirations14

Mar 6

(Exodus 37: 25-29) & (Exodus 38:1-7) (ESV) These two pieces of scripture cover the altars of the tabernacle. The first is the altar of incense; the second, the altar of the burnt offering.

The altar of incense, spiritually, is anywhere we pray. The incense represents our prayers. (Rev. 5:8) " And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." (Psalm 142:2) (Rev. 8:3) (Heb. 9:22) says, "Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." Christ's blood purifies us. He is that incense. (Heb. 9:18-28) Christ Jesus is our High Priest, and our mediator before God. (Heb. 8:6) (1Tim 2:5-6) (Heb. 10:11-29)** - This last reference is pretty awesome, and detailed. This is why we pray in Jesus' Name. (Mark 16:7) (John 14:13) ((John 16:26)

The altar of the burnt offering is, I believe, where we lay our burdens, our failures, shortcomings, the whole day, if it was shot full of trouble and toil. We give it all to the LORD, here. According to Church of Jesus Christ study guide, the entire animal was sacrificed on the altar, including its head and entrails. (Leviticus 1) This speaks to us of the greatest commandment: "Love the LORD with all your mind, heart, and soul." The burnt offering represents total surrender and commitment to the LORD. This is what we do when we give up all that stuff to the LORD and let Him handle it. The Israelites sacrificed burnt offerings in the morning and the evening.

I remember when I first started to pray in the morning and ask the LORD for His help with whatever dilemma or problem I was having. I'd given it up to Him the night before, praying for whomever to be forgiven, if I'd been hurt by someone; or confessing my failure, or shortfall, to the LORD. But, things got so much better when I reminded the LORD, and myself, that I needed that help, before I left the house the next day. What comes to mind is that thing where you complain to Dad, and Dad says, "What do you want me to do about it?" Or, better yet, "What are we going to do about it?" Jesus asked someone that. (Mark 10:41) He also asked the man at the pool of Bethesda, if he wanted to get well. (John 5:6) That tells me that God doesn't want to hear me complain or make excuses. He wants me to want to get better, get wherever I want to go, and get there in good shape.

There's a little article on the altar of incense at Got Questions? that might be helpful.

Love you from Café du Mondieu

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