Christ in all the scriptures Sweet perfume

 Christ in all the scriptures

Sweet perfume  Exodus 30v34-38

The burning of incense before the Lord took place every evening and every morning.  This amazing ritual was performed continually before the Lord.  Exodus 30v7-8 sums it up perfectly, referring to the golden altar, "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".   Other scriptures confirm this: Leviticus 2v1-2-in this portion it should be noted that while the priests shared in the ingredients of the meal offering, all the frankincense was for God!  Also Leviticus 16v12; 2nd Chronicles 2v4; 13v11.  This is continued in the N/T, some 1500 years later-Luke 1v9; Revelation 4v8, the living creatures before the throne "...rest not day and night, saying Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, which is and which was and which is to come.  These scriptures, and others, inspired the following words in the hymn by John Ellerton:

"The day thou gavest Lord is ended, the darkness falls at thy behest; to thee our morning hymns ascended, Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

We thank thee that thy Church unsleeping, while earth rolls onward into light; through all the world her watch is keeping, and rests not now by day or night.

And o'er each continent and island, the dawn leads on another day; the voice of prayer is never silent, nor dies the strain of praise away.

The sun, that bids us rest, is waking our brethren neath the western sky; and hour by hour fresh lips are making thy wondrous doings heard on high.

So be it Lord thy throne shall never, like earth's proud empires pass away; Thy kingdom stands, and grows forever, till all Thy creatures own thy sway."

In that wonderful Psalm 72, speaking of the kingdom of our Lord, it is recorded, "prayer also shall be made for Him continually; and daily shall He be praised".  The Psalm ends, "His name shall endure forever; His name shall be continued as long as the sun...and blessed be His glorious name forever: and let the whole earth be full of His glory; Amen, and Amen"-v15-19. 

God demanded that perpetual incense be raised in His presence, and it is good for us to understand why.  Why was it so vital that clouds of sweet smelling incense rise always?

The answer is twofold: in short, 1) The stench of sin; 2) The scent of Christ.

The stench of sin   In and around the tabernacle, the stench of dead animals, and collected blood, apart from the usual human smells, must have been awful, and so God decreed powerful incense to rise day and night to compensate.  This is but a faint picture of the stench of sin that rises to God from "dead men walking" on a daily basis.  We, human beings, can scarcely comprehend how loathsome sin is to God.  Here and there, in His word, this comes out.  The proliferation of the word abomination is key.  The word occurs in scripture, in Hebrew and Greek, over 40 times.  The dictionary definition is of "something that causes disgust or loathing"; it is often translated "detestable".   The reality of this world is that every day there rises to God that which is detestable to Him.  The stench of sin permeates the universe, as Job wrote, "...yea, the  heavens are not clean in His sight.  How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?"-Job 15v15.  He will expunge it from the universe, as "nothing that defileth shall enter the heavenly city"-Rev. 21v27.  God hates sin, He hates my sin, He hates your sin, and He is the One who defines it!  He calls it "purifying sores"-Isaiah 1v6; hypocrisy He calls, "smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day"-Isaiah 65v5-this to the most religious people on earth.  He uses leprosy, a contagious disease that isolated the sufferer. as a picture of sin-Matthew chapter 8.  He defines Gentiles (non-Jews) as "dead in trespasses and in sins".  Nothing more putrid than dead bodies, yet these are dead souls walking in sins-Ephesians 2v1-3.  In Matthew 23v27-28, Jesus pronounces on Jewish Pharisees "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity"!  The list of 14 Divine indictments against humanity in Romans 3v9-18 includes the following withering judgments, "Their throat is an open sepulchre" and "The poison of asps is under their lips".  Day after day, the putrid stench of sin rises to God.  It is like the hymnwriter put it, "And every prospect pleases, but only man is vile".  A beautiful world, tarnished by sin, and only God can make all things new.

The scent of Christ   No wonder He demanded that against the loathsome stench of sin, the sweet incense would arise morning and evening to dispel it.  Of course the incense speaks of Christ, for there was only ever one man who brought delight to the heart of God.

John 8v29 "He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him". 

Ephesians 5v2 "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour".

From birth to ascension, Christ the Son of God brought pleasure to His Father-God Himself declared it-Matthew 3v17, after 30 years perfect subjection in the home; Matthew 17v5, after 3+ years of perfect service in public; Romans 3v25-26 after a perfect sacrifice, a declaration of complete satisfaction in His work.  This is the incense, the fragrance that rises to God, that offsets the stench of sin, and allows God to display His benefits to sinners.  Only in Christ can God have direct dealings with men.  The fragrance of that life ascends to Him constantly.  There are four fragrances mentioned: STACTE, ONYCHA, GALBANUM, and FRANKINCENSE.  There is little agreement on what these spices were, but we can be sure they speak of Christ.  Song of Solomon 1v3, "Because of the savour (fragrance) of thy good ointments, thy name is as ointment poured forth..."; Hosea 14v6, "His branches shall spread, and His beauty shall be as the olive tree, and His smell as Lebanon"; 2nd Corinthians 2v14-16, "...the savour (fragrance) of His knowledge"..."we are unto God a sweet savour (fragrance) of Christ"..."a savour (fragrance)) of life unto life...", as opposed to the stench of death.  The hymnwriter...W.C. Martin -"The name of Jesus is so sweet" comes to mind.  We can consider the blending, the beating, and the burning of the incense.

The blending of the incense  Three spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, with pure frankincense, each of equal weight.  These were "tempered" together (salted-is the majority translation).  The salt speaks of Christ's purity and holiness, the total absence of corruption.  Stacte, (literally means "drop") speaks of His passion-free flowing myrrh, the balm of Gilead as the Rabbi's called it.  Myrrh is said to be bitter to the taste, but sweet to the smell, a fitting symbol of the patient sufferings of Christ. Onycha is peeled from shellfish found in the depths of the Red Sea, treated, and emitting a strong odour.  The onycha was thought to be a kind of trap door in shells, claw-like in design to protect the mussels from external attack-source Wikipedia.  It is therefore a symbol of the power of Christ to evade taint from a hostile environment.  Galbanum is a gum resin from trees with a pungent earthy smell.  The root of the word is "Fat" and suggests a fatty composition and smell.  We learn later that in the peace offering, all the fat-the best of the animal, was for God-Leviticus 3v3.  The use of galbanum, despite an earthy smell, enhanced the blending of the other odours.  God accepted an earthy smell, signifying that heaven an earth were reconciled.  Galbanum thus speaks of the peace that Christ made between man and God.  Finally we have the frankincense, the most common of all the spices in the bible, being mentioned over 100 times.  The quality of the frankincense produced white clouds of fragrance, symbolising the pleasure that Christ brought to God.  In the offerings, all the frankincense was for God.   

The beating of the incense  "And thou shalt beat of it very small, and put it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation where I shall meet with you".  The same word appears in 2nd Samuel 23v43 and Psalm 18v42.  In each case it refers to the "small dust of the earth".  thus the word beaten is to pulverize, to grind to powder.  That which is offered in incense is to be ground very small after blending.  This is quite remarkable, applied to Christ.  Absolutely equal with God in every way-John 1v1; 5v18; 14v9; Romans 9v5; Philippians 2v6; Colossians 1v15; Hebrews 1v3; Revelation 1v10, yet He made Himself small, He took the form of a servant, He submitted Himself to God in all things.  He called Himself "a worm and no man"-Psalm 22v6.  He became poor, even though He was exceeding rich.  He became sin, though He knew no sin.  He was the song of the drunkard even though the choirs of heaven honoured Him.  He was like a lonesome pelican in the wilderness, even though the masses will extol Him.  Likewise, when we come in prayer and worship before the Majesty of heaven, we should be humble before Him who is the Blessed One.  If the One who was brought into the dust of the earth, is our Saviour and Lord, how would we come in any other way?

The burning of the incense  The ground powder had to be burned before the Lord.  The coals for burning must only be taken from the brazen altar-Leviticus 16v12-13, "And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil: and he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony that he die not".  Any other source of fire was considered "strange fire", which carried the death penalty.  Later we learn that the sons of Aron, Nadab and Abihu did just that and paid with their lives-Leviticus 10v1-3.  The reason for the severity of the judgment is given in v3, "I will be sanctified in them that come nigh unto me, and before all the people I will be glorified".  The worship of God must be on God's terms if we are to shew proper respect to Him.  The incense is burned to emit the fragrant cloud from the fire of the altar.  Worship is only possible when the wrath of God against sin has been fully satisfied.  God wants heart worship, not just ritual, and we should worship Him in His way, not any way of our own choosing.

There was a restriction on the incense for worship.  The blend of spices was not to be used for personal aggrandisement, only for the glory of God-v37.  We, all of us know the tendency in our hearts, in dealing with these high and holy matters, to use them for personal glory-it is an ever-present danger.  The objective of our worship/service must ever be for His glory, as it says in 1st Peter 4v11, "...that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.  Amen".

Some interesting applications of the incense.  Christ has also inspired His people as incense to God:

Worship from the heart is incense to God-John 12v3, Romans 15v16, Hebrews 13v15; Prayer-Psalm 141v2, Revelation 8v3, 1st Timothy 2v1-3; Giving of material help-Philippians 4v18, Hebrews 13v16; Singing and making melody in the heart-Ephesians 5v20; Walking in light-Ephesians 5v8-10; Walking worthy-Colossians 1v10; Respect to parents-1st Timothy 5v4, Colossians 3v20; love to the brethren-Romans 14v1-18.  These, and many more are like fragrant incense to the Lord.  It is a good study to trace the things that please Him.

Christ in all the scriptures Anointing by the holy oil

 Christ in all the scriptures

Anointing by the holy oil   Exodus 30v22-33

We come now to the third principle of worship, which is the vital role of the Holy Spirit in our worship.  To understand this we must take knowledge of the principle of anointing and its relevance today.  It is important, since every Prophet was anointed into service for God; every King before he accessed the throne; and every Priest as he functioned in holy service.  The anointing is linked with the Holy Spirit of God; in particular King David was anointed, "and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him from that day forward"-1st Samuel 16v23.  Christ, Himself, was anointed for service-Acts 10v38, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, healing all that were oppressed by the devil for God was with Him".  Also we, the believers, are anointed "Ye have an unction (an anointing) from the Holy One, and ye know all things"-1st John 2v20 and v27.   John was writing to all the churches, and included spiritual infants and young and spiritual fathers in his statements, so this applies to all no matter the level of their spiritual growth.  Indeed Paul states that ALL BELIEVERS have the Holy Spirit-Romans 8v9, "But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His".  Also in Ephesians 1v13, he says it is on believing (the construction of the text demands this-not after ye believed, but on believing) ye were sealed by the holy Spirit of promise, the guarantee that bodily we will be changed.  It is obvious, since no one is saved without the action of the Spirit (John 3v5v8).  This anointing of the Spirit takes place at our spiritual birth.  From birth to death or glorification, He will never leave us-John 14v16; He is the Comforter, the One who inspires us, rebukes us, restrains us, refreshes us, consoles us, assists us.  He is with us 24/7, it is as if Jesus Himself is with us at all times.  The subject is huge, and the task for us is to hear Him as He guides us through life.  Never has there been a time like this when ordinary human beings experience the real Divine presence.  The holy anointing oil reveals so much of this truth.  We can study it from three perspectives: COMPOSITION, APPLICATION, LIMITATION.

Composition  Exodus 30v22-25  The ointment was a blend of olive oil with four named spices in exact proportion.  We know that the olive oil is symbolic of the Spirit of the Lord, and reference to a host of scriptures reveal that the spices are symbolic of Christ.  Myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, and cassia, are all traceable throughout scripture and it is evident they refer to Christ.  Reference to the following confirm: Psalm 45v8; Proverbs 7v17; Song of Solomon 1v3; 1v13; 3v6; 4v14; 5v5; 5v13.  In the N/T myrrh is associated with His birth-Matthew 2v11; His death-Mark 15v23; His burial- John 19v39.  So we have here an illustration of the Spirit revealing Christ to us-as it says in John 16v14, "He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you".   It was to be "principal spices"-30v23; the word can be translated finest-only the best will do for God.  The myrrh was to be pure, it means "free flowing", not forced or obtained by incision of the bark, but that which flowed spontaneously.  Apparently this was the best quality myrrh, which is said to be bitter to the taste and sweet to the smell.  The cinnamon and calamus were sweet, and speak of the fragrance of that perfect life.  The cassia has healing and aphrodisiac qualities, which we can readily apply to Christ.  The Spirit of God takes the things of Christ and reveals them to us.  He does so with grace and gentleness and with patience, for we are sometimes hard to teach.  We have human teachers but He is the real teacher-refer 1st John 2v27.  The way it works is this, and I can testify this is how it works for me.  I am doing some bible reading, sometimes without understanding; I listen to a preacher, sometimes good, sometimes not so; I attend a bible discussion, and find plenty of controversy and confusion.  I return home and in the stillness of home the Divine Spirit takes what I have heard and distils it for me.  This may take hours, or maybe even days, or even weeks, but His word inside me always comes, and when it happens like that it is manna from heaven.    I remember my late uncle William Neilly, known for his wise, pithy words, said to me, "The word of the Lord doesn't burst upon us, it dawns upon us"!  Gently, and without any external interference, the Spirit reveals Christ to us through the word, and it is sweet.  It comes to us just like the dawn dispels the darkness, and brings the light, and just as quietly and gently.

Application  Exodus 30v26-30  The holy anointing oil was applied to the entire tabernacle of the congregation; to the ark of the testimony; to the table and vessels; to the lampstand and vessels; to the altar of incense; to the altar of burnt offering and vessels; to the laver and his foot.  Thus they were sanctified for service, and most holy.  Any one who touched them was holy.  Aaron and his sons were anointed to minister to the Lord in the priest's office.  This proclaims the all-pervading presidency of the Holy Spirit in the things of God, and the N/T is replete with this truth.  There is not an aspect in the worship of God where He is not Lord.  A few references will suffice. 

Acts 20v28 He has appointed overseers in the churches-"over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers".  This assumes they are qualified and actively doing the work attached to the calling".   Romans 15v16 Sanctifying the worship of the corporate church.  Romans 8v9v16, confirming individual salvation.  1st Corinthians 2v13, inspiring and energising preachers.  1st Corinthians 3v16 and 6v19, Indwelling individual believers.  1st Corinthians 12 Distributing and exercising the gifts in the churches (note the order in v28).  2nd Corinthians 6v16 and Ephesians 3v16 Strengthening believers in the struggle.  2nd Corinthians 12v14 Fellowship with all the saints.  Galatians 4v6 Intimacy in worship.  Galatians 5v16 and 25 Guiding us into good paths.  Ephesians 1v13 Securing our future.  Ephesians 2v18 Access to the Father.  Revelation 2/3 Instructions to the churches.

Limitation  30v31-33  It is a holy anointing oil for all generations, it is not for common or carnal use.  

"Upon man's flesh it shall not be poured..."  The Spirit and the flesh are contrary the one to the other-    Galatians 5v17.  Symbolically Amalek in the Bible is symbolic of the flesh, and it is said of them, "The Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with  Amalek from generation to generation"-Exodus 17v16.

"Neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy and it shall be holy unto you".  The composition was of the finest materials and design and was not to be copied or given to a stranger.  It was not for commercial use or publication.  The modern trend of desecrating holy things is to be avoided, and God's people can have nothing to do with those who profane the sacred things of God.  In Hebrews 10v29 the text speaks of those who "have counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing (a common thing or profane thing), and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace".  Such people have never been saved.  There are many copycat beliefs and practices out there.

Footnote

The title "Christ", applied to the Lord Jesus, literally means "the anointed One"; and so Christians are "anointed ones".  Let us rejoice and live it!

Christ in all the scriptures Necessity of cleansing

 Christ in all the scriptures 

The necessity of cleansing   Exodus 30v17-21; 38v8; 40v30-32

The words of Jesus to Peter in the upper room come ringing through the centuries "If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me"-John 13v8.  We can return to this later, but in the reading in Exodus there is no possibility of approach to God without cleansing.  There was to be no priestly service without first visiting the laver.  This mandate was on pain of death "...that he die not".  The laver was placed between the altar of sacrifice and the holy place; before serving at the altar of sacrifice, or entering the holy place they must wash from it.  Thus cleanliness is necessary for worship and service to God.  There are two aspects of the cleansing-there is initial cleansing, when Aaron and all the priests were cleansed at their initiation into priestly serve (this is the subject of chapter 29v4).  What we have here is the necessity of ongoing washing from the defilement of the desert.  Jesus distinguished between these two aspects in John 13v10, in the upper room when Peter refused to have his feet washed.  There, He says "He that is washed (louo-washed all over) needeth not save to wash (different word-nipto that is ceremonially wash) his feet, but is clean every whit".  Scripture speaks of both aspects, the initial cleansing at the point of conversion, and the repetitive cleansing in service to God.  Initial cleansing of the soul is referred to in Titus 3v5 where washing is in the context of our salvation-"...according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration...   One of the aspects of sin, according to God's word, is the defiling nature of sin which is offensive to God.  Read Isaiah chapter 1v4-7 and 16-20; also Psalm51v1-10.  In Romans 3v10-12, Paul tabulates the universality of sin affecting every one of humanity; then in v13-18 the totality of sin-we are defiled from head to foot.  He deals with in our initial sanctification, removing us from the filth of sin-1st Peter 1v2 "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God, through  sanctification of the Spirit..."; John 3v5, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

The second aspect of ongoing cleansing is obvious, for we pick up defilement from the world we live in, and in the service of God we need to constantly cleanse ourselves in His service.  This aspect is rarely spoken about for we have rested on our laurels through the perpetual teaching of "easy-believism", that has robbed us of basic practical Christianity.  Scripture abounds with the need to wash ourselves in our worship of God, for our defilement is offensive to Him:

2nd Corinthians 7v1 "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God".

James 4v8 "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purify your hearts ye double minded".

Hebrews 10v22 "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".

Having established the principle of regular washing, we look to the brazen laver for illustration. 

The laver was made of brass (more like bronze or copper, since God did not use alloys). We have seen that brass in scripture symbolises God's disapproval of, and opposition to, sin and rebellion-Leviticus 26v19; Deuteronomy 28v23; Revelation 1v15.  This first observation is that God is opposed to sin in all its forms, no matter who it involves.  His attitude to it never changes.  The apostle John wrote to the churches "These things I write unto you that ye sin not..."  This was written to Christian believers.  Provision has been made for sin and infirmity in regenerate life, we must use it in approach to God..."if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"-1st John 1v9-2v1.  The brass reminds us of His permanent attitude to sin.

The laver was filled with water for washing.  Running water in scripture tends to imply the Holy Spirit of God-John 7v38-39; Isaiah 44v3; Joel 2v28.  Still water speaks of the word of God and its cleansing power-Psalm 119v9; Ephesians 5v26; John 17v17.  Washing is a necessity in association with God-Psalm51v2v9; Isaiah 1v16; Jeremiah 4v14.  Isaiah 52v11 says "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord".   The word of God presents the standard of cleanliness and we should be actively exercised about this matter. 

The material for the laver was made from the looking glasses of the women, in our terms mirrors.  This is stated in Exodus 38v8.  The women must have used burnished bronze for their mirrors and the devoted women contributed them to the tabernacle.  This again points us to the word of God which is described as a mirror-James 1v21-25.  Looking into the "perfect law of liberty|" as a mirror which reflects our state, says James involves not only reading the word but heeding it, allowing the word to change us into more acceptable servants.  It is a beautiful picture which deserves our attention.  Too often we use the word for curiosity or intellect only.  Other times we use it to condemn others.  It is only when we allow it to expose our own faults that we benefit and are transformed.  Paul takes up the theme in 2nd Corinthians 5v18, "But we all with open face, beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord, are changed from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord".  Each time the priests came to the laver, they saw a reflection of themselves, and proceeded to wash.  As the Psalmist said, cleansing our way is by taking heed to the word 119v9.

Unlike most of the other vessels there was no shittim wood in the laver.  There is nothing of humanity, even sanctified humanity in the operation of the laver.  Awareness of the filth of sin, the need of cleansing, and God's permanent attitude toward it, is not of human intellect but wholly of God, and according to His standard.

Again, unlike most of the other vessels there are no dimensions given for the laver.  God's attitude to sin and the need for cleansing on the part of His serving priests, knows no limits. The word of Peter to the serving priesthood of the present time is "Be ye holy; for I am holy"-1st Peter 1v16-a direct quotation from Leviticus 20v26.  In the book of Leviticus, the book dealing with the worship of God's people, the holiness of God is stated over 150 times!

Attention is drawn to the laver and its foot-Exodus 3ov18; 30v28; 35v16; 38v8; 39v9; 40v21; 40v11.  Cleansing at the laver is about regulating our walk, as is taught in Galatians 5v16 and v25.  In Ephesians chapters 4-5, written to all the churches, there is a fivefold reference to Christian walk: 4v1 walk worthy of our calling; 4v17 walk not as other Gentiles in the vanity of their mind; 5v2 walk in love; 5v8 walk as children of light; 5v15 walk circumspectly.  This is a comprehensive description of a normal Christian way of life.  This is only possible by regular visits to the cleansing power of the word-Ephesians 5v26.  It is likely, but not certain, that there was a link between the basin and the foot, the basin being a kind of reservoir, with the foot for washing hands and feet.  If this is so it meant that to wash hands and feet before service they had to bend down.  Humility becomes us as we serve the Lord.

There were no staves or rings to transport the laver, so it could be carried in direct contact.  No human hand was to touch the ark or the table or the altar of incense, or the brazen altar.  However they could touch the laver and they must use it for its cleansing power.

During transportation of the laver there was no covering, whereas every other vessel was covered.  The laver, which represents the holiness of God, must be open to view at all times.  Solemn attention must be given to the importance of cleansing in the work of God.  Also the holiness of God must be proclaimed to the unbelieving world.  

NO PRIESTLY SERVICE COULD BE DONE WITHOUT VISITING THE LAVER. 

Christ in all the scriptures Redemption a requirement for worship

 Christ in all the scriptures

Awareness of redemption  Exodus 30v11-16

We have already seen how the script of the tabernacle portrays God approaching man in chapters 25-27; and the way for man to approach God in chapters 28-30.  Such a high privilege assumes that it is God who sets out the terms of approach.  In these verses we have the first requirement, that those who approach God must be redeemed.  This may seem obvious to all, but it is not so in the present world, nor was it back then.  We hear people say glibly, "I pray every night", when scripture says "The sacrifice of the lawless is an abomination to the Lord"-Proverbs 15v8; again "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination"-Proverbs 28v9; also Psalm 66v18 "If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me".  The only prayer God hears from a sinner is the cry for mercy on repentance, like the cry of the publican in Luke 18v13, "God be merciful to me a sinner".   It's too easy to talk about "our prayers for you", when the same people have rejected salvation.  Again, we constantly witness billboards outside so-called churches, inviting the public to "come and worship with them".  This is a fallacy for only those who are redeemed are called to worship.

"When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them"-30v12.  All of God's people are numbered and all are redeemed.  "The foundation of God standeth sure having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His, and, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity"-2nd Timothy 2v19.  Redemption is the great subject of Exodus, and it focuses on a people who were in slavery in Egypt but who were redeemed (bought back) by blood and by Divine power.  The point here, however is not simply the fact of redemption but their own personal awareness of it, "...then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul"-v12; "This shall they give every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary"-v13; "Every one that passeth among them that are numbered from 20 years old and above shall give an offering unto the Lord"-v14.  "The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls"-v15.  This was a token amount, (very small in value-in modern terms, only a few pounds).  The offering was not based on status or wealth, as in fact the ransom of the soul is priceless-Psalm 49v7-8.  Every one came to God on the same basis, and He accepted them for the silver that represented the true redemption cost.  There is a wonderful thought in Romans 3v24 in this respect...(All sinners understood-v23) "Being justified freely by His grace (it costs us nothing) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (it cost Him everything!)  All we are are sinners in His sight who have come short of His glory, who have been enslaved to indwelling sin, who are now redeemed (bought out of bondage at infinite cost).  Only on this basis can we approach in prayer/worship.  Anything we bring in offering is minute compared to the cost of our redemption.

The purpose of the half shekel offering was to make them aware of the meaning of redemption whereby they were able to worship Him.  When we come, we don't worship out of a sense of our own goodness or abilities.  We come in full assurance but in humility, that only the sacrifice of His majestic person has made this high privilege possible.  This is the first principle of worship, we offer to Him but a little of which He has showered on us.  Do we understand the meaning of redemption?  Do we know that only on redemption ground can any of us approach Him?  Do we come to worship Him out of a sense of our own worthiness, or in the awareness that only because "in Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins"-Ephesians 1v7?

One aspect of redemption that is often missed is that the Redeemer now owns us, "lock, stock, and barrel"!  He owns us individually; Paul to the Corinthians, 1st epistle 6v19-20 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and spirit which are God's"

He owns us corporately  Acts 20 v28 "Take heed unto yourselves and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God which He has purchased with His own blood".  The church does not belong to overseers or deacons or any other group, each church belong to Christ.

He owns all churches universally   Ephesians 1v13-14 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also that after that ye believed (better-having believed), ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory".

The little they were asked to offer went toward the maintenance of the work of the tabernacle-there is a material cost in the work of God.  Redemption ground and all that it means, symbolised by the half shekel offering, is the first principle of worship.  It is the centre and circumference of true worship.  The silver offered was quantified to the last shekel-Exodus 38v25-28, and was used as the foundation for the boards and the pillars; also the tabernacle was surrounded by the silver hooks and chapiters on each external pillar.  The silver which represents redemption is fundamental to the worship of God.

Christ in all the scriptures Principles of worship

 Christ in all the scriptures 

Principles of worship  Exodus 30v11-38

We have been introduced to the place of worship in v1-10; now we come to the principles of worship, of which there are four:

Redemption for atonement-v11-16.  Cleansing at the laver-v17-21.  Anointing with the holy ointment-v22-33.  Preparation of incense for sweet smelling perfume-v34-38.

We will take time to study each of these, but there is a warning attached to each of these that bring to us the reality of the worship of God. 

1)  30v12 "...that there be no plague among them".  2)  30v20 "...that they die not".  3)  30v33 "...shall even be cut off from His people".  4)  30v38 "...shall even be cut off from His people". 

Theses are Divine sanctions imposed on persistent disrespectful behaviour.  There is a solemnity associated with the worship of God.  These are severe and we must, at the outset, take note that God will not be worshipped in any old way.  Reverential fear of the One who has approached us, is the proper attitude as we approach Him.  Modern worship services range from crass dance floor revelling to staid rigid exclusivism.  None of these extremes are worthy of the Lord.  Persistence in such disrespect will court His wrath, as is evident from this first institution of worship.  The sanctions are the plague (bodily illness); sudden death; excommunication.

The bible has much to say about reverence toward God, as we approach Him in service.

Leviticus 19v30 and 26v2, "Ye shall keep my sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord"; Deuteronomy 10v17 "For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons nor taketh reward"; 1st Chronicles 16v25 "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods"; Psalm 47v2 "The Lord most high is terrible (awesome); He is a great King over all the earth"; Psalm 89v7 "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him"; Psalm 111v9-10 "...holy and reverend is His name".  The New Testament reveals the same...there is a preposterous teaching around today, that the God of the Old Testament has changed and is now a God of love and compassion.  Nothing could be more false than this, He never changes, as the following N/T scriptures make clear:

Hebrews 12v25 "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear".  In the epistle which outlines our priestly worship in the present time-1st Peter 1v17 "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear"; 2v17, Honour all, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the King"; 2v18 "Servants, subject to your masters with all fear..."; 3v2, "While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear"; 3v15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear".   Respect to men and reverence to God is the requirement, and especially as we approach God.

Much of what passes for worship today is of that which is acceptable to men.  The N/T emphasis is of that which is acceptable to God-Romans 12v1; 12v2; 14v18; 15v16; 2nd Corinthians 5v9; Ephesians 5v10; Philippians 4v18; Hebrews 13v21.  We cannot worship God in any old way, out of our own concoction or that of other men.  This is made abundantly clear in the chapter before us-30v9; v32-33; v37.  Persistent offenders will suffer loss in a severe way.   Association with God is a sobering, if  blessed experience.  The N/T declares many sanctions, because as Peter said, "Judgment must begin at the house of God"-1st Peter 4v17.  God cannot condone in the Church, what He will condemn in the world.  Our lives, our worship, should be acceptable to Him.

Ananias and Sapphira fell to sudden death-Acts 5v1-10.  The serial fornicator in the church at Corinth was excommunicated-1st Corinthians 5.   Corinthian believers became ill, and some died because of  behaviour in worship[1st Corinthians 11v28-34.   Hymenaeus and Alexander were excommunicated for moral shipwreck-1st Timothy 1v20.   Hymenaeus and Philetus were to be shunned because of doctrinal error-2nd Timothy 2v17-18.  Those who have a form of godliness, without the reality, are to be avoided-2nd Timothy 3v5-7.  Unruly and vain talkers were to be excluded from public speaking-Titus 1v10-11.  The Lord threatened to remove the lampstand from a loveless church-Revelation 2v5.  He threatened illness and death to the church at Thyatira-Revelation 2v21-23.  He warned the church at Sardis to repent or face undefined sanction-Revelation 3v3.  He threatened to disown the church at Laodicea, having temporarily removed His presence among them-Revelation 3v15-20.  

These and other examples declare the solemnity of association with God.  We can next look at the four principles of worship that must be observed by all who will approach Him.

Christ in all the scriptures The Golden Altar

Christ in all the scriptures 

The Golden Altar

Readings: Exodus 30v1-10; 37v25-29; 39v38; 40v26; Leviticus16v12-13; Psalm141v2; Luke 1v8-11; Hebrews 9v3-4; Revelation 5v8; 8v3-4; 9v13.

It is a constant thing of wonder to behold the "flow of scripture", how each consecutive portion flows naturally into the next.  We can trace this pattern as we move into Exodus chapter 30, which opens with the Golden Altar.  In chapter 29 we have the inauguration of the priesthood.  We might well ask, what is the purpose of the priesthood, what is its function in the worship of  God?  The answer comes emphatically in chapter 30v1-10, for the purpose of this Golden Altar is clearly stated throughout scripture; it is the place of prayer, where worship, prayers, supplications, intercessions, rise like sweet incense before God.  We should not be in any doubt that the Golden altar represents the prayers of the saints: Psalm 141v2, "Let my prayer be set before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice"; Luke 1v9-10, "According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.  And the whole multitude were praying without at the time of incense"; Revelation 5v8, "...having every one of them harps and golden vials which are the prayers of the saints"; Revelation 8v3-4, "And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of the saints upon the golden altar which is before the throne.  And the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the saints, ascending up before God out of the angel's hand".   Thus the primary function of the priest is to pray regularly before God.  We can all pray without restriction of time or place, and this is our most valuable contribution.  Not all of us can preach or teach, or oversee, but we can all pray.  Some aspects of this are suggested in the Golden Altar.

The Purpose of the altar    the thought is of acceptability in prayer.  This is stated in v1, "to burn incense thereon".   There are no sacrifices on this altar, only incense which is made by fire for Divine acceptance.  We have already cited the link between incense and prayer.  At the end of chapter 30 the incense is defined and all the ingredients speak of Christ, that which brought pleasure to God.  His life and death emitted a sweet fragrance to God, as opposed to the stench of sin which had marked every other man.  The Song of Solomon states that "His name is as ointment poured forth..."- S. o S. 1v3.  The very mention of His name brings pleasure to God, and for this reason prayer is always linked to His name-John 14v13-14; 15v16; 16v24; Ephesians 5v20; Colossians 3v17.   We have been made clean in His sight, yet we still possess flaws in character and so our prayers can be at times amiss.  James says that sometimes we fail to ask; then again we ask amiss, for selfish reasons.  In our prayers the Holy Spirit takes account of our infirmities in prayer and He perfects the petitions according to the will of God-Romans 8v26-27.  The failings in our prayers are more than perfected when mingled with the incense, symbolic of the perfections of Christ.  The fire to vaporise the incense was taken from the brazen altar which God originally kindled-Leviticus 16v12-14  Thus the fragrance was of Christ, and the acceptability is based on God's appreciation of His sacrifice.

The Pattern of the altar  

Constructed of shittim (acacia) wood, the golden altar represents Christ in perfect humanity. At His incarnation He became a man; in heaven now He is still a man and will be forever-1st Timothy 2v2, "the man Christ Jesus".

It is foursquare, 1 cubit x 1 cubit, suggesting universal benefit to all-1st Timothy 2v1-6-four different types of prayer (v1) and four references to all men-v1, v2, v4, v6.

Two cubits in height, the tallest of the measured vessels.  Paul in 1st Timothy 2v1 said that "first of all" prayer to be made for all men.  That is the primary priestly function of the church in the world is prayer for the needs of all men.

The horns of the altar were of the same material, no doubt they were to hold the burning censors for the incense.  The horns in scripture speak of power as we have seen before.  We should all be persuaded of the power of prayer, the subject of many a booklet, and the greatest power on earth.  The beautiful hymn by John A Wallace presents it well:

"There is an eye that never sleeps beneath the wings of night; there is an ear that never shuts when sink the beams of light.

There is an arm that never tires when human strength gives way; there is a love that never fails when earthly loves decay.

That eye is fixed on seraph throngs that arm upholds the sky; that ear is filled with angel songs that love enthroned on high.

But there's a power that man can wield when mortal aid is vain; that eye that arm, that love to reach, that listening ear to gain/

That power is prayer that soars on high through Jesus to the throne; and moves the hand that moves the world to bring deliverance down."

The altar was overlaid with pure gold.  The man who intercedes for us in heaven is no less than God the Supreme Being.  When we come to the altar we are coming to God Most High, creator, possessor, controller of all heaven and earth.  What a wonderful privilege to be granted audience with God Almighty at all times of the day!  

The Pomp of the altar  There is a crown of gold round about.  Jesus is enthroned at the pinnacle of universal splendour, and we are invited to appear before Him.  He is on the throne of grace at the centre and circumference of  all existence.  He has full authority in all heaven and earth-Matthew 28v18; refer also Hebrews 1v3; 1v13; 8v1; 10v12; 12v2.

The Prospect of the altar  Rings of gold and staves of shittim wood overlaid with gold.  The Israelites were on a journey to the promised land.  We are also on a journey; God is bringing many sons to glory, led by the captain of their salvation-Hebrews 2v10.  This life of communion with God will culminate on everlasting blessing in His presence.

The Position of the altar  v6 says "before the vail...by the ark of testimony...before the mercy seat, where I will meet with thee".  This is the place of intimacy, the private place, the secret place.  Even in a crowd we can make it the secret place, though it is best in what He calls "thy closet, with the door shut"-Matthew 6; it is to speak to God alone, where only He sees and hears us.  It is here we have communion with God, and receive communication from God.  It is nearest to the throne of God, the sanctuary, as other scriptures define it.  Hebrews 7v19, "...a better hope by which we draw nigh unto God; 10v22 "Let us draw near..."; James 4v8, "Draw nigh unto God, and He will draw nigh unto you".  The reality of this is awesome, but we must realise it in practise.  What earthly dignitary would allow you to get so close?

The Perpetuity of the altar  v7-8 Every morning on dressing the lamps; Divine light associated with the incense.  Every evening at the lighting of the lamps.  "A perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations".   Refer; Exodus 27v21; Leviticus 24v1-4; 1st Chronicles 23v13; Luke 1v9-10.  V10, once every year on the day of atonement, shall Aaron sprinkle blood on the horns of the altar.  Every day, once in every year, and  in every generation!  This altar is most holy unto the Lord.  Do we visit it daily??

The secret place, the sacred place, the meeting place with God, the Golden Altar of incense.  This holy exercise is open to us all.

Christ in all the scriptures The inauguration of the priesthood

 Christ in all the scriptures

The inauguration of the Priesthood  Exodus chapter 29

"Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope"-Romans 15v4.

At first reading of this chapter, we cannot but be impressed with the meticulous detail expected by God from the first priestly family.  It would be a fair question to ask, what has any of this to do with the world of 2024, in which, by Divine declaration, there is no more sacrifice or ritual associated with worship?  The answer, of course is in the above quote from the Roman epistle.  The Old Testament is God's picture book to illuminate spiritual truth, and we can apply the principles today.  We have established that all God's people serve Him as priests and there are lessons to be learned in our service from these Old Testament rituals. 

A fair overview of the chapter, gleaned from a number of commentators, which assists our memory and broadens our understanding, is as follows:

29v1-3       THE CALLING OF THE PRIESTHOOD

29v4          THE CLEANSING 0F THE PRIESTHOOD

29v5-9       THE CLOTHING OF THE PRIESTHOOD

29v10-30   THE CONSECRATION OF THE PRIESTHOOD

29v31-37   THE COMMUNION OF THE PRIESTHOOD

29v38-42   THE CONTINUITY OF THE PRIESTHOOD

29v43-46   THE COVENANT OF GOD TO THE PRIESTHOOD

Some points from each of the above will make it easier to track the New Testament equivalent, and so illuminate our service today.

The calling of the priesthood v1-3  People are privileged in life who have a "calling", an occupation which sets them apart from their fellow men.  Verse 1 says this is a call from God to Aaron and his sons "...to minister unto me in the priest's office".   There is no higher calling than this, to serve the Supreme Being in the interests of men.  We must be persuaded of the dignity of our role in life, as at the first mention of priesthood in the bible (Genesis 14v18-19) Melchisedek is the "priest of the most high God...possessor of heaven and earth". No mere mortal could offer you a higher rank!  C H Spurgeon once said of the high calling of the Christian believer, "If God has called you to be a missionary, don't you demote yourself by becoming a king!"  Such is the dignity of our calling.  

They were to take with them animals for sacrifice, and baskets of bread for communion.  It was not the done thing to come empty handed in approaching God, neither should we.  After all He is the God who gives us all things richly.   It is certain that the young bullock, the two rams without blemish, the basket of unleavened bread, the unleavened cakes tempered with oil, and the wafers anointed with oil, all made of wheaten flour, speak of Christ in various aspects.  We can expand on these in later studies; the principle being that what we bring is of Christ.  "Ephesians 5v20 "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"; 1st Peter 2v5 "...an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ".   We have already referred to the calling of God in Peter's writings, and they are relevant again here: a call to holiness 1st Peter 1v15; a call out of darkness into marvellous light-2v9; a call to suffering-2v21; called to a life of blessing-3v9; called to eternal glory-5v10; called to glory and virtue (excellence of living)-2nd Peter 1v3.

The cleansing of the priesthood-v4  Refer also chapter 40v12.  This refers to inaugural cleansing for the office, and further cleansing would be necessary at the laver, while engaging in holy service, which is a later separate study.  While Paul in Titus 3v5 speaks of initial cleansing for the Christian-"the washing of regeneration", Jesus makes a distinction in John 13 between "bathing" and "washing of feet".  He said, "He that is bathed (washed all over) needeth not but to wash his feet, but is clean every whit"-v10.  This answers to the initial cleansing of the priesthood.  Daily cleansing would be required at the laver to remove the defilement of the desert, while engaged in service to God.  

The clothing of the priesthood  v5-9   Chapter 28 spelt out the different clothing required in priestly work.  Now they have to dress themselves in the proper clothing to operate as priests.  It is one thing to have the clothing, which speaks of character; it is another to actually wear it.  This is the constant appeal of the N/T epistles; discard the old (put off), wear the new (put on)-Ephesians 4v22-25 and Colossians 3v8-14.  Peter asks that they be "clothed with humility"-1st Peter 5v5.  Elsewhere scripture speaks of behaviour which becomes those professing Christ-Ephesians 4v1 walking worthy of the calling; Ephesians 5v3; 1st Timothy 2v10, Titus 2v1.  Priestly service requires proper character, and it is within our reach, as we have been supplied with all the resources.

The consecration of the priesthood  v10-37  Consecration, which is the major subject of these verses, simply means to "fill the hands".  A modern equivalent would be "keeping busy", or "fully employed".  These priests were to be occupied in Divine service.  Paul appeals for the same to the Christian churches-1st Corinthians 15v58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord".  It is a fair question for each of us to ask, am I busy, indeed abounding, in the work of the Lord?  Are my hands filled with His service?  

It was true of the early priests, every day they were occupied.  They had to learn the ritual of the sin offering (v10-14); of the burnt offering (v15-18); of the peace offering (v19-22).  Each of these offerings typify different aspects of the death of Christ, the full details of which we can study in Leviticus chapters 1-5.  These were all blood offerings necessary for worship service.  They also had to perform the wave and the heave offerings of grain, which were sweet savour offerings to the Lord (v23-28) and were always offered in conjunction with the blood sacrifices.  In the death of Christ there was always the effect of the blood offering which took away sin; there was also that which brought pleasure to God in the perfection of His suffering.  The meticulous distinction of these various offering reflect the finely detailed aspects of His death.  We can trace these details in the gospels at the outset of the N/T.  It is by marrying the O/T with the N/T we learn the intricacies of His sacrifice.  There are two outstanding features here which summarise the ritual: identification with the blood sacrifice-Aaron and his sons put their hand on the animal (v10, v15, v19; secondly sanctification for service-the horns of the altar was daubed with blood (v15); the priests were daubed from head to foot, the tip of the ear, the right thumb, the big toe, for a whole of body separation to the service of God.  John McArthur, the bible teacher says, "Daubing blood on the right ear, hand and big toe symbolically sanctified the ear to hear the word of God, the hand to do the work of God, and the foot to walk in the way of God", all of which points us to Romans 12v1, "that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service".   Blood was also sprinkled on the garments of Aaron and his sons.  Isaiah 1v6 says that from head to foot, Judah was corrupt; Romans 3v13-18 says that from head to foot, the whole of humanity is corrupt.  Here we have the priesthood from head to foot sanctified, ready for holy service.

The communion of the priesthood  v31-37  "Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram and the bread that is in the basket by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation".  It is important that those who serve God, also commune with God, as their strength for service.  It is recorded that the priests used the skins of animals for clothing and the flesh of animals for food.  They also took for themselves a handful of meal from the grain offering, and the shewbread every seven days.  God does not expect His priests to serve Him without benefit to themselves.  This is a broad biblical principle; whether we think of it for evangelists or teachers, who are fully occupied in service.  The Lord has ordained that evangelists should live of the gospel in the material sense, (1st Corinthians 9v14), and that local teachers who are fully occupied in teaching should be counted worthy of double honour ( material and spiritual-1st Timothy 5v17).  All of us need spiritual refreshment, and we get that from the Lord above through the resident Holy Spirit within.  Christ is the living bread and the water of life for our sustenance, and we need to feed on Him regularly.   An important command in this section is that the priests were to eat of "those things wherewith the atonement was made"-v33, that is those offerings which speak of the various aspects of the death of Christ. We know what food is to our bodies, we need it every day.  Likewise our souls need to be fed, and He is our food.  Sometimes we transgress and "feed on the faults of others", which only panders to our own delusion.  If we feed on Him we "grow in grace", and this is the greatest inspiration.  We commune with Him by reading and meditating on the word which reveals Christ.

The continuity of the priesthood  v38-42   Twice in this section is the thought of the continuity of the priesthood: v38 "Now this is that which thou shalt offer on the altar, two lambs of the first year day by day continually".  Again v42, "This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord".   Note the time markers in the verses 36-42: v36 every day, v37 seven days, v38 two lambs day by day, v39 in the morning...in the evening, v42 throughout your generations.  NOW THAT IS BUSY!

The covenant of the priesthood  v43-46   When we serve God, we are not alone, and He stands by us at all times.  He does not expect us to serve in highest dignity without His support.  He is a covenant-keeping God, and we can depend on Him.  Paul wrote to the Corinthians and some of his opening words were, "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord-1 Cor.1v9.  Here we have the Divine word "I will" repeated many times.  The God who cannot lie makes guarantees to His people, and He will fulfil it according to His promises.  No less than 1535 times does God say "I will" in scripture, 88 times alone in Genesis.  The Gospels record Jesus said it 8 times.  Also in the book there are many "clusters" of promises such as Genesis 12v1-3; here in Exodus 29; Isaiah 41v10; Isaiah 43v2-6, and many more.  No wonder Peter spoke of "exceeding great and precious promises".  God's covenant to the priesthood was manifold.  He promises to meet them; to sanctify the tabernacle and the altar; to sanctify the priests; to dwell among them; to be their God; to demonstrate His power  among them.  Highest service indeed!