Exodus 30:1–10 “The Fragrance Offered to God”

Exodus 30:1-10 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• You’re Worthy of It All
• JESUS CULTURE – Set A Fire
• Here’s My Heart Lord – Lauren Daigle

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• Give God Your Best | Sunday School lesson for kids
• Your Power Will Pull Us Through | Rocky Railway VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Great Things | Hometown Nazareth HLA | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Doxology | Cross Culture Thailand VBS | Outback Rock VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth arelocated in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

One of the priest’s important duties is to burn incense every morning and evening. The altar of incense is to be made of acacia wood (v.1). It should be square in shape, with horns on each of its four corners. The altar is then to be overlaid with pure gold, with a gold molding around the edge (vv.2–3). Two gold rings are to be made and attached below the molding on opposite sides, so that poles can be inserted for carrying the altar (v.4). The poles must also be made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold (v.5).

The altar of incense is to be placed right in front of the curtain that separates the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place, directly in front of the veil (v.6). Aaron is to burn incense on it every morning and every evening (vv.7–8). No unauthorized incense is to be used on it, nor are burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings to be placed on it (v.9).

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Aaron is to perform the atonement ritual and apply the blood of the sin offering to the horns of the altar in order to purify it (v.10). Because the altar of incense symbolizes the people of Israel, it must also be atoned for when the people are atoned for.

Meditation:

The incense burned on the altar of incense represents the prayers and devotion of the people of Israel lifted up to God. The priest was responsible for tending both the lamps and the incense every morning and evening. The lampstand’s light symbolized God’s continuous presence with Israel, while the incense symbolized Israel’s continuous offering of devotion to God. Every item in the tabernacle and its arrangement served as a model of the eternal kingdom of God. The Ark of the Covenant symbolized God’s throne; the table with the bread of the Presence symbolized the eternal feast enjoyed in God’s kingdom; and the altar of incense symbolized the prayers and praises lifted up to God.

While witnessing the kingdom of God, the Apostle John saw the Lamb open the seventh seal. At that moment, an angel holding a golden censer stood before the altar. The angel added incense to the prayers of all the saints, which had been collected in a bowl. Then, “the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand” (Revelation 8:4). The altar of incense in the sanctuary is a visual representation of this heavenly scene. As the priest offered incense at the altar, he likely prayed that the prayers of the people of Israel would rise to God as a pleasing fragrance. He probably prayed that their whole lives would become living sacrifices that bring joy to God.

Thinking about how the prayers I offer now are lifted up to the kingdom of God—and how an angel gathers them in a golden bowl and adds incense to present them to God—fills my heart with awe and wonder. If not even one of my prayers falls to the ground but is treated with such reverence, I must pray more sincerely, more faithfully, and rightly. If this is true, my prayers—along with the meditations of my heart, the words of my mouth, and the actions of my hands and feet—will become a fragrant offering lifted up to God. I give thanks to the Lord who has led me into this mysterious and sacred reality.

Prayer:

Lord God, Master of the universe—how could creatures like us mean anything to You, that You would listen to our prayers and even take delight in them? As I think on this, I am filled with awe and trembling, covering my mouth in reverence. I will pray more carefully, more sincerely. Lord, help me. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God loves to receive our prayers like sweet-smelling incense. Just like the priest offered incense every morning and evening, we are invited to offer our prayers and hearts to God each day. Every prayer, even from a child, is precious to Him and rises up like a beautiful fragrance.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • What do you think prayers smell like to God?
  • Why do you think God enjoys hearing our prayers?
  • When is a time during the day when you could talk to God like the priest did?
    
• For Youth
  • Revelation 8:4 says that our prayers rise to God with incense—how does that image change how you view prayer?
  • What makes a prayer “sincere” or “true”? Can short or simple prayers still be powerful?
  • If your life was a “fragrant offering” to God, what would that look like in your everyday actions at home or school?