Context No. 2914 of 4322 · Exodus

Exodus 37:25-29: in context

25He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. It was square: its length was a cubit, and its width a cubit. Its height was two cubits. Its horns were of one piece with it. 26He overlaid it with pure gold: its top, its sides around it, and its horns. He made a gold molding around it. 27He made two golden rings for it under its molding crown, on its two ribs, on its two sides, for places for poles with which to carry it. 28He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. 29He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer.

This describes the making of the golden altar of incense, small and square, overlaid with pure gold, with horns of one piece and rings for the carrying poles, along with the holy anointing oil and the pure incense made by the perfumer's art.

The altar of incense stood just before the veil, and the incense that burned on it rose as a picture of prayer ascending to God. Small as it was, it was overlaid with gold and made with the same care as everything else in the sanctuary. Later Scripture makes the meaning explicit: the incense is the prayers of the saints, rising like fragrance before God. Even this modest golden altar teaches something worth holding onto, that our prayers are received by God as something precious, a sweet fragrance, and not as an intrusion he merely tolerates.

Do I believe my prayers rise to God like fragrant incense, welcomed and precious to him, rather than an imposition he puts up with?

Sources

Exodus 37:29: "He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer."
Psalm 141:2: "Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice."
Revelation 8:4: "The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand."