Series: Exodus
Title:
Christ in the Golden Altar
Text:
Ex 30:1-10
Date:
May 24, 2020
Place:
SGBC, NJ
Everything
a believer thinks and does is sin. We
recognize our sin when we commit some outward offense. But we forget that even our best thoughts and
deeds are sin—“ALL our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”; “In our
flesh dwells NO good thing.” Oh that
we could look down on our own sin as quickly and readily as we do in others! Without Christ even our prayers are sin.
Proposition:
The only way sinners saved by grace can enter God’s presence in prayer and
acceptance is through Christ our High Priest who ever lives to make
intercession for us—that is what is typified in the golden altar of incense.
Subject:
Christ in the Golden Altar
Exodus
30: 1: And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon:…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.
This
was a different altar we saw before: that altar was brass, this altar gold; that
altar for sacrifice, this altar for burning incense; that altar was in the
courtyard before entering the holy place, this altar was in the holy place before
entering the holiest of holies; the brazen altar typified Christ our Redeemer’s
sacrifice by whose blood we enter into the holy place, the altar of incense typifies Christ our risen High Priest by whose intercession
we enter God’s presence accepted in the holiest of holies.
Divisions:
1) Picture 2) Person 3) Presence 4) Place 5)
Perpetuity 6) Prohibition
THE
PICTURE
Exodus
30: 1: And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon:
The incense pictures Christ’s intercession together
with the prayers of his saints rising up into God’s presence in the true
holiest of holies. We have a scripture to show us that.
Revelation 8: 2: And I saw the seven
angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. 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.” (Re 8:3-4)
We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—why? We see it pictured in the Altar of Incense. The prayers of Christ’s people are offered
unto God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ so that Christ presents them to
God as he intercedes for his people. Therefore,
our prayers rise up to God accepted by the merits of Christ’s sin-atoning
blood. Speaking of this gospel age in
which every true believer prays in the name of Christ our King and Savior, he
said,
Malachi 1:11: For from
the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great
among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my
name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen,
saith the LORD of hosts.
THE
PERSON OF CHRIST
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.
The
altar of incense was made of “shittim wood and gold.” Shittim wood represents Christ’s humanity. It was incorruptible wood. In his humanity, Christ is holy and without
sin, therefore without corruption. Gold
represents Christ’s divinity. Christ is
God. He is the holy and righteous, eternal,
and all-powerful God
As a Man our Lord Jesus was made under the law to
redeem his people from the curse of the law.
As a Man without sin he could willing obey the law. He could willingly take and bear the sins of
his people, willingly shed his precious blood, and die in the place of God’s
elect. Also, as a Man he was touched
with the feeling of our infirmities, yet without sin. Therefore, he is able to comfort us in all
our trials
As God our Lord Jesus Christ is eternal and all
powerful. His divinity made all his
accomplishments eternal: eternal redemption, eternal righteousness, eternal
life.
As both God and Man our Lord Jesus can lay hold of God
and lay hold of his people bringing us together. That is why Paul said,.
1 Timothy 2: 5:
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus;
Brethren, it is Christ being both God and Man that gives
us boldness to come to God in the holiest of holies.
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.
5:1: For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in
things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the
way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
Romans 8:34: Who is he that condemneth? It
is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right
hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Brethren, the
“horns” and the “crown” on this golden altar of incense picture Christ’s power
and Kingship as our resurrected victorious Redeemer in whom we have power with
God. Like as the gold glorified the
shittim wood now our King all Powerful sits at God’s right hand as the
GodMan—in our very nature—glorified!
THE
PRESENCE
Exodus
30: 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.
The
staves were so that they could carry the altar of incense wherever they went—so
it was always present with them. So it
is for every believer. Christ is always
present with us to intercede for us with God in the holiest of holies.
Hebrews 7: 22: By so much was Jesus made a
surety of a better testament. 23: And they truly were many priests, because
they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24: But this man,
because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25: Wherefore he
is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he
ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26: For such an high priest became
us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made
higher than the heavens; 27: Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to
offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this
he did once, when he offered up himself. 28: For the law maketh men high
priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the
law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Brethren, the
intercessions of Christ are ours, in every place or circumstance, and that
continually. — “Lo, I am with you alway”
(Matthew 28:20).
THE
PURPOSE
Exodus
30: 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.
Now
this is where we see the picture really portray Christ our Intercessor. This golden altar of incense was
placed in the holy place before the vail. Picture this. The priest had to come through altar of
incense to enter into the holiest of holies where the ark of the covenant was—the
holiest of holies pictures the very presence of God where Christ is at God’s
right hand.
In the last
chapter, everything took place outside the holy place in the courtyard. We saw how God sanctifies and consecrates his
child so that we have communion with God.
The sin-offering—typified Christ who laid down his life in our
place and put away the sin of his people by his one offering. The burnt-offering—typified Christ’s
obedience on our behalf coming up to God a sweet-smelling Savor making his
people accepted of God. The ram of
consecration—typified Christ’s blood applied through the Holy Spirit
sanctifying us and bringing us into communion with God. The peace offering—typified Christ our
Peace in whom we commune with God our Father.
That offering was made on the brazen altar outside of the holy place in
the courtyard.
So here we
have the altar of incense inside the holy place before the vail. Beyond the vail is the holiest of holies picturing
the presence of God with the ark, our mercy seat—Christ Jesus our
Propitiation—at his right hand. So the
picture is of you and I who Christ has already made priests by Christ’s blood. We have been brought into the holy place into
Christ the Sanctuary. We are now
sanctified, made holy, brought into the holy place in Christ. By Christ’s blood every believer is
now without sin in the holy place.
But God is pictured here beyond the veil in the holiest
of holies—it typifies how that though we are holy in Christ, God is yet in
heaven with Christ at his right hand. But now by Christ our High Priest we have
welcome access into God’s presence in heaven. The altar of incense pictures Christ
making intercession for us bringing our prayers up to God perfect and accepted
where God meets with us in Christ the Mercy Seat.
Hebrews 10:17: And their sins and iniquities will I
remember no more. 18: Now where remission of these is, there is no more
offering for sin. 19: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the
holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20: By a new and living way, which he hath
consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21: And having
an high priest over the house of God; 22: Let us draw near with a true heart in
full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,
and our bodies washed with pure water.
So brethren the altar of incense in the holy place
before the vail pictures Christ’s intercession giving us access into God’s
presence when we pray in his name. Our
Lord Jesus, our great High Priest, not only prays for us, but takes our prayers
and presents them with the incense of His infinite merit before the Father’s
throne causing our prayers to come up to God perfect and accepted.
THE
PERPETUITY
Exodus
30: 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.
The
key here is to see that Aaron the high priest, and every high priest after him,
keep this sweet incense burning every morning and every evening perpetually
before the LORD throughout their generations.
No matter where a sanctified child of God is, Christ is always present
with us. No matter our condition or
circumstance, Christ ever lives to make intercession on our behalf.
Brethren,
we cannot sin away grace. At no time
will even one chosen, redeemed child of God be turned away from the throne of
grace. Christ ever lives to make
intercession for us. There will never be a time that we will not have perpetual
access and acceptance in God’s presence.
But
there have been times when God did not grant access and acceptance. God killed Aarons’ sons. Why? They offered stranger fire. King Uzziah became lifted up in pride and by-passed
the high priest, offering incense himself and God killed him with leprosy. So let’s heed the prohibition
THE
PROHIBITION
Exodus
30: 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.
This
is what God prohibited. No strange fire
could be used. The fire had to come from
the brazen altar where the sin-offering was consumed (Leviticus
16:12-13). That is where Nadab and Abihu
departed from the plain Word of Jehovah.
By it they said that worship may be offered to God on another foundation
than our crucified Christ. So the Lord killed them. He will kill anyone who attempts to worship
him in any way except his prescribed way Christ and him crucified. (Hebrews
9:22).
No
strange incense could be used, only the incense God required—it declares Christ
alone is our High Priest and Intercessor and his intercession alone is accepted
of God.
Exodus 30:34: And the
LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and
galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there
be a like weight: 35: And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection
after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: 36:
And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the
testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee:
it shall be unto you most holy. 37: And as for the perfume which thou shalt
make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it
shall be unto thee holy for the LORD. (38) Whosoever shall make like
unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.”
These
ingredients represent the sweet incense of Christ’s merit and efficacy as our
Redeemer. His Righteousness, his obedience
is made to be his people’s righteousness through faith in him. His blood, his atonement, is how we are
reconciled to God our Father. His advocacy,
his intercession, is our acceptance at God’s throne of grace.
Now, picture Aaron the high priest offering the
incense. He was a figure of our Lord Jesus
Christ in heaven offering up prayer on behalf of those who are His (Hebrews
9:24). Aaron offered incense only for
the children of Israel, and so it is our Lord Jesus said, “I pray not for
the world but for them thou hast given me out of the world.” (John 17:9). The same ones who died ceremonially in the
sacrifice on the brazen altar were included in the prayers of the golden altar—Christ
prays for those for whom he laid down his life and redeemed.
Also,
no burnt offering, with its meat and drink offering could be offered on this
altar. Remember, the burnt sacrifice
with the meat offering and drink offering was a thank offering. They represent spiritual sacrifices that
every believer makes, the calves of our lips in gratitude to God. But those offerings were not to be made on
the altar of incense. Why? Because it is not our spiritual sacrifices
that makes God receive us; it is not our gratitude and praise that makes God
receive us—it is Christ alone with his sin-atoning blood!
In
order to show this once a year Aaron the High Priest was to put the blood of
the sin-offering of atonements upon the horns of the altar of incense. What did it picture? As the incense was burned on that blood-stained
altar it reminded them the one-way God receives us into his presence, the one
way our prayers and thank offerings of praise and gratitude are accepted is by
the horn/power of the sin-atoning blood of Christ Jesus our High Priest by his
one offering. In Hebrews 10, before
telling us we have access into God’s presence, he gave the one reason:
Hebrews 10: 14: For by one offering Christ
hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. 15: Whereof the Holy Ghost
also is a witness to us:…17: [God makes known in our hearts] their sins and
iniquities will I remember no more. 18: Now where remission of these is, there
is no more offering for sin.
Prayer is not an offering for sin. Our thanksgiving is not an offering for sin. Nor are our good works of gratitude an
offering by which we are accepted. Christ
makes them acceptable.
Hebrews 10: 19: Having therefore,
brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20: By a
new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is
to say, his flesh; 21: And having an high priest over the house of God; 22: Let
us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Remember, that sprinkling of our hearts
and washing of our bodies was done in the last chapter in the courtyard at the
brazen altar whereby we were made priests, sanctified, and brought into
communion with God in the holy place. Now
as priests our High Priest offers up incense—continual intercession—giving us
and our prayers acceptance in the God’s holy presence by the continual
intercession of Christ alone. There is no
acceptance by strange incense. There is
no acceptance by our offerings of thanksgiving.
Our acceptance is only by Christ our High Priest interceding on our
behalf through his sin-atoning blood. Christ takes our
persons, our prayers and our performances and presents them before God in the
fragrance of his high priestly character and perfect sacrifice, giving us
perpetual acceptance in all things with God
1 Peter 2: 5: Ye also, as lively stones,
are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Ecclesiastes 9:7: Go
thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God
now accepteth thy works.
Amen!