Incense Alter & the Anointing Oil
The Altar of Incense: Christ's Eternal Intercession and the Compounded Anointing
In Exodus 30, The altar of incense was made of acacia wood representing humanity of Christ. Covered with gold representing the divinity of Christ. It was taller than the Ark of testimony and table of shew bread implying intercession is preeminent for Jesus lives to make intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25 says, '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.' Hallelujah! The altar of incense is a vivid picture of our Lord's heavenly ministry as our eternal High Priest. Scripture says Jesus is made a High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:6). So in old testament the incense alter was before the veil but in new testament Christ as our High Priest has passed through the veil into the heavenly holy of holies to intercede for us continually. Hence we find the alter of incense in the holy of holies. Hebrews 9:4 Having a golden alter and the Ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant. in Revelations 8 the alter of incence is right in proximity to the throne thus right in the holy of holies. Revelation 8:3-4 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. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
Man cease and fail to pray But Christ never fails
The priests were commanded to minister at the altar of incense both morning and evening, burning incense perpetually before the Lord perpetually, as Exodus 30:7-8 instructs: 'And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.' So our great High Priest, the Lord Jesus, ministers continuously on our behalf. Hebrews 7:25 declares this glorious truth: '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.' Hallelujah! His intercession is not occasional or intermittent—it is ceaseless, eternal, and utterly effective.On the contrary we know that at exile to Babylon the worship in the temple was disturbed since worship elements were taken to Babylon. Scripture lists captured temple worship elements but excludes the golden alter of incense. Howver there is no record of continued ministry on the alter of incense. Thank God there never will be a coup in heaven. Jesus prayer ministry is superior. 2 Chronicles 36:7 And he brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD, and put them in the house of his temple in Babylon.
Christ's Perpetual Intercession
The Lord Jesus Christ lives perpetually to intercede for us. Unlike the Aaronic priests who served in shifts, morning and evening, our Savior's intercession knows no pause, no rest, no interruption. He is able to save us 'to the uttermost'—completely, perfectly, and eternally. This salvation is not merely positional but experiential, working in us moment by moment through His living intercession. His priesthood, being in the order of Melchizedek, is unchangeable and eternal, far superior to the temporary and flawed Aaronic order.
The Failure of the Aaronic Priesthood
The failure of the Aaronic priesthood is tragically evident in the account of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, recorded in Leviticus 10:1-2: 'And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.' God had explicitly commanded in Exodus 30:9: 'Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.' This sobering incident reveals the inadequacy of human priesthood and humanity's inability to approach God according to our own ideas and methods. It points forward to the necessity of a perfect, sinless High Priest—one who would never fail, never offer strange fire, never deviate from the Father's will.
The Holy Anointing Oil
The holy anointing oil, described in Exodus 30:22-25, provides another rich picture of the compounded Christ: 'Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.' This sacred oil was composed of four spices mixed with olive oil, creating a five-part compound. The four spices represent the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ, while the olive oil represents His divinity.
Living by the Anointing
The practical application for us today is clear: we must live by the anointing. We must not attempt to serve God according to our natural wisdom, energy, or methods. We must not offer strange fire—worship, service, or ministry that originates from our flesh rather than from the anointing Spirit within. Instead, we must learn to abide in Christ, to fellowship with Him continually, to be sensitive to the inner anointing that teaches us and guides us into all truth. Our Christian life is not a matter of following external rules but of following the inner anointing of the life-giving Spirit.
Conclusion: Glory to Our Great High Priest
May we be those who daily breathe the incense of Christ's intercession, knowing that He presents us before the Father in all His fragrance and acceptability. May we be those who walk in the reality of the anointing, experiencing the compounded Christ in His death, resurrection, and victory as our daily portion. And may we never presume to approach God or serve God apart from Christ, but always in Him, through Him, and by the power of His indwelling Spirit. Hallelujah for such a Savior! Hallelujah for such an anointing! To Him be glory in the church throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.