The Days Before Deodorant

Exodus 30: 1-10

So, they are to make another altar, primarily for the burning of incense. It's to be square about 3 feet high and a foot and a half long and wide and it will be smelling good- certainly better than other altars that became home to dead animals and splattering blood. This altar will have plenty of gold- a layer on top, and the sides and the horns- as well as gold moulding around it. Rings for the carrying pole are also to be gold. oh yeah- and the poles of acacia wood? Gold covered. This altar is to go in front of the curtain shielding the Testimony.

Aaron has to keep the fire burning- he's to burn "fragrant incense" every morning when he tends the lamps- and again at twilight. Incense is to burn for generations to come. No other offering other than an annual blood offering is to happen on this altar. No other incense, no burnt offering, no grain offering, nothing- just an annual blood offering made from the atoning sin offering on the horns. Moses says "it is most holy to the LORD."

At first I thought this was a way for God to signify the importance of His testimony. The tablets are here- and I'll be here- let's keep it smelling good and give it the proper reverance. But I don't think that's quite it. And I don't think the reverence shown to the testimony would carry over very well to our day and time- I hope not, I recently found my bible buried under the passenger seat of my car- and some time back Jana accidentally dropped my bible (different copy) in a toilet. It wasn't commentary either time- and I don't think that God's emphasis is on the shape of or the care we give to the overpriced leather-bound tomes the folks at Zondervan capitalize on.

But maybe it does say something about the worth God gives the time spent in communion with His people. Maybe it's not so much about the tablets as it is about the time. I'm going to be with you here- let's make it special. The same way the time we spend with Him now, in worship, in prayer, are special. I try to avoid a lot of animal sacrifices in those contexts too.

While those may be part of the picture, ultimately, I think this is a statement about how much God values the sacrificed. Once a year this holy sin offering is left on this altar- and it's important enough that I don't want anything else to dilute it the least bit- it is sacred to me...because you are important to Me- and this offering brings you closer to Me. It bridges the gap your sin has caused.

And I think it points to the value of Christ and His sacrifice. This pure lamb, My son, takes the place of this annual offering- and realize how much I must love you to give you so much.