EXODUS 30-31 lesson # 25
CLEANLINESS AND PRAYER
I. Greetings:
II. Introduction.
Note: The chapter opens and closes with the subject of incense: how to build the incense altar and how to make the incense. Perhaps, everything in between has something to add to our understanding of incense burning. So let us look at this aspect.
Q Assuming that the Tabernacle has symbolic meaning for us, what does incense symbolize?
An = >>>> Have someone read Psalm 141:1-2.
Q How does this Psalm understand incense?
An = The Old Testament Psalms knew that incense represented prayers as the lifting up of our hands symbolized our honoring and worshipping God.
>>>> Have someone read Revelations 8:3-4.
Q How is incense understood here?
An = It seems that incense is “mingled” with prayers. The same understanding of incense representing prayer is shown, but here the scene is in heaven.
Q So if incense represents prayer what can we expect to learn from the building of the Tabernacle?
An = It can teach us how to pray. It could help us learn to pray in a manner that pleases God.
III. Learning How To Pray In The Tabernacle.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 30:1-3.
Q Is this incense altar very large?
An = No. We see that this altar was beautifully built but quite small. Now some other specifics are given.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 30:4-5.
Q What is the purpose of the rings and poles?
An = To carry the altar. It was a portable item?
Q What does the altar’s portable nature express to you?
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 30:6-7.
Q Why morning and evening, what does that suggest to you?
An = At the beginning and at the ending of our day, we pray.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 30:8
Q Why is incense burning (a symbol of prayer) and light mentioned together?
An = The “light” could refer to prayer being in conjunction with seeking the light of the Scriptures as we pray (a common practice with serious believers of all eras) or it could be that the “oil” needed in the lamps represents the illuminating presence of God’s Holy Spirit in conjunction with our prayer life.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 30:9-10
Q What warning is given and what do you think such a warning symbolizes?
An = Not to put strange things on this altar in 30:9. Prayer is not to be mixed with other acts of worship.
Q What could this not mixing other things mean?
An = Maybe we are not to try and bribe God with other gifts in connection with our prayers. We are to just pray.
Q Why does our prayer life need to be atoned for?
An = Verses 6 and 10 are bookends and deal with similar themes. Our prayers are to face the “mercy seat” and the blood sprinkled once a year on the ark (which was under the mercy seat) was also sprinkled on the incense altar.
We have to be atoned for, in God’s way, if we are to pray in God’s Holy Tabernacle the way He wants to be prayed to. We have to be cleansed of our sins and are to understand that prayer is tied to being forgiven of our sins.
Q Are we told how to hold the incense, whether we kneel or not, etc.?
An = No, but we are told that atonement for our sins must surround our prayers. Some of us are not praying all that effectively because we need to settle the “sin question”. His blood must wash away our sins.
A. Atonement is Absolutely Necessary.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 30:11-16.
Q What are these verses about?
An = Being atoned when a census is taken. There is a lot we wish we knew about this issue, but a few things are clear. First, when counted as part of Israel one had to be atoned for. Second, all were equal before the Lord, the rich and poor paid alike, a very small sum had to be paid, but all had to pay it equally. To be counted was also to be equal. Third, the paying of it helped the Israelites remember that they were to be atoned for. Their sins had to be dealt with to be part of Israel. Israel’s atonement and prayer are tied together.
Q What happened if there was no atonement price paid when the census was taken?
An = The result of no atonement was disease (plague). Atonement is clearly not an option. This atonement demand in connection with the funding and building of the Tabernacle is the one clear issue from this section.
Q Is it dangerous to be counted as part of the believing community and not be atoned for?
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 30:17-21.
Q What is the purpose of the bronze laver or washing basin?
An = Its purpose was to wash, to cleanse before we approached God either at the sacrificial altar or at the incense altar.
>>>> Have someone read Psalms 66:18.
>>>> Have someone read Psalms 34:15-16.
QQ What do both of these sections in the Psalms emphasize?
An = Our prayers being answered are tied to our atonement, our righteousness. This could be really discouraging. If we are really honest, we know we are not perfect or really not worthy of entering into God’s presence, but there is hope here in the very structure of the Tabernacle. It can be our guide. In the carefully mandated Tabernacle structure was means for atonement and washing. In the Tabernacle is concrete proof of God’s desire to atone and cleanse. God built into the very structure of His Holy Tabernacle the “means” the “way” to be cleansed. Atonement by blood, and constant washing from daily sin. Grace, is built into the very structure of this chapter and into the possibility of effective prayer.
It is because of the cleansing Blood on the altar and our choice to daily cleanse ourselves that we can offer prayers.
>>>> You read Hebrews 4:15-16.
Q How do we know God wants us to approach Him in prayer?
An = God wants you to approach Him in prayer. The book of Hebrews is merely stating what Israel understood: that God really wanted them present, but being cleansed from their sins was not optional. If they did not seek cleansing and if they were not atoned for, the option was death.
Q Do you know people who want to talk to God, but not go to church, and want to talk to God on their own terms?
An = A lot of folks want to be religious but on their own terms. Without atonement, without the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross there is no approach to God in prayer. We have to appropriate that blood and let it atone for us. We have to see our need of it.
B. Prayer Is On God’s Terms.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 30:34-38.
Q In the making of the incense did there have to be submission to doing it the way God wanted it done?
An = It is alarming to realize that there is a threat of death if instructions were disobeyed.
Q What does this mean?
RQ Are some people just into “prayer”, just into feeling religion?
Q Perhaps another question should be asked, who are we trying to pray to?
An = If we are just doing “prayer”, just being “religious”, then what is the big deal. Are not all religions the same? Prayer is prayer. The Bible says real prayer is to the real God. The Bible clearly says not all religions are the same. There is one God and Him only shall you serve! The Bible says the key to religion is that God, as God, has the right to decide how we approach Him.
If you do things on your terms, that’s fine, you are just not dealing with God, just yourself.
EX I once changed the wiring on a piece of industrial equipment that used 440 electricity. I was scared. I knew what would happen to me if I had reversed the wires. I went to the main panel of the 84,000 square building and I turned off the entire electricity to the whole building. I made the changes I was told to make and then I flipped on the main panel switch with a six foot wooden handle. If you deal with 110 and mess up you get a shock. If you deal with 440 and mess up you will get a lot more.
If you deal with God, He is the Ultimate Power In The World. The Bible Says Ultimate Power Is Dangerous. I would approach Him on His Terms.
IV. Conclusion/Application.
1) We need to come before the throne of Grace and ask Jesus Christ to forgive us of our sins before we pray. You need to acknowledge that as humbling as this is, it is a necessity. It is a beginning. If Jesus did not need to die for your sins then He was a fool who died unnecessarily. The Bible sees Jesus as wise and His death as horrible but necessary. We need to ask for forgiveness of sins based on shed blood.
2) Second, continual cleansing is necessary in our prayer life. Even we are Christians then we need to constantly ask for forgiveness of the sins we are daily committing and ask for cleansing. If we do not we will not be heard. If you are doing something in your life that is displeasing to Him then get rid of it.
3) Third, it is dangerous to do religion on our own terms. If you take the Bible as something you judge, then you are on dangerous ground. Let the Bible judge you. Let it guide you, and let it help you submit to Him.