Introduction

Sacrificing and burning incense are significant practices in the biblical narrative, serving as acts of worship, atonement, and communication with God. These rituals are deeply embedded in the religious life of the Israelites and are extensively documented throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, sacrifices and the burning of incense are central to the worship practices prescribed by God. The Book of Leviticus provides detailed instructions on various types of sacrifices, including burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings (Leviticus 1-7). These sacrifices were performed by the priests and were essential for atonement and maintaining a covenant relationship with God.

The burning of incense is also a significant ritual, symbolizing prayer and the presence of God. In Exodus 30:7-8, Aaron is instructed to burn incense on the altar every morning and evening: "And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps. When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come" . The incense altar, located in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, represents the prayers of the people ascending to God.

Symbolism and Purpose

Sacrifices served multiple purposes: they were acts of worship, expressions of gratitude, and means of atonement for sin. The shedding of blood in sacrifices, particularly in the sin and guilt offerings, prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, as described in the New Testament. Hebrews 9:22 states, "According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" .

The burning of incense, on the other hand, symbolizes the prayers and intercessions of the people. Psalm 141:2 reflects this symbolism: "May my prayer be set before You like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering" . The fragrant smoke rising from the incense altar is a visual representation of prayers reaching the divine.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the sacrificial system finds its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is described as the ultimate sacrifice, whose death on the cross atones for the sins of humanity once and for all. Hebrews 10:10 states, "And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" .

The practice of burning incense continues to hold symbolic significance in the New Testament. In Revelation 8:3-4, the prayers of the saints are depicted as incense before God: "Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel" .

Warnings and Misuse

The Bible also warns against the misuse of sacrifices and incense. In Isaiah 1:11-13, God expresses displeasure with empty ritualism: "What is your multitude of sacrifices to Me? says the LORD. I am full of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I have no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you—this trampling of My courts? Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me" . This passage underscores the importance of sincerity and obedience over mere ritual.

Conclusion

The practices of sacrificing and burning incense are integral to understanding the biblical concepts of worship, atonement, and prayer. They serve as a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ and continue to hold spiritual significance in the life of believers.