In the days when the Israelites wandered through the wilderness, led by the mighty hand of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, giving him detailed instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings. Among these instructions was the command to build an altar of incense, a holy instrument for worship and communion with the Almighty.
The Lord said to Moses, “You shall make an altar to burn incense upon; it shall be made of acacia wood. Its length shall be a cubit, and its breadth a cubit; it shall be square, and its height shall be two cubits. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and its sides all around, and its horns. And you shall make a molding of gold all around it. And you shall make two golden rings for it under its molding; on its two opposite sides you shall make them, and they shall be holders for poles with which to carry it. You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.”
Moses listened intently, his heart filled with reverence for the Lord’s holiness. He understood that this altar was not merely a piece of furniture but a sacred vessel through which the prayers and worship of the people would ascend to God. The acacia wood, durable and resistant to decay, symbolized the enduring nature of God’s covenant with His people. The pure gold overlay reflected the divine glory and purity of the Lord, who dwells in unapproachable light.
The Lord continued, “And you shall put it in front of the veil that is above the ark of the testimony, in front of the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with you. 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.”
Moses envisioned the scene: the golden altar standing before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the ark of the covenant rested. The fragrant smoke of the incense would rise, symbolizing the prayers of the people ascending to heaven. Aaron, the high priest, would tend to this sacred duty, ensuring that the incense burned continuously, a sweet aroma pleasing to the Lord.
The Lord then gave a solemn warning: “You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it. Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement for it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.”
Moses understood the gravity of this command. The altar of incense was not to be used for any purpose other than what the Lord had ordained. It was a holy instrument, set apart for the worship of the Almighty. The annual atonement with the blood of the sin offering underscored the need for purification and the seriousness of approaching a holy God.
The Lord also instructed Moses regarding the composition of the sacred incense: “Take sweet spices—stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—all of equal weight, and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves; it shall be for you holy to the Lord. Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people.”
Moses marveled at the specificity of the Lord’s instructions. The incense was to be a unique blend, reserved solely for worship in the Tabernacle. Its fragrance was to be a symbol of the people’s devotion and the exclusivity of their relationship with the Lord. To replicate it for personal use would be a grave offense, a violation of the sacred boundary between the holy and the profane.
As Moses descended from Mount Sinai, he carried these instructions in his heart, knowing that every detail was a reflection of God’s holiness and His desire to dwell among His people. He gathered the skilled craftsmen of Israel—Bezalel and Oholiab, filled with the Spirit of God, wisdom, and understanding—and together they began the work of constructing the altar of incense.
The craftsmen selected the finest acacia wood, cutting it to the precise dimensions the Lord had specified. They overlaid the wood with pure gold, hammering it carefully to ensure a flawless finish. The golden rings and poles were crafted with meticulous care, ensuring that the altar could be carried without defiling its holiness. The horns of the altar, symbolizing strength and refuge, were made of one piece with the altar itself, a reminder that the Lord is a stronghold for His people.
When the altar was completed, Moses inspected it and saw that it was made exactly as the Lord had commanded. He placed it in the Holy Place, in front of the veil that concealed the ark of the covenant. The golden altar stood as a testament to the Lord’s presence and His desire to hear the prayers of His people.
Aaron, the high priest, approached the altar with reverence, carrying the sacred incense. He lit the coals and placed the incense upon them, watching as the fragrant smoke rose and filled the Tabernacle. The aroma was sweet and pleasing, a symbol of the people’s prayers ascending to the Lord. Aaron repeated this ritual every morning and evening, ensuring that the incense burned continuously before the Lord.
The Israelites, encamped around the Tabernacle, could see the smoke rising from the altar, a visible reminder of God’s presence among them. They were filled with awe and gratitude, knowing that the Lord had provided a way for them to draw near to Him, despite their sinfulness.
And so, the altar of incense became a central part of Israel’s worship, a holy instrument through which they communed with the Almighty. It stood as a reminder of God’s holiness, His mercy, and His desire to dwell among His people. Through the smoke of the incense, the prayers of the faithful ascended to heaven, and the Lord heard them, for He is a God who listens and responds to those who seek Him with a sincere heart.
