Reading Leviticus chapter 16, verses 1 to 13

v12  ...his hands full of sweet incense beaten small

v13  ...he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord

 

When we come to Leviticus chapter 16, we have before us the detailed instructions given to Aaron in relation to the day of atonement. This was a special day and was the only day in the year that the high priest entered in through the veil to the holiest of all. It is not the intention to comment in detail on that special day but just to lift the handfuls as in v12 and think a little about that.

 

You will notice that Aaron had first of all to place the handfuls of incense upon the censer so that when it came into contact with the fire the cloud produced went before him and covered the mercy seat that he die not.

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Question - what does the incense represent?

We read about it in Exodus chapter 30 verses 34 to 38. We notice that it had four ingredients, all the same weight and nothing had to be made like it as it was most holy. The four ingredients were beaten small and blended together.

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Stacte - means "to drop or distil"

It is often used of people speaking, e.g.

• Song 5:13 his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh

• Job 29:22 my speech dropped unto them

• Deut 32:2 my doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass

• The word in John's gospel is found 22 times and words 18 times.

• In John 1:1 we are taught that the Lord Jesus is the Word.

• Luke 4:22 they wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth

• John 7:46 Never man spake like this man

• Prov 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold set in pictures of silver

 

So we see the word is linked with John's gospel.

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Onycha - means "to roar, a lion, the king of the animals"

This links us with Matthew's gospel of the king and opens with the genealogy of the king. Look at the dignity of His walk and conduct even in the most trying of circumstances.

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In Rev chapter 5, the one in the midst of the throne is not only the lamb but in verse 5 He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. See Gen 49:9 where Judah is described as a crouching lion while verse 10 tells us of one who will come indeed a king; our Lord Jesus.

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Galbanum - means "fat"

The fat speaks of energy and is what caused the fire to flame. It was always for God (wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business). The energy is seen in Mark's gospel; straightway (4 times in chapter 1), immediately, forthwith; our Lord Jesus expended Himself every day in the service of God.

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Frankincense - the root word means "white, purity"

The purity of our Lord's perfect humanity is seen in Luke's gospel. This shrub was native to India and Arabia (it came from another land). Its leaves and its branches were used and when incisions were made in its stem it caused the gum to flow. When solid it was not only white but it was glittering and it had an attractiveness. Note that it was pure and was also associated with the meal offering, the offering of firstfruits and the shewbread. It was particularly fragrant when burned.

 

His absolute purity shone in the darkness of his trials and circumstances of life. 

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So we see in the four ingredients a link with the four gospels that together give us a full account of our Lord Jesus.

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We have noticed the use of the incense on the day of atonement but notice also that it had to be burned on the golden altar every morning and every evening as with other things which were necessary every day...

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Incense burned

Prayer, worship and thanksgiving to God every morning and evening. How easy to be negligent in our prayers and thanksgivings.

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Lamb offered

There was a lamb offered every morning and evening. Never let us forget to meditate on the lamb.

 

Lights trimmed

The lights of the lampstand were trimmed every morning and evening. Ps119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my pathway. We need the light of God's word.

 

The incense was burned on the golden altar and CH Mackintosh notes the brazen altar speaks about Christ in the value of His worth and sacrifice while the golden altar is Christ in eth value of His intercession.

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In Rev 8:3-4 we read about the golden altar and much incense which was offered with the prayers of the saints and they ascended up before God. He is our Great High Priest and we come to God through Him. He presences Himself before the face of God for us.

• Eph 2:18 Through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father

• Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. The hymn writer put it nicely; "To all our prayers and praises Christ adds His sweet perfume"

• Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need

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In closing, we notice that the fragrance of the incense would transfer to the priest. Likewise continual, consistent communion in prayer, worship and thanksgiving to God through our Lord Jesus will make us fragrant as well to our God and to others. How vital then it is in these difficult timesto come every morning and evening with our handfuls of incense.

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They say that once a piece of common garden clay,

Such fragrance breathed that from the lily flows,

My secret is but this they heard it say,

I have been near the rose.

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And there are those that bear along with them,

The power with thoughts of Christ, men's hearts to stir,

For having stooped and kissed His garment's hem,

Their garments smell of myrrh.

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And so I pray thee Lord that by thy grace,

The fragrance of thy life may dwell in me,

And as I move about from place to place,

Men's thoughts may turn to thee.

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(Author unknown)

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With continued blessings in the Lord.

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David Lind