The Parts of Prayer

Exodus 30:34–38 (ESV) The LORD said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), 35 and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. 36 You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you. 37 And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the LORD. 38 Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people.”

We come now to the final piece of instructions on the Tabernacle from the Lord to Moses. This part concerns the special mixture of sweet spices that make up the incense priests burned continually during their time of service. 

We already shared that the incense of the Temple referred to the prayers of the priests. These prayers were to be continual, pleasant, memorable and openly available after a sacrifice for sins was met. In the New Testament, we have a once and for all offering for our sins at the cross. Now we can pray at all times without shedding blood or the pain-staking process of sacrificial practices. But what are we to do in prayer? Perhaps there is some symbolism in this specific mixture that we may glean proper prayer patterns for ourselves before our Father.

First, it is interesting that the Lord is completely specific when it comes to what goes into this mixture. There was to be nothing else like it made by anyone. Our prayers to God are to include the specific things God desires. Sometimes I feel we "wing it" in our prayer time often leading to the two word, "help me" moments when we are in distress. But prayer is patterned for us in the Lord's own words (Matthew 6:9-13). Paul maps out prayer ingredients in 1 Timothy 2:1. 

1 Timothy 2:1 (ESV) First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

When we pray we must follow the instructions of the Lord. I think about how these ingredients may not have worked well on their own to produce a sweet smelling flavor, but together they made for a beautiful experience. Perhaps sometimes our prayers are dull and lacking because we don't bring all the ingredients into the experience!

Second, it is interesting that all the parts were to be equal. Prayer should be a time for confession of sin, but not ONLY confession of sin. There must be equal parts of intercession - prayer for others, supplication - prayer for our needs and thanksgiving which touches our minds in ways that prove beneficial. For in doing all these things we remember the good we have in our lives through thanksgiving, the fact that God is able to provide for us in supplication, and the opportunity to take the focus off our ourselves in intercession. Indeed, God has designed prayer to help us in regards to where we place our attention. How many of us need to stop only asking for stuff from God and express appreciation to Him! How many need to stop focussing all our prayer energy on what we need and start praying for what others need as well! Perhaps the reason our prayer life is so dull is because we fail to give equal time to all that it should involve!

Third, notice God's instructions in verse 36: "You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you." I wonder if this speaks to the idea that no prayer or request or thanksgiving is too small. Any prayer at any time counts to the experience of God WITH US.

In the end, our prayer time is an opportunity for us to experience sweetness before our God! But we have to follow the recipe to get the most out of it! Let us pray on purpose and according to the plan. The results should be a treat!