Lesson: Altar of Incense (No. CB109

Christian Churches of God

No. CB109_2

Lesson:

Altar of Incense

(Edition 1.0 20070909-20070909)

In this lesson we will review the major points in paper No. CB109 and provide activities to reinforce the concepts of why praying is important.

Christian Churches of God

PO Box 369, WODEN ACT 2606, AUSTRALIA

E-mail: secretary@ccg.org

(Copyright ã2007 Diane Flanagan, ed. Wade Cox)

This paper may be freely copied and distributed provided it is copied in total with no alterations or deletions. The publisher’s name and address and the copyright notice must be included. No charge may be levied on recipients of distributed copies. Brief quotations may be embodied in critical articles and reviews without breaching copyright.

This paper is available from the World Wide Web page:
http://www.logon.org and http://www.ccg.org

Goal:

To review the basic concepts related to the altar of incense and the symbolism that is involved in the text.

Objectives:

1. Children will be able to understand who historically tended the altar of incense.

2. Children will be able to identify that fire for the altar of incense came from the fire from the altar of burnt offering.

3. Children will understand what the altar of incense symbolises.

4. Children will understand why praying is so important.

5. Children will understand that if we don’t obey God and repent, our prayers are an abomination to Him (Prov. 29:9).

Resources:

The Temple Solomon Built (No. CB107)

Altar of Incense (No. CB109)

The Tabernacle in the Wilderness (No. CB42)

Lesson on Prayer Part A Teacher’s Guide (No. CB31)

Lesson on Prayer Part B Worksheet (No. CB32)

Relevant Scriptures:

Exodus 30:8; Psalm 51:17; 141:1,2; Proverbs 29:9; Luke 1:10; 1Corinthians 15:34; Revelation 5:8; 8:3.

Format:

Open with prayer.

Ask the children what they think that the altar of incense represents.

Conduct the lesson on the Altar of Incense.

Conduct the activity associated with the altar of incense.

Close with prayer.

Lesson:

Read through the paper Altar of Incense (No.CB109) unless it is read as a sermonette.
Use the questions and answers to review the main points of CB109.
Children’s questions are in bold followed by the answers.

Questions/Answers:

Q.1 Where was the altar of incense located and what were the dimensions?

A. The altar of incense was located in front of the curtain before going into the Holy of Holies. It was as close as one could get to God without being in His presence (Ex. 30:6).

The altar of incense was to be fashioned in a square, 1 cubit long, 1 cubit wide, and 2 cubits high (Ex. 30:2).

Q2. What does the incense from the altar of incense represent?

A. The incense, rising as it does, is a picture of the prayers of the saints rising to heaven (Ps. 141:1-2).

Q3. How many times a day were the priests to tend the altar of incense and what was the incense made from?

A. The priests were to tend the altar of incense twice a day. Once in the morning at 9 a.m. and again in the evening at 3 p.m. (Ex. 30:7-8). The incense was made from four precious spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum and pure frankincense (Ex. 30:34).

Q4. Our prayers are like incense to God, so how many times a day should we be praying to God?

A. At least twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening, by the example of the priests who tend the altar (1Chr. 23:30).

Q5. The fire for the altar of incense came from what other altar?

A. The fire came from the brazen altar of burnt offering. All other fire was strange fire (Lev. 16:12).

Q6. Strange incense is praying and worshipping a false god. What will happen to us if we don’t pray and worship the One True God?

A. We will be spiritually dead and God will not hear our prayers (Prov. 28:9).

Q7. What was on the top and on the four corners of the altar of incense?

A. There was a moulding around the top like a crown and on the four corners were horns (Ex. 30:3).

Q8. What were the horns used for?

A. The priest shall make an atonement or sacrifice upon the horns once a year as a sin offering (Ex. 30:10).

Q9. What day is the holiest of all days?

A. The Day of Atonement. It is a Shabbath, Shabbathown (Lev. 23:32).

Q10. Who had total responsibility for the duties within the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the Temple on the Day of Atonement?

A. No other priest could be in the Tabernacle or the Temple until the High Priest had completed his duties (Lev.16:17).

Q11. How many elders and how many living creatures monitor our prayers?

A. There are twenty-four elders and four living creatures.

Q12. There was a veil that separated the Holy Place, where the altar of incense was, from the Holy of Holies, where God would be. What happened to that veil when Christ died? What does it mean for us today?

A. The veil was torn in two (Mk. 15:38) and it means we can pray directly to God in the name of Jesus Christ (Heb.10:19-22).

Q13. The Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the Temple had three metals used in them. Can you name the three metals?

A. The three metals are bronze, silver and gold (1Chr. 28:13; 1Kgs. 7:45).

Q14. The altar that is before God’s Throne has three crowns of gold. Can you name the three crowns of gold?

A. 1. Ark of the Covenant is the crown of the Law (Ex. 25:11).

2. Altar of Incense is the crown of the priesthood (Ex. 30:3).

3. Table of Shewbread is the crown of the kingdom (Ex. 25:24).

Q15. What is the colour of the garments worn by the priests, High Priest and also the saints?

A. They will all be wearing white garments as this whiteness represents holiness and purity (Rev. 19:7 and Ex. 28:39).

Activity:

Make altars of incense

Since there is not a clear size given for the altar of incense in the Temple Solomon built (1Chr. 28:13) we will make the altar of incense the same size as it was in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.
Pre-cut the balsa wood to an inch/ cubit wide and two inches/ cubits high. You will need four pieces this side for each altar you are making.
Its horns were of one piece; therefore, give each child a piece of clay or gold sculpy to form the top which is one inch by one inch by one inch and encourage the children to make a rim like a crown at its edge and fashion four horns on each corner.
We will not put on the poles to carry the altar of incense as it had in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness (Ex 37:3, 13).
The finished piece can be sprayed gold, or spray the wood before assembly.

2. Personal prayer journals

Have children bring photos of people that are important to them to the lesson.
Have the child fold pieces of scrap-booking paper in half, one paper for each picture.
Allow the children to use scrap-booking paper, stickers, fancy scissors etc.
Have the children glue the picture of the person on left side of the page.
On the right side of the page the child writes or draws what special needs that person has that they should pray for.
The photos could also be of the entire family or families (photos can be copied for a reasonable cost).
Encourage the children to keep three blank pages in their book and ask three to six people what they need for prayers and write the responses down in their prayer journal.
The pages can be stapled or hole punched and tied with yarn
Pre-made journals can also be used.