Fragrant Incense in the Bible

Fragrant incense holds significant symbolic and ritualistic importance throughout the Bible, particularly in the context of worship and prayer. In the Old Testament, incense is often associated with the tabernacle and temple services, serving as a tangible representation of the prayers of the faithful ascending to God.

Old Testament Usage

The use of incense is first detailed in the instructions given to Moses for the construction of the tabernacle. In Exodus 30:34-38, God commands Moses to make a sacred incense blend, composed of specific spices: "Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal measures." This incense was to be burned on the altar of incense, which stood before the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Exodus 30:6). The burning of incense was a daily ritual, performed by the priests as part of the morning and evening sacrifices (Exodus 30:7-8).

The incense altar and its offerings were considered holy, and the incense itself was not to be used for any common purpose. The sacredness of this incense is underscored by the severe penalty for making incense for personal use, as stated in Exodus 30:37-38: "You must not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; you are to regard it as holy to the LORD. Anyone who makes something like it to enjoy its fragrance shall be cut off from his people."

Symbolism of Incense

In the biblical narrative, incense symbolizes the prayers of God's people. This is vividly illustrated in Psalm 141:2, where David prays, "May my prayer be set before You like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering." The rising smoke of the incense represents the ascent of prayers to the divine presence, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

The prophetic literature also employs the imagery of incense to convey the idea of acceptable worship. In Malachi 1:11, God declares, "For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to My name, because My name will be great among the nations, says the LORD Almighty."

New Testament Fulfillment

The New Testament continues the theme of incense as a symbol of prayer. In the Book of Revelation, incense is directly linked to the prayers of the saints. Revelation 5:8 describes the twenty-four elders holding "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." Similarly, Revelation 8:3-4 depicts an angel offering incense on the golden altar before the throne, with the smoke of the incense rising with the prayers of the saints before God.

Prayer and Worship

Prayer, like incense, is a central element of worship in both the Old and New Testaments. It is an act of communication with God, expressing adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. The connection between incense and prayer underscores the idea that prayer is a fragrant offering to God, pleasing and acceptable when offered with a sincere heart.

The Apostle Paul exhorts believers to pray continually and with thanksgiving, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." This call to persistent prayer reflects the ongoing nature of the incense offering in the temple, a perpetual reminder of the believer's relationship with God.

Conclusion

The imagery of fragrant incense as a symbol of prayer highlights the importance of sincere and devoted communication with God. Throughout the biblical narrative, incense serves as a powerful metaphor for the prayers of the faithful, rising to the divine presence as a pleasing aroma. This symbolism reinforces the significance of prayer in the life of the believer, as an essential and continual act of worship.