Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Exodus 30

The altar of incense (vs. 1-10)--This altar was also to be made of acacia wood, and overlaid with gold. It was twice as high as it was broad (v. 2), perhaps 18-21 inches by 3 to 3.5 feet high, again depending upon the length of a cubit. It was to be overlaid with gold (v. 3). There was to be horns on it (v. 2), and two golden rings with poles to carry it. The altar of incense was to be placed before the veil of the Most Holy Place (v. 6). Incense was to be burned upon it every morning and every night (vs. 7-8). The recipe for the incense was given in verses 34-38 of this chapter; and the warning given, "you shall not offer strange incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering; nor shall you pour a drink offering on it" (v. 9).

The redemption money (vs. 11-16)--Every male, 20 years of age and up, was to give a half-shekel as a "ransom for himself to the Lord" (v. 12). It was to be "an offering to the Lord" (v. 13). Everybody, rich and poor, gave the same amount, because every man's soul was equal in the eyes of God. The money raised was to be used "for the service of the tabernacle" (v. 16), and as a memorial for the people.

The bronze laver (vs. 17-21)--Before the priests could "go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister" (v. 20), they were to wash--no unclean thing before the Lord. The laver was to be place between the door of tabernacle and the altar (v. 18). The priests had to wash, "lest they die" (v. 20)--not only their hands, but also their feet (v. 21). "And it shall be a statute forever to them--to him and his descendants throughout their generations." The bronze ("brass," KJV) almost assuredly typifies baptism. Before we can enter the service of the Lord, we, too, must wash with "water." Thankfully, because of the work of Christ, our "washing" need take place only once.

The holy anointing oil (vs. 22-33)--Everything, including Aaron and his sons, was to be anointed with this "holy anointing oil" (v. 34). It was to be made from myrrh, cinnamon, cane, cassia, and olive oil. It would thus smell lovely; indeed, it was to be "an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer" (v. 25). Verses 26-30 list all the items which were to be anointed which, as noted, included everything in the tabernacle. Since it was holy, it was never to be reproduced or used for man's profane purposes. Anybody who tried to make oil like it "shall be cut off from his people" (v. 33).

The composition of the incense (vs. 34-38)--Moses is then given instructions on how to create the incense. It was made from "sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense with these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts of each" (v. 34). It, too, was "a compound according to the art of the perfumer," and, in this case, "salted, pure, and holy" (v. 35). It was thus holy and must not be reproduced for human use, either, on pains of the same penalty as the holy anointing oil (v. 38).

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