October 30, 2025 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Exodus - The Altar of Incense
Exodus 30:1 And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it. 2 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. 3 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about. 4 And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal. 5 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. 6 And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee. 7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. 8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. 9 Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon. 10 And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD.
We have already read about the table of shewbread of which there were twelve loaves of bread representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The table of shewbread was never to be without bread. Exodus 25:30 And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway. (The twelve tribes were never out of God’s sight nor off His mind.)
We read about the lampstand which was filled with precious oil for the lighting of the inside of the Holy Place. It was tended to both morning and evening. The light was never to go out. Just as Jesus is the light of the world. (We as believers must always shine with the light of the Lord.)
The altar of incense was never to be without a burning incense. Oh, how sweet this altar must have been. Incense was kept burning and was tended to every day as well. Not just any incense could be burnt there. We will read about that later.
As we consider incense, we will see that it represents prayer. King David refers to his prayers as incense before God.
Psalm 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
My dear Christian friend, do you know that your prayers are as a sweet incense to God? During the tribulation, those who trust Christ, their prayers will be offered up with sweet incense before God.
Revelation 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
Incense was taken from the altar and used in judgment upon this world.
Revelation 8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
It was at this very altar of incense that God spoke with Zechariah concerning John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ. It was called the time of prayer.
Luke 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
Oh, my dear Christian friend, do you realize how important your prayers are to God? When you pray, you enter into the throne room of grace before an Holy God and your prayers are sweet to the Lord.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
All those who are born again believers have the glorious privilege of going before the Lord, at the throne of grace, with prayers as sweet incense.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
