1703. The Altar Before the Vail
The Altar Before the Vail
"And thou shalt put it before the veil that is by the Ark of the testimony, before the Mercy Seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee" (Exo_30:6).
The Altar of Incense was placed immediately before the Mercy Seat where God dwelt. Only a vail separated the worshiper from the presence of God. This brings several precious lessons before us.
1. Jesus Christ doth now appear in the presence of God for us. He is our intercessor and the vail is removed. The Book of Hebrews particularly speaks of His High Priestly work. The Altar of Incense primarily refers to Christ in this same ministration. He is the One through whom we make our approach to God. He has passed through the Heavens and is now managing our affairs for us. When Christ died, the vail of the Temple was rent in twain from top to bottom. This would remove the only thing that separated the Altar of Incense from the presence of God. Thus the Lord Jesus Christ passed from Calvary's Cross into the immediate presence of God where He carries on His intercessory work for us.
2. Our approach to God is in Christ. It was impossible to pass from the Holy Place into the Holy of Holies, without passing by the way of the Altar of Incense. There is no approach to God save in His Son.
3. The Altar was nearer God than anything else in the Holy Place, showing that prayer brings us nearer to God than any other spiritual grace or exercise.
4. We see God's idea of the Cross, lying imbedded in the Tabernacle. Its base is at the Brazen Altar and its head is at the Mercy Seat. The Cross has its base in sacrifice, and its crown in prayer. Proceeding up the column of the Cross we come to the Laver, going on we enter the Holy Place and find the two arms of the Cross extended, one to the table of Shewbread, and the other to the Golden Lamp Stand.
Then, the head of the Cross is at the Altar of Incense in a direct line with the Brazen Altar and Laver. The Brazen Altar is the base of the Cross and the Altar of Incense is the crown. Salvation begins in sacrifice but is crowned in prayer. It is worthy of note that the Cross has an Altar at each end; it begins with an Altar and ends with an Altar. God's whole plan of redemption is thus embodied in the Cross; it is the source of our salvation, our sanctification and our eternal glorification.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR