In Exodus 30 God introduced sweet-smelling anointing oil into the sanctuary service, starting in verse 23, and then sweet smelling incense starting in verse 34.
As I look at the Old Testament Sanctuary service, I see how God engages all five senses in the process. The Israelites witnessed the death of the sacrifice. They heard the dying animals and trumpet blasts. The priests ate the shewbread and had specific instructions on needing to be clean before they could touch parts of the sanctuary. Now we have sweet anointing oil with a strong fragrance that was so holy that anyone who copied it to smell outside the sanctuary would be "cut off" verse 38.
God even gave the recipe for the holy perfume--anointing oil!!!! But as this chapter shows, it's meant to consecrate the tabernacle items and not to be used for selfish purposes. Of course, Jesus is THE PERFUME/Anointing Oil/Incense who has made all the sacrifices a sweet smelling Savor... Or Saviour!!
"The incense, ascending with the prayers of Israel, represents the merits and intercession of Christ, His perfect righteousness, which through faith is imputed to His people, and which can alone make the worship of sinful beings acceptable to God. Before the veil of the most holy place was an altar of perpetual intercession, before the holy, an altar of continual atonement. By blood and by incense God was to be approached—symbols pointing to the great Mediator, through whom sinners may approach Jehovah, and through whom alone mercy and salvation can be granted to the repentant, believing soul." – {PP 353.2}
Just as God engaged all five senses in the Sanctuary service, I know He wants our total worship - and our total worship means we honor Him with our eyes, ears, mouth, touch, and even our nose.
Tomorrow's Reading: Ex. 31-32 and Acts. 1
No comments:
Post a Comment