Overview
Sweet incense held a sacred place in Old Testament worship, burned daily in the tabernacle as a symbol of prayer and praise ascending to God. The specific formula for this incense was divinely prescribed and its use was restricted to the holy place, emphasizing the sanctity of approaching God's presence.
Key Scriptures
"You shall also make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense" (Exodus 30:1, ESV). "Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), and make an incense blended as by the perfumer; seasoned with salt, pure and holy" (Exodus 30:34-35, ESV). "And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne" (Revelation 8:3, NASB).
Application
Just as sweet incense symbolized the prayers of Old Testament believers, our prayers today are precious to God and rise before His throne through Christ's perfect intercession.