Exodus 30:1-9 ESV [1] “You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood. [2] A 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. [3] You 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. [4] And 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. [5] You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. [6] And you shall put it in front of the veil that is above the ark of the testimony, in front of the mercy seat that is above the testimony, where I will meet with you. [7] And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, [8] and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations. [9] You 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.
Sweet smelling Prayer
The priest was to come to the Altar of incense morning and evening to offer burning incense along with prayers for Israel. This ritual was performed to coincide with the offerings on the bronze altar. The perpetual fire that had been lit by God for the burnt offering was to burn continually in the outer court. Coals were taken from it to the Holy Place inside the first compartment of the tabernacle and placed on the Altar of incense. The priest then burned as God prescribed sweet-smelling spices and herbs. The Altar was situated just outside the veil from the mercy seat where God came down to meet with man. The rising smoke from the Altar was going upward to God morning and evening and God came down. Prayers go up…….and God comes down. The pleasing aroma of prayer elicited a response from the God of the universe.
PRAYER SMELLS GOOD TO GOD
Over 40 times the words “sweet-smelling aroma” or “pleasing fragrance ” appear in scripture. With only a few exceptions, they are linked to the words “to God.”
Psalm 141:1-2 ESV [1] O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! [2] Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice
Our prayers go up…….and God comes down. He responds to the sweet aroma of prayer
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Sweet smelling Sacrifice
The Altar of burnt sacrifice also created a pleasing aroma to God. The offering of the innocent animals was performed morning and evening and is a foreshadowing or picture of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus offered himself completely to the Father’s will. He gave himself for the sins of all mankind. The whole burnt offering is a pleasing smell to the Lord.
Leviticus 1:17 ESV [17] He shall tear it open by its wings, but shall not sever it completely. And the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
All of the cooking going on at the bronze Altar was a pleasing aroma to God. Especially, the burning of the fat.
Leviticus 3:16-17 ESV [16] And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the Lord’s. [17] It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.”
Okay, I must admit, being from the South and loving to grill and smoke meat, these verses convict me. The fat has the most flavor! It smells so good as it drips onto the coals. The aroma is most pleasing. No wonder God wants all the fat. But seriously, he does require the best part of the sacrifice. He requires the best from us.
Romans 12:1-2 ESV [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. [2] Do 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.
God loves the smell of a life offered in obedience! You smell good to God when you live this way.
Sweet smelling Gospel
When we share the good news of Jesus with others it smells wonderful to God. He is very pleased as we love him by loving those he loves, the whole world! Serving others as he served. Giving as he gave. Speaking as he spoke. Living the gospel message every day. My son, John, says we need to preach the gospel to ourselves and others.
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 ESV [14] But 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. [15] For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, [16] to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV [1] Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. [2] And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Sweet smelling Worship
Revelation 5:8-9 ESV [8] And when he 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. [9] And 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,
God seeks worshippers. He is worthy. Worship embodies all of our discussion today. Our prayers, obedience, service, love, and praise are all acts of spiritual worship.
WILL WE SMELL GOOD TO GOD TODAY?
