Meaning of Exodus 35:15

Exodus 35:15 enumerates specific items designated for the Tabernacle's sacred service, continuing the detailed instructions for its construction and furnishing. These articles—the altar of incense, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the doorway—were not mere decorations but functional and symbolic components vital to the worship and mediation prescribed by God for the Israelites. Their inclusion in this chapter, which focuses on the people's willing offerings and skilled labor for the Tabernacle, underscores the importance of every element in facilitating a holy encounter between God and His people.

Context and Background

This verse is found within the larger narrative of the construction of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary God commanded Moses to build in the wilderness (Exodus 25-31). Chapter 35 specifically details the response of the Israelites to God's directives. After Moses presented the plans and the need for materials, the people brought their "willing offerings" (Exodus 35:21-29). Exodus 35:10-19 lists the various individuals and groups who were to contribute to the construction and the specific items they were to create. Verse 15 falls within this list, detailing the provision for the incense altar and its associated elements, as well as the entrance curtain. This context highlights the communal and voluntary nature of the Tabernacle's construction, driven by obedience and devotion.

Key Themes and Messages

• Sacred Service and Worship: Each item listed is directly linked to the performance of worship and priestly duties. The altar of incense was where fragrant incense was burned twice daily, symbolizing the prayers of the people ascending to God. The anointing oil was used to consecrate the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priests, setting them apart for holy use. The incense itself was a specific, divinely mandated aroma, signifying the purity and acceptability of worship. The curtain at the entrance marked the transition from the profane world to the sacred space of God's dwelling.
• Divine Order and Prescription: The detailed specifications for these items, as well as their placement and use, demonstrate God's desire for order and holiness in His worship. There was no room for human innovation; everything was to be made according to the "pattern" shown to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25:40).
• Aroma of Acceptance: The incense, a carefully blended mixture of spices, points to the pleasantness of worship and prayer when offered in accordance with God's will. It also foreshadows the concept of Christ's mediation, which makes our prayers acceptable to God.
• Separation and Access: The curtain signifies both separation (keeping the uninitiated out) and access (allowing authorized individuals to enter the sacred precincts). It delineates the boundary between God's holiness and human sinfulness, while simultaneously providing a divinely appointed means of approach.

Spiritual Significance and Application

The items mentioned in Exodus 35:15 offer profound spiritual insights for believers today. The altar of incense serves as a powerful metaphor for our prayers. Just as the smoke ascended, so our prayers, offered through Christ, rise to God and are pleasing to Him. The anointing oil signifies the Holy Spirit's presence and empowerment. We, as believers, are "anointed" by the Spirit, set apart for God's service and empowered to live a holy life. The fragrant incense represents the sweet savor of Christ's sacrifice, which makes our worship acceptable. Our praise and adoration are made fragrant and pleasing to God because of Jesus' atoning work. The curtain at the entrance, which was later torn at Jesus' death (Matthew 27:51), symbolizes the access Christ has opened for us into God's presence. Through His sacrifice, the barrier between humanity and God has been removed, allowing direct communion.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

These elements are integral to the Old Testament's foreshadowing of Christ. The Tabernacle, and later the Temple, was a physical manifestation of God's dwelling among His people and a place where atonement for sin could be made. The sacrifices offered, the incense burned, and the priestly mediation all pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice and priesthood of Jesus Christ. The incense altar and its fragrant smoke are directly linked to the concept of Christ as the mediator whose intercession makes our prayers acceptable (Revelation 8:3-4). The anointing oil signifies the divine empowerment that Christ received and now imparts to believers through the Holy Spirit. The curtain's tearing at Christ's death signifies the opening of a new and living way into the Most Holy Place through His atoning blood.

Analogies

• The altar of incense can be likened to a prayer journal, where our requests and praises are recorded and sent up to heaven, not by our own merit, but by the intercession of Christ.
• The anointing oil is akin to the Holy Spirit's seal of approval or a commissioning ceremony that equips and sets apart individuals for a specific, sacred task.
• The fragrant incense is like the pleasant aroma of baking bread—a simple, earthly pleasure that can be elevated to a sacred offering when presented with devotion and obedience.
• The curtain at the Tabernacle entrance is comparable to the usher at a grand hall, who, by divine appointment, directs worthy guests to enter and partake in the ceremony within, a role that Christ has now fulfilled for all believers.

Relation to Other Verses

• Psalm 141:2: "May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice." This verse directly echoes the symbolism of the incense altar, linking prayer and lifted hands (worship) to offerings pleasing to God.
• Luke 1:10: "And when the hour for the burning of incense arrived, all the assembled crowd were praying outside." This depicts the priestly duty of burning incense, highlighting its association with the prayers of the people.
• Hebrews 9:3-4: "Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant... This is the symbolic representation of the present time. Gifts and sacrifices are offered that can not perfect the conscience of the worshipper." This passage contrasts the Old Testament ritual with the perfection brought by Christ.
• Hebrews 4:14-16: "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." This directly relates to the access opened by Christ, symbolized by the tearing of the curtain.
• 1 John 2:1-2: "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." This highlights Christ's role as our intercessor and the efficacy of His sacrifice, which makes our prayers acceptable.