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Daily Devotions

Exodus

Exodus 
Day 
Day 291

"You shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them." Deuteronomy 7:11

Text: Exodus 30 : 34-36

THE MAKING OF SPECIAL INCENSE

The Altar of Incense would of course require special incense. Specific instructions were given for the making of this incense.

“And the LORD said to Moses,
‘Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum,
and pure frankincense with these sweet spices; there shall be
equal amounts of each. You shall make of these an incense,
a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure,
and holy. And you shall beat some of it very fine, and put some
of it before the Testimony in the Tabernacle of meeting where
I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.'”
EXODUS 30:34-36

1. Uncommon ingredients

Some of the ingredients were uncommon, while others were not. Only a skilled “perfumer” or “apothecary” would know how to mix these things together to create the desired incense.

2. “Pure and holy”

The finished product would be deemed “pure and holy”. It was to be applied “before the Testimony in the Tabernacle”.

STRICT PROHIBITIONS

Once again, strict prohibitions were pronounced against the possible abuse of the incense.

“But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make any for yourselves, according to its composition.
It shall be to you holy for the LORD. Whoever makes any like it,
to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people.”
EXODUS 30:37-38

1. Not for personal usage

This was the first and most obvious prohibition! That which is designated as “pure and holy” cannot be used for any other purposes!

2. “He shall be cut off from his people”

What does this phrase mean? Two thoughts stand out!

a) It is obviously a disciplinary measure.
b) The perpetrator would be sent out of Israel as an outcast!