The Strong Altar
“It must be square, eighteen inches long and eighteen inches wide; it must be thirty-six inches high. Its horns must be of one piece with it” Exodus 30:2 csb
My family on my dad’s side is from Texas, and there is a saying that goes like this: “Everything is bigger in Texas.” From the BBQ serving sizes even to the cows! The Texas Longhorns mascot is a bull with long horns. It is a symbol of strength and power. In the Bible, horns are used to speak of strength and power as well. When God gave instructions for the building of the Tabernacle, the articles within were not big. In fact, the altar of incense, the one the verse above is referring to, was only about four feet high. It was made from wood and then overlaid with gold. However, a small but important detail in its construction was that God ordered horns to be placed on its four corners.
Now, I find that very interesting because the altar of incense was positioned directly before the curtain known as the veil of the temple. That curtain separated the Ark of the Testimony, commonly referred to as the Ark of the Covenant. The room where the Ark sat was called the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place, the place where the Spirit of God would dwell.The function of this altar, which sat right in front of the veil within the Holy Place, was to receive incense that was to be burned. It was a fragrant mixture of spices that would rise up before the Lord’s presence. The Tabernacle and its furnishings all foreshadow greater realities. The altar of incense is a type of prayer. In Revelation chapter 5, we see that the altar in the throne room of God has the same incense being offered before God’s throne. John reveals to us that these are the “prayers of the saints” (Revelation 5:8).
The altar of incense is a type of the offering of prayer. The altar upon which these prayers are offered has four horns one at each corner, the symbol of strength and power. What is being conveyed is that prayer offered to the one true and living God is both strong and powerful. The old saying goes, “There is power in prayer.” It is true, and God marks that altar with horns, typifying that truth in physical form for us.
Jesus made an interesting statement in a parable. Luke says in 18:1, Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up. The Lord Jesus knows that there is power in prayer. He knows that there we will find endurance to continue on. I do not pretend to fully know and understand how prayer works, but I know that it works for us when my prayer is directed to the Lord Jesus Christ. Aaron was as High Priest to offer incense day and night. God desires that we meet Him at the altar daily as well to offer prayers. Those prayers go up before Him as fragrant incense offerings in His throne (Rev. 5:8). He tells us in His Word to seek, knock, and ask, He is referring to prayer.
You and I need to remember that there is power in prayer because it brings God into the equation. My pastor used to say, “Prayer moves the hand of God.” I agree. I will add to that: prayer, when offered through faith, moves the heart of God so that the hand of God acts. So if I may exhort you today: keep praying. Whatever it is your seeking God about, keep offering up your incense at the altar of the Lord daily, just as Aaron did. “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
Agape,
Frank
Ordinary Poles
And he put the poles into the rings at the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. Exodus 37:5
The Ark of the Covenant or the Testimony (both titles are fine) was a small rectangle box. You may remember Indiana Jones where Indy unearths it in Egypt, and the Nazis want to harness its power!. Thats Hollywood, but the Ark was anything but ordinary, it was overlaid with pure gold. It had an ornate lid that had Cherubim (angelic beings) stretched over the top that was called the Mercy seat. It was there above the mercy seat the Spirit of God came down and His presence Tabernacled with His people.
This simple detail in Exodus 37 gives us of a profound spiritual truth. The Ark was special, the gold was precious, yet the ark was built to be carried. Wherever God led His people, His presence would go with them but it required willing hands and ordinary poles to bear it.
The poles were that were slid through the rings were not decorative, not wrapped in gold, but they were essential. Without them, the ark could not be moved as God intended. In the same way, the Lord often chooses to accomplish His purposes through ordinary people who are willing to carry what He entrusts to them. Ministry, service, prayer, these are the “poles” by which we help carry the work and witness of God among His people. There is nothing ornate about vacuuming after service, nothing seemingly precious about taking out the trash, or setting up chairs. Yet, those are essential in the ministry of the Lord, just like the poles that carried the ark.
So although what you have been entrusted with may not seem extraordinary, it is essential. Whatever you put your hand to in the service of the Lord is holy work. His presence goes with you, just as it did with the ark. Therefore, no act of service is small or insignificant. Each task matters and is important to the life and ministry of the church. God wants to use ordinary men and women to help serve in the ministry, he wants to use you!
“Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” 1 Corinthians 1:27
Agape,
Frank