The golden altar: Your prayers are important!

​​Moses was instructed to make the tabernacle after the pattern that he was shown (Exodus 25: 9) in other words, Moses did not just build his own thing.
One section of the tabernacle is described below:

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There is so much detail to the tabernacle that Moses built, but let’s look at a section of the tabernacle from scripture:

Exodus 40: 23 – 27 “23 And he set the bread in order upon it before the Lord; as the Lord had commanded Moses.
 And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.
 And he lighted the lamps before the Lord; as the Lord commanded Moses.
 And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:
 And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the Lord commanded Moses.
 
For the point of emphasis according Exodus 40: 27. “Moses burned sweet incense on the golden altar” 

Now let’s, look at the book of Revelation.
Revelation 8: 2-4
 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
 
The above scripture speaks for itself. Our prayers are so important, they are mixed with incense in heaven upon the golden altar before the throne of God. God’s standard of gold is nothing like ours yet, according to the pattern in heaven, our prayers are presented upon a golden altar.

Looking back at Exodus 40: 25, we see the phrase “sweet incense”, which means that it meant something to the Lord for it to be referred to as “sweet”.

Psalm 141: 2 says “ Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” while  Revelation 8: 3 says: "And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand".

Now let’s look at an account in the book of Genesis:
Genesis 8: 20 - 22
 And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
 
The sweet savour from Noah’s sacrifice caused God to make a promise to mankind. Never  to curse the ground again.

The good news is that our prayers also have odours, Revelation 5: 8 “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.”

 While the above does not say that Noah prayed, he obviously produced a sweet savour.  Amplified version of Genesis 8: 21 reads “21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma [a soothing, satisfying scent] and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intent (strong inclination, desire) of man’s heart is wicked from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.

Our prayers also produce odours, they are important and  very effective. If the Lord finds it fit to have our prayers presented on a golden altar , then what are you waiting for?.

​Bisi Oladipupo