Exodus Chapter 30 Deep-Dive: Altar of Incense

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Exodus Ch 30:1-16 The Altar of Incense

Ex 30:1 “You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood. 2A cubit shall be its length, and a cubit its breadth. It shall be square, and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. 3You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And you shall make a molding of gold around it. 4And you shall make two golden rings for it. Under its molding on two opposite sides of it you shall make them, and they shall be holders for poles with which to carry it. 5You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 6And you shall put it in front of the veil WHERE THE TABLE OF THE BREAD OF THE PRESENCE AND THE MENORAH WITH 7 FLAMES IS LOCATED 7that is above the ark of the testimony, in front of the mercy seat that is above the testimony, where I will meet with you. 7And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, 8and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations. 9You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it. 10Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.”

HORNS ON THIS ALTAR SIMILAR TO THE MAIN ALTAR … REPRESENTS POWER? … LIKE THE HORNS ON A BULL, HOWEVER, THE LAMPSTAND AND THE TABLE FOR THE BREAD OF THE PRESENCE DON’T HAVE HORNS. INCENSE IS BURNED ON THIS ALTAR DAY AND NIGHT.

THE OFFERING OF INCENSE TO A GOD WAS A COMMON PRACTICE IN THE WORLD-WIDE ANCIENT WORLD. LEV 26:30 GOD SPEAKING A WARNING TO ISRAEL, THROUGH MOSES, ABOUT IDOLATRY: And I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars and cast your dead bodies upon the dead bodies of your idols, and my soul will abhor you. THE ISRAELITES ARE FORBIDDEN TO OFFER ANY INCENSE TO ANY OTHER GOD, OR ANY INCENSE OFFERED BY AN INDIVIDUAL TO YAHWEH – STRANGE INCENSE, AND/OR STRANGE FIRE, BEYOND THIS PRACTICE THAT THE PRIESTS WERE TO FOLLOW IN THE SANCTURARY EVERY DAY.

POSSIBLE MEANINGS OF THE INCENSE:

1. THE SMOKE OR CLOUD OF THE INCENSE COULD REPRESENT THE PILLAR OF CLOUD THAT HAD LED ISRAEL BY DAY UP TO THIS POINT AFTER LEAVING EGYPT … THE PILLAR WILL ALSO CONTINUE AFTER THEY LEAVE SINAI. THIS CLOUD OF INCENSE REPRESENTS THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

Ex 13:21And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

2. PRAYER AS AN OFFERING TO GOD

Rev 5:6And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain (JESUS), with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God (THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH JESUS) sent out into all the earth. 7And he JESUS & THE HOLY SPIRIT went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne YAHWEH. 8And when he JESUS/HOLY SPIRIT had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Ps 141: Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

3. PRAYER AS OPERATING WITH THE WILL OF GOD TO CAUSE/AFFECT CHANGE ON THE EARTH

Rev 8:1 When the Lamb JESUS opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. SILENCE!! …IT’S GONNA GET SERIOUS! 2Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 5Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. THE INCENSE OF GOD COMBINED WITH THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS LEAD TO THE WILL OF GOD BEING CARRIED OUT ON THE EARTH !!!

4. INCENSE TO IDENTIFY THE TABERNACLE AS SACRED SPACE.

THE PEOPLE WHO WERE NEAR THE TABERNACLE WOULD CATCH A WHIFF OF THE PLEASANT FRAGRANT AROMA AND KNOW THAT GOD IS PRESENT. INCENSE OR PERFUME WAS VERY EXPENSIVE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD AND NOT COMMON – IT WAS A SPECIAL TREAT TO SMELL IT.

IT WAS COMMON PRACTICE IN ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS TO OFFER INCENSE TO GOD(S) AND TO REPRESENT SOMETHING AS BEING UNIQUE AND/OR ROYAL BECAUSE IT WAS EXPENSIVE TO MAKE AND WHEN YOU SMELLED IT YOU KNEW SOMETHING SPECIAL, OR SOMEONE SPECIAL, WAS AROUND:

Dan 2:46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.

EACH BELIEVER, INDIVIDUALLY AND CORPORATELY AS THE CHURCH … IS THE TEMPLE OF GOD AND THE FRAGRANCE OF HIS HOLINESS - WE SPREAD THAT FRAGRANCE IN THE WORLD AS WE LIVE OUR LIVES

Mal 1:11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, THROUGH THE CHURCH – INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. THROUGH THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE AND THROUGH US AS INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS

1 Cor 6:19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Rom 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Cor 2:14But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.

INTERESTING POINT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ABOUT THE TEMPLE, THE OFFERING OF INCENSE, JESUS AND HIS EXTENDED FAMILY …

Lk 1:5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. THEY WERE DESCENDED DIRECTLY FROM AARON 6And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. WHO DOES THAT SOUND LIKE? … ABRAHAM & SARAH! according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. HE WAS CHOSEN BY LOT?? IN THE DOING OF HIS PRIESTLY DUTIES, ACCORDING TO TORAH – THE LAW – GIVEN TO MOSES AT SINAIA … ZECHARIAH’S PRAYERS FOR A CHILD WERE ANSWERED WHEN GABRIEL APPEARED TO HIM AS HE WAS FULFILLING HIS PRIESTLY DUTY … 10And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense WHY WERE THERE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE TEMPLE AT THAT TIME? THEY, WERE HOPING TO CATCH A WHIFF OF THAT BEAUTIFUL, ELUSIVE, RARE, EXPENSIVE FRAGRANCE OF GOD, 11And there appeared to him ZECHARIAH an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him THE SIGN OF A GODLY MAN – FEARFUL IN THE FACE OF HOLINESS. 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard – THAT PRAYER JUST SO HAPPENED TO MATCH UP WITH THE WILL OF GOD (MAY YOUR KINGDOM COME AND YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN), and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” 18And Zechariah BEING A TRUE KNUCKLEHEADED ISRAELITE said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” SOUNDS LIKE MOSES 19And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their time.” CONSEQUENCES FOR UNBELIEF OR SPIRITUAL PUSHBACK 21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. EVEN THOUGH ZECHARIAH COULD NO LONGER SPEAK HE CONTINUED TO FULFILL HIS DUTY AS A HUSBAND 24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” REMEMBER, SCRIPTURE SAYS they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord … AND A SIGN OF THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS WAS ELIZABETH’S HUMILITY. THEN, THE ANGEL GABRIEL’S NEXT STOP WAS … 26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

VERY INTERESTING THAT ZECHARIAH & ELIZABETH AND THE CONCEPTION OF ISRAEL’S LAST PROPHET, JOHN THE BAPTIZER, WERE ALL TIED TO THE DAILY OFFERING OF INCENSE IN THE TEMPLE – THE FRAGRANCE OF GOD THAT THE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO ENJOY …

BACK TO EXODUS CH 30 The Census Tax

Ex 30:11The Lord said to Moses, 12“When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the Lord when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. 13Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the Lord. 14Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering. 15The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the Lord’s offering to make atonement for your lives. THIS PROCESS REMINDS THE ISRAELITES THAT THEY ARE SINNERS IN NEED OF ATONEMENT 16You shall take the atonement money from the people of Israel and shall give it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may bring the people of Israel to remembrance before the Lord, so as to make atonement for your lives.” … AND, THE MONEY GIVEN WILL BE USED TO SERVICE THE TENT OF MEETING – THE ITEMS BEING USED TO PROVIDE SPIRITUAL “COVER” OR “COVERING” FOR THE PEOPLE. IF THERE IS NO TENT OF MEETING, NO ALTAR, NO SHOWBREAD, NO MENORAH, NO INCENSE, NO SACRIFICES ACCORDING TO GOD’S GUIDANCE, NO PRIESTHOOD, AND ESPECIALLY, NO ARK WITH THE ATONEMENT LID (MERCY SEAT) … THEN, NO RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. WE HAVE NO TRUE CONCEPT OF THIS IN OUR MODERN CULTURE … THIS HAPPENED NEARLY 3,000 YEARS AGO IN AN ANCIENT CIVILIZATION THAT GOD WAS CREATING OUT OF A SINFUL WORLD JUST A FEW GENERATIONS AFTER HE HAD FLOODED THE EARTH.

BACK TO EXODUS CH 30 – THE CENSUS TAX

COUNTING ONLY MALES 20+ YEARS OLD … REPRESENTING A HOUSEHOLD, BUT ONLY THE MAN IS COUNTED … APPEARS TO BE FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. THE ASSESSMENT/OFFERING OF A HALF-SHECKEL IS NOT TIED TO WEALTH AND IS USED TO CREATE OR SUSTAIN THE TENT OF MEETING. AN OFFERING FOR ATONEMENT … A RANSOM FOR HIS LIFE SO THERE WON’T BE ANY PLAGUE (LIKE EGYPT). SO THE LORD WILL “REMEMBER” HIS PEOPLE. “ATONEMENT” MENTIONED HERE MORE THAN IN ANY OTHER PLACE IN SCRIPTURE … SIN INFECTS AND SPOILS ALL THINGS HUMAN, ONLY GOD CAN “ATONE” FOR SIN, OR “RESET” SACRED SPACE. THIS TAX IS SO THAT GOD WILL REMEMBER THEM MERCIFULLY. THIS TAX “SUPPORTS” THE AREA WHERE ATONEMENT IS MADE – THE SANCTUARY. THIS CENSUS TAX INTERRUPTS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SMELLS…

MORE ON THE CENSUS:

YAHWEH DIRECTED MOSES TO TAKE A CENSUS IN THE SECOND YEAR AFTER ISRAEL HAD LEFT EGYPT. Num 1:1-3 SHORTLY AFTER SINAI

YAHWEH DIRECTED MOSES TO TAKE A SECOND CENSUS FORTY YEARS LATER … AFTER THE KNUCKLEHEAD GENERATION THAT HAD LEFT EGYPT DIED OUT … EVERYONE UNDER 20 YRS OLD AT THE TIME THE SPIES RETURNED FROM THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE REJECTED GOD, MOSES NUMBERED THE SECOND GENERATION IN Num 14

NO OTHER CENSUS IS RECORDED. JOSHUA IS ANOINTED TO LEAD THE SECOND GENERATION INTO THE PROMISED LAND AFTER THE SECOND CENSUS IS TAKEN, THEN YOU HAVE THE TIME OF THE JUDGES AND NO CENSUS IS RECORDED, THEN FIRST SAMUEL … SAMUEL WAS THE LAST JUDGE/FIRST PROPHET, THEN KING SAUL – HE NEVER TOOK A CENSUS, FOLLOWED BY KING DAVID (2 SAM).

KEEP IN MIND THAT UP TO THIS POINT THE ONLY TIME A CENSUS HAD BEEN TAKEN IT HAD BEEN COMMANDED BY GOD, AND, IT’S ASSUMED THAT THE HALF-SHEKEL RANSOM HAD BEEN PAID BY EVERYONE WHO WAS COUNTED.

DAVID’S GREAT SIN … HE TAKES A CENSUS. THIS STORY IS RECORDED IN 2 KINGS AND 1 CHRON, LET’S COMPARE THEM:

2 Sam 24:1 Again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”

KEEP YOUR FINGER ON THAT VERSE, NOW LOOK AT:

1 Chron 21:1 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.

WHAT DO YOU THINK … ? WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS? LET’S FINISH THE STORY IN 1 CHR 21:

1 Chr 2:2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” 3But Joab said, “May the Lord add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord’s servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?” 4But the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem. 5And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword. 6But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king’s command was abhorrent to Joab.

7But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. 8And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” 9And the Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, 10“Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’” 11So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Choose what you will: 12either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” 13Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

14So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. 15And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the Lord saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord (JESUS) was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 17And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father’s house. But do not let the plague be on your people.” 18Now the angel of the Lord (JESUS) had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19So David went up at Gad’s word, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord. 20Now Ornan was threshing wheat. He turned and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 21As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. 22And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.” 23Then Ornan said to David, “Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all.” 24But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 25So David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site. 26And David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. 27Then the Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. 28At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. 29For the tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon, 30but David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord. 1 Chr 2:1Then David said, “Here shall be the house of the Lord God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel.” THAT WAS WHERE THE TEMPLE WAS BUILT AND THE ALTAR WAS LOCATED ...

SO, IN SUMMARY, EACH OF THESE RUN PARALLEL WITH THE OTHER: 1) GOD WAS ANGRY WITH ISRAEL AND INCITED DAVID, 2) SATAN STOOD AGAINST ISRAEL AND INCITED DAVID, 3) DAVID SAID TO JOAB … NUMBER THE PEOPLE. EVEN JOAB KNEW THAT WAS A BAD IDEA … AND DAVID WAS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS SIN BY GOD AND 70,000 MEN DIED BY A PESTILENCE THAT GOD SENT. YIKES!

BACK TO EXODUS CH 30:17

The Bronze Basin

Ex 30:17The Lord said to Moses, 18“You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, 19with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. 20When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering to the Lord, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die. 21They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations.” CONSIDER SHAKING HANDS WITH SOMEONE WHO HAD JUST BUTCHERED AN ANIMAL … OFFERING CLEAN HANDS AND FEET IS A SIGN OF RESPECT.

INTERESTING POINT ABOUT THE BRONZE BASIN: Ex 38:8 He (BEZALEL – THE HEAD CRAFTSMAN) made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.

SO THEY MAY NOT DIE … WASH YOUR FEET (REMEMBER – THEY’RE BAREFOOT) AND HANDS … KEEP YOURSELF CLEAN CEREMONIALLY. WE ARE WASHED BY THE WATER AND THE SPIRIT – BUT THERE’S A THREAT OF DEATH HERE. BEING BAREFOOT ALSO REPRESENTS HUMILITY.

The Anointing Oil and Incense

Ex 30:22The Lord said to Moses, 23“Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon (CINNAMON WAS NOT NATIVE TO THE MIDDLE EAST – IT CAME FROM ASIA !?!) half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane, 24and 500 of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. 25And you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; IT’S GOING TO SMELL REALLY, REALLY GOOD it shall be a holy anointing oil. 26With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, 27and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, 28and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the basin and its stand. 29You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will become holy. 30You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. 31And you shall say to the people of Israel, ‘This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. 32It shall not be poured on the body of an ordinary person, and you shall make no other like it in composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 33Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people.’”

THERE WAS A NEED FOR A PERFUMER – SOMEONE WHO HAD LEARNED THAT SKILL IN EGYPT. ANCIENT MONARCHS ALWAYS HAD PERFUMERS WORKING FOR THEM. BATHING WAS NOT COMMON IN ANCIENT TIMES. PERFUMES WERE ALWAYS EXPENSIVE. CINNAMON NOT FOUND IN THE MIDDLE EAST AT ALL – IT’S FROM THE FAR EAST … THERE’S ALWAYS BEEN A MARKET IN SPICES CONNECTING THE WHOLE WORLD. THE SPICE ROAD CONNECTING EUROPE, ASIA AND AFRICA. THE QUEEN OF SHEBA NOTES THAT SOLOMON HAD SPICES THAT COULDN’T BE FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE – A SIGN OF HIS GREAT WEALTH AND THE BOUNTY AND BLESSING OF GOD.

Incense

Ex 30:34The Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), 35and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt (PRESERVATIVE), pure and holy. 36You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you (LIKE POTPOURI OR SCENTED OIL BUT DIFFERENT FROM THE INCENSE) LOT OF PUNGENT, AROMATIC, PLEASANT SMELLS GOING ON IN THE TENT OF MEETING AND ON THE PRIESTS … NOT BY ACCIDENT OR BY NATURE … ROYALTY HERE, THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS HERE! 37And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord. 38Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people.”

THE PERFUMED ANOINTING OIL AND THE INCENSE WERE BOTH MADE FROM UNIQUE AND HOLY RECIPES THAT WERE NOT TO BE DUPLICATED … THEY WERE TO BE USED ONLY IN THE SERVICE OF THE SANCTUARY AND THE PRIESTHOOD. WHEN PEOPLE SMELLED THEM THEY WERE TO THINK ONLY OF GOD, HIS PRIESTS AND HIS SANCTUARY … HOLY SACRED SPACE.

AND THAT WILL WRAP UP CH 30

 

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