Incense

Incense — fragrant smoke offered in worship — is a biblical sign of prayer rising to God. Commanded in the Temple and seen before the heavenly throne, it fills Orthodox worship still.

Overview

• Incense is aromatic resin burned to give a sweet-smelling smoke, offered to God as an act of worship.
• God commanded its offering on a golden altar in the Tabernacle and Temple (Exodus 30.1-9), where it accompanied the prayers of the people.
• Scripture makes it a symbol of prayer ascending — "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense" (Psalms 140.2) — and shows it offered before God's throne in heaven (Revelation 8.3-4); the Orthodox Church censes the icons, the gifts, and the faithful throughout her services.

Summary

Incense runs through the whole of Scripture as both an offering and a sign of prayer. In the Law, God commanded a dedicated altar of incense before the veil, on which fragrant smoke was to rise continually before the Lord (Exodus 30.1-9) — a sacrificial act reserved to the sanctuary and its priesthood. The Psalter makes the meaning explicit: "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice" (Psalms 140.2). And in the Revelation an angel offers incense with "the prayers of the saints" at the golden altar before God's throne (Revelation 8.3-4), the earthly rite mirroring the heavenly worship. For this reason the Orthodox Church uses incense generously, honoring God, the icons, the holy gifts, and the faithful (who bear God's image) with its rising fragrance. Cross-link Divine Liturgy, The Tabernacle, Worship, Prayer.

Sources

[^1]: Exodus 30.1-9 (Brenton) — the altar of incense commanded for the Tabernacle. [^2]: Psalms 140.2 (Brenton LXX; = Ps 141.2 in Hebrew numbering) — "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense.". [^3]: Revelation 8.3-4 (WEB) — incense offered with the prayers of the saints before the heavenly throne.