"Moreover, you shall make an altar as a place for burning incense; you shall make it of acacia wood.” (v.1) “And thou shall put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.” (v.6)
Incense in Scripture is always a picture of prayer. Here in verse 1 we see that incense was to be burned on the altar because prayer requires sacrifice. When we take the time to pray and intercede for others to God through Christ, our prayers rise as sweet smelling incense to Him. David prayed in Psalm 141:2, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”
Verse 6 describes the exact location where the altar was to be placed and there God would meet with the priest. While this applied to Levite priests in that time under the law, you and I (as His children) can meet with God through His Son at any time and in any place.
And be assured, those prayers will rise to Him.
The Truth: “Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.” (Revelation 8:3-4)
