Hebrews 9:4

Hebrews 9:4

The golden Altar of Incense

Having perused the items of the inner Tabernacle furniture and their placement within the tent, this verse seems to throw up an obstacle, for it places the golden altar of incense alongside the Ark of the Covenant and within the the Most Holy Place! Scholars accept that there is a problem here, if the altar was used by priests twice daily, to offer prayers to the Lord, how could it be housed within the Most Holy Place which was entered only once a year by the High Priest? The general agreement seems to be that this altar was closely associated with all that took place within the curtain, it was the sole obstacle to entering through into God’s presence and so it was included in the same package as it were! From this altar of incense, the High Priest would take incense when He made His annual visit to worship and sacrifice before the Lord. In other words, the altar of incense and the Ark of the Covenant were inextricably linked! 

There have been many debates over this problem for centuries. One of the most likely solutions is that the altar of incense was moved on the Day of Atonement so that the High Priest would have ready access to the incense when he needed it! Others says that there is a difference in the Greek words used in some Bible translations, between a golden altar and a golden censor, the latter being a separate item used by the High Priest for offering prayers to the Lord God!

All of these kinds of textual controversies can hinder us from the main point, that the faith of the Israelites, placed in these sacred articles, was heavily founded on literal objects that are symbols of a far greater heavenly reality, and this is what we are about to explore. Every item of furniture is a detailed and yet beautiful illustration of all that the Lord has prepared for His people, for His church. Hallelujah! 

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