227
226 The T abernaclt "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name" (Heb. 13: 15). From Luke 1:8-10 it seems clear that the time of the burning of incense was the time of prayer. Zacharias was a priest; and as he ministered before the golden altar, the Angel Gabriel appeared to him to tell him that he and Elizabeth were to be the parents of John, whom we know as John the Baptist. "And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense." Certain it is chat God delights to have His people pray to Him. Every devout Christian is familiar with many New Testament passages which bid us pray, and with many verses which link prayer with praise. \'fe quote just two here: "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands" (I Tim. 2: 8) . "Be careful (i.e., 'anxious') for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanks- giving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6, 7). As the sweet incense that went up "before the Lord" was fragrant unto Him, even so the prayers and praise of His saints are sweet to His ear. Accepted and answered on the basis of the atoning work of our Great High Priest they become a vital part of our worship.
The Tabernacle
"Oh that men would praise the Lord for ~s good- ness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psalm 107:8). The Angel before the Golden Altar in Heaven Is ChriS t - Our Intercessor before the Throne of God A few moments ago, in giving the Scripture to show that incense is a symbol of prayer, we quoted Rev. 8:3, where an angel in heaven is seen with "muc~ incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all samts upon the golden altar which was before the throne." We read on, a nd in the following verse we note these added words, "And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand" (Rev. 8:4). The Angel here is none other than our Lord_ Jes~s, the Great High Priest, presenting the prayers of HlS saints. to the Father, prayers made acceptable on the basis of faith in His shed blood. The "much incense" of verse three can be nothing other than Christ's own intercession; and it is offered "with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar" before the throne. He Himself "added to the pray- ers of all saints by his own merit." It was only Aaron who offered the sweet incense; and he was a type of Christ, our ministering Priest. The sa~c- tuary in the wilderness was the appointed place _of worship; and to heaven itself we go in prayer and praise, through the merit of our Great High Priest. There was a thick veil between Aaron and the Shekinah Glory as he stood before t:be altar of incense; but there is no veil between our Lord and us, as we meet Him at "the throne of grace." At ~ny t:une, anywhere, as we work or rest or play, we enter ~nto His presence instantly, by faith, through prayer-possibly
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