1704. The Sweet Incense

The Sweet Incense

"And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it" (Exo_30:7).

The Sweet Incense. Prayer in Christ alone is sweet and acceptable to God. Abel's offering was a sweet smelling savor. Who is there who would not desire to give joy to the Lord, to please Him? Let us then draw near, let us bow the knee before Him, sending forth our prayers for all that is pleasing and acceptable to God.

Not only does prayer please God, but, through prayer, God reaches down to us. Through prayer He gives us help in the time of our need. Through prayer and supplication, the peace of God which passeth all understanding garrisons our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Oh, the joy that thrills his soul, who approaches the Throne of Grace!

Certain kinds of prayer are sweet to God and please Him.

1. The prayer of faith is always sweet and pleasing to God. Enoch prayed to God, walked with God, and had faith that God would keep him pure and pleasing to Him in a corrupt age. Perhaps he prayed that God would translate him, so that he would not see death, his prayers were a sweet incense to God, and He answered him. When our prayers please God, He answers us.

2. The prayer of the penitent pleases God. The prayer of the publican who smote his breast and cried, "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luk_18:13), was sweet incense to the Lord because He delights to show mercy to penitent sinners.

The publican was quickly pardoned, but the prayer of the self-righteous Pharisee was an abomination to the Lord.

3. The importunate prayer is pleasing to God. When crippled Jacob clung to the Lord in his weakness and cried, "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me" (Gen_32:26), his prayer was sweet to the Lord. His purpose in Jacob was accomplished, and He made weak Jacob a mighty prince with God.

4. The prayer of the Syrophenician woman pleased God. She refused to take a denial from Christ, and was willing to be classed among dogs. Her prayers of faith were sweet to Christ, and He said, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it done unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour" (Mat_15:28, A. S. V.).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR