The altar of incense is found within the holy place in the Tabernacle. The biblical significance of the burning of incense, as taught in the Bible, is not for the people to enjoy themselves, but is for the Lord.

Exodus 30:2 gives the dimensions of the altar of incense: 45cm by 45cm by 90cm. It is a square altar of a comfortable height for the burning of the incense.

Exodus 30:1-10 reveals the significance of the altar of incense.

1.  The privilege of prayer (Exod 30:1-6)

The altar of incense is placed just before the veil in the Tabernacle. On the other side of the veil is the Most Holy Place where the ark of the covenant is, the place, as Exodus 30:6 says, “where I will meet with thee.”

In the Bible, incense is associated with prayer. Psalm 141:1-2 says, “LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Luke 1:8-10 tells us: “And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.”

It is a privilege to be able to meet with God and to commune with Him. Like the fragrance from the burning of incense, our prayers are to be a sweet fragrance before God. We must make sure that we approach God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And God will hear our prayers.

2.  The time of prayer (Exod 30:7-8)

The fragrance from the perpetual burning of incense will always fill the holy place in the Tabernacle. Likewise, we must pray without ceasing. We must always be in the spirit of prayer. We are never to be independent of God, but always to have the spirit of reliance and need for God.

3.  The manner of prayer (Exod 30:9-10)

Our prayers are acceptable to God because our sins have been cleansed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Exodus 30:9 warns against “strange incense.” We must follow God’s prescribed manner and principles when we pray to God.