Exodus Chapter 30 describes several more important and highly symbolic items used in the worship of God. “Make an altar for burning incense… acacia wood…covered in pure gold“; like the ark, it had rings and poles for carrying. It was to be placed just outside the Most Holy Place, “in front of the curtain that is before the ark of the covenant“. And we are told, “Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning… at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord.” Revelation 5:8 describes, “golden bowls of incense which are the prayers of the saints“. How cool, our prayers are a sweet smell before God, and we are to pray regularly. When we come before God in prayer, it is never an interruption, but to His delight. One interesting note, later in the chapter after giving the ingredients for making this holy incense, we are told it is to be “pure and sacred” and “do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves- consider it holy to the Lord“. We are also told, “do not offer any other incense on this altar“. Sanitized and non-offensive prayers to some “higher power” are an offense to God. When we pray, we are to pray to God Almighty acknowledging that we have access only the authority of Jesus Christ our Savior.
We are also told that the priests are to take “atonement money” from each person over twenty one years old. Each individual is to pay the same amount. This “flat tax” reminds us that all of us are equally precious in God’s sight- yet all are equally guilty of sin and all must be redeemed at the same price. Remember, numbering the people was prohibited because if a king counts his people, it represents ownership and the Israelites belong to God. This atonement money was a way of God counting His people and the priests were to “use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting“. As believers, our atonement has been paid. In Matthew 10:8 Jesus tells His Apostles, “Freely you received, freely give“, and that should be our attitude as well, we are to give out of our thankful heart.
The chapter also mentions the “Bronze basin… for washing… place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar… Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet in it whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting… so that they will not die“. Entering the Holy Place without first washing was deadly serious, these priests understood that Holy God and sinful man cannot dwell together. In John 13:10, Jesus tells Peter, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me“. Our own efforts to “get right with God” are futile. It is only by accepting God’s forgiveness through Christ that we can be made clean. And finally the priests are to make “a sacred anointing oil” to be used to consecrate everything to God. Again they are warned not to make any imitations of the genuine article, “whoever makes perfume like it or puts it on… must be cut off from his people“. Throughout the Bible, oil is a symbol of God’s Holy Spirit. Today, many things are done under the pretense of being lead by the Holy Spirit, but we must use discernment to know that God does not disagree with Himself. When things are done that are contrary to God’s Word, it is not the work of God’s Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:1 urges us to “test the Spirits to see weather they are from God; because many false prophets have out into the world“. As you lift up your prayers, may you have a fresh anointing of God’s Holy Spirit today.