I’ve been burning a lot of incense lately. No, not to get in touch with my 1960’s inner child. I want to discover why incense (frankincense in particular) was a pleasing offering to God. Then I’d like to understand how it relates to the birth of the Christ child.

Frankincense is referenced on several occasions in both the Old and New Testaments.

In the Old Testament, God mandated that it be used as an offering to Him. The smoke rising up released a fragrance pleasing to God. Further, it was a valuable gift offered in the Tent of Meeting and later at the Temple. Second Chronicles tells us the priests “offered to the Lord every morning and every evening…incense of sweet spices.” Twice daily a priest would burn frankincense and a blend of spices as a gift to God. These were specifically for the atonement of the peoples’ sins. For most Hebrew priests of Aaron’s lineage, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, chosen (by lot) to make that special incense offering in the Temple.

And that is exactly what Zachariah (who was from Aaron’s lineage) was doing. Then the Angel Gabriel arrived. He told Zachariah that he and his wife, Elizabeth (Mary’s cousin) would have a son and should name him, John.

I love the way God works! Isn’t it extraordinary that this angelic visit occurred just six months before the same Angel Gabriel returned to tell Mary the equally astonishing news that she, too, would be having a son?

A SACRIFICIAL EXCHANGE

Similarly, how perfect that the nativity story starts with John the Baptist’s father, Zachariah, making an offering of frankincense to atone for the sins of the people. And of course the ultimate point of the nativity story is that God gave us His own son to replace the twice daily incense offering and PERMANENTLY atone for the sins of the people! What a perfect parallel!

This frankincense offering that Zachariah burned was valuable and its formula was a secret guarded recipe of frankincense mixed with other gum resins and spices, as spelled out in the book of Exodus.

The way this aromatic substance weaves through the story of our relationship with God intrigues me.

Not only was frankincense part of worship at the Temple, but God chose it as one of the gifts the Magi would bestow upon the newborn king (as Matthew confirmed that the wisemen “having opened their treasures, they offered to Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.“) AND, what makes it even more incredible, is that God told us through Isaiah that it would happen over 700 years before it occurred! “Herds of camels will cover your land… bearing …incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.”

What really ties it all together for me is that in a Psalm, David asks God to “accept my prayer as incense offered to you.”

PRAYERS RISING LIKE FRAGRANT OFFERINGS

And then, as an echo in the New Testament, John, in Revelation, tells how an “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 before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.” Heavenly beings holding “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Beautiful!

I love that image: the prayers of God’s people (even MY prayers!) mingling with the the smoke of frankincense, even becoming the incense, rise up to God as an offering, pleasing Him!

I am overwhelmed that God finds my prayers pleasing! Sometimes I see my prayer life as a laundry list of “gimmees,” yet He is pleased with them. Thank you God that you find my prayers pleasing.

So why was frankincense chosen to be the offering to God? Well as we prepare for Christmas now think about gifts for your friends and family. An old pair of socks from the bottom of the door? Of course not! First fruits! We give our very best. And frankincense was the most expensive items of the day it showed value and a desire to present an important gift.