“And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.”  (Exodus 30:1).

The phone rings.  Answering it you hear the voice of your child, your grandchild, your long, lost friend you haven’t heard from in years.  The very sound of their voice produces overwhelming joy in your heart.  ”Good to hear from you!”

It is commonly understood that the purpose of the Altar of Incense was to symbolize prayer offered to the LORD.  This interpretation comes from Psalm 141:1-2 which says,  “LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.  Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”

The Psalmist desired for his prayers to rise unto the LORD like sweet incense. Revelation 5:8 describes prayer with the same thought:  “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.”

The voice of the redeemed rises to the ears of the Almighty like the sweet aroma of incense.   Like that phone call, our voice is the sweetest sound He hears.  It is the voice of His child!

Today is April 30.  Bless the LORD today.  Let Him hear your voice.

Blessings,

Jim