Tabernacle Lectures (135) The smoke of the incense

Exodus 30:1 “And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.”

There are several articles in the tabernacle that are made from shittim wood: the altar of burnt offering, the table of showbread, the altar of incense and the ark of the covenant. The altar of incense is the smallest one among them. The image of Jesus praying looks small in people’s eyes. When Jesus healed the sick, or cast out evil spirits, or raised the dead back to life, those things look big. But Jesus praying on the Mount of Olives looks small to them.

Many people say Jesus uses them for his work, and they think it is important to preach and teach, but they do not think kneeling before God and praying is a big deal. They know in theory that prayer is important, but they do not actually realize its importance, so more and more people are praying as a formality.

Perhaps the image of Jesus praying looks small in people’s eyes. That space where he prayed on the Mount of Olives was small, but his prayer moved the throne of heaven, and nothing was lacking to establish us, who are evil and filthy, before God. The power of the prayer of intercession that accomplishes everything is great.