I. Description
A. Acacia wood covered with gold
B. 19 inches square and 3 feet high
C. Rim around outer edge
D. Rings and staves for carrying
E. Special incense made for the purpose (Exodus 30:34-38)
F. Placed before the veil
II. Significance
A. Burning incense (smoke) typifies prayer going up before God
1. Psalm 141:2, “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice”
2. Revelation 5:8, “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”
B. The incense was to be burned morning and evening (verses 7-8)
1. Nehemiah 4:9, “Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.”
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing”
3. Romans 12:12, “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer”
III. Worship
A. Prayer is the most intimate way we enter into God’s presence
B. We are commanded to pray
1. Hebrews 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.
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (above)
3. Colossians 4:2, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”
4. Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
