Handfuls Of Incense

by Johnston, Brian, D. | Category: N/a | Dec 2005

When the high priest of Israel went through the Tabernacle veil on the Day of Atonement he did so with two handfuls of incense. Interestingly, David associates prayer with incense: 'May my prayer be counted as incense before You' (Ps.141:2; see also Rev.5:8; 8:3-5). When in the holiest place, the high priest put the incense on the censer to create a fragrant cloud there (Lev.16:12,13). The coals that set the fragrance free had been taken from the outside copper altar. It's only because of Calvary that our prayers and worship can be acceptably fragrant for God. The picture language of the Old Testament even more wonderfully prefigures how the Lord Jesus who died has, in resurrection, entered into the true holy place in heaven (of which that in the Tabernacle was but a copy, Heb.8:5). He has done so in order to gain access for us. God's people are now invited to 'draw near' in prayer (Heb.4:15,16): 'let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.''

The Hebrews letter is chiefly concerned with the 'sanctuary' service of the people of God. That becomes progressively clearer the further we read through it (see 8:2; 9:1; 10:19). The ascending theme of the letter is the collective worship of the people of God, expressed as in New Testament times throughout the various local churches of God.

Referring back to that solemn Day of Atonement, two handfuls of incense, which David in his psalms linked with prayer, were taken right into 'the Holiest of All'. The high priest was acting for the people of God, and not on behalf of an individual. Although individual exercise in prayer is a precious privilege, is there not an indication here that the people of God, when together in prayer, in some sense 'penetrate further'? Isn't this a reason in itself not to forsake the church prayer meeting (Heb.10:25; Acts 2:42)?

Johnston, Brian, D. | Dec 2005
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