One of the things that many visitors first notice about Taiwan is the scent of incense that fills temples and homes. It lingers in the air and can be quite overwhelming to someone not accumstomed to being around inscense.
For a long time, I detested inscense. I hated the smell. It was anything but fragrant.
But, then one day, as I was reading scripture I saw this verse: "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you" (Psalm 141:2a).
This caught me off guard.
My eyes stopped moving across the text so I could contemplate what I was seeing for the first time.
I didn't even realize on a conscience level that fragrant incense was used throughout the old testament to worship God. Incense is also mentioned in the Book of Revelation:
And another 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. (Revelation 8:3-4)
Our prayers rise before God like the smoke of burning incense wafts towards the sky. The sweet aroma of burning incense symbolizes something pleasing and acceptable being offered to God.
The smoke from incense is different than smoke from burning candles, cooking, or camp fires. The smoke visably lingers in the air as it twists and swirls its way upwards. Its distinctive aroma completely fills the air. It is not quick and fleeting. It is slow and heavy, deliberate and continous.
Oh, how I want my prayerlife to be like that!
Lord, may our worship, may our prayers, continually rise before You, God of heaven and earth. May their fragrance be pleasant and pleasing to You.
[By the way, I still detest the worship of false gods, but my opinion of incense has changed.]
This post was submitted to the Carnival of Beauty. This week the theme is The Beauty Fragrance and is hosted by Blair at Scriblings. Join us next week for The Beauty of Photographs here at following an unknown path.
I didn't get to contribute this week. I would find incense very over powering I think. However, it is a beautiful picture of prayers ascending to God- and a reminder that they should not be rushed!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I've ever experienced incense. We had scented matches when I was a kid...I assume it's similar?
ReplyDeleteI agree, I would love for my prayers to have that kind of effect. Thanks for participating in the carnival Amanda....looking forward to next week :)
Hello - I found your blog by clicking through another Christian blog I recently discovered.
ReplyDeleteI loved this entry - very beautufilly put. I had a similar revelation a few years ago when I began researching ancient Church practices. I agree that worship of idols is detestable in God's eyes, but its so sad when we (Christians) throw out the baby with the bath water. I now attend a church that uses incense in its worship and prayer.
I just love those 'aha' moments from the Bible!
God Bless.
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ReplyDeleteSusanna: It is something you can get used to. And, yes, it also is good for me to know that my prayers are sweet and pleasing to him.
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Blair: actually I don't think it would be like scented matches. Not sure, but I'd guess the scent from a match would not last ss long. Incense saturates and lingers and is STRONG. If I stay in a temple for a little while, my clothes smell like incense for the rest of the day.
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DebD:
Thanks for sharing! I know so little about ancient or early Church practices. I would love to know more!
I've never used incense in my own worship . . . at least not yet. But am open to ideas of knowing how others do.
amanda :)
so you like incense just because the bible mentions it?
ReplyDelete"Elf": I am not sure I "like" incense. But, yes, Scripture has changed the way I think about it.
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