“You make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful.” (Ps 16:11, CEV)
On the table with the showbread, the priests also had to place “pure frankincense” (Lev 24:7) as an offer (“for a memorial” = preservative of memory). This was burnt in the place of the bread at the end of the week when the showbread was replaced and the old bread (which was actually still supernaturally fresh) was given to the priests to eat. The burning of the incense was seen as an offer in place of the bread.
The perfumer also made pure incense of sweet spices (Ex 37:29). To understand the symbolic value of this we need to focus on the Scripture quoted above. When the Bread of Presence is mentioned and the accompanying promise: “In Your presence is fullness of joy”, then it is important to note that the phrase that follows this is explained in Hebrew as “delightful; pleasant; sweet” (Strongs). In His presence there is sweetness.
If it was said of king David on his deathbed that he was “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Sam 23:1), and we know that the right hand in Scripture indicates authority and dominion (Ps 110:1; Matt 26:64; Heb 10:12), then it is clear that the sweet incense in the place of the showbread indicates that an authority and dominion is found in those who have become living sacrifices (Rom 12:1) in the place of the Bread, Christ (John 6:35). When they go through the fire – which is God Himself (Heb 12:29) – a pleasant fragrance is diffused. It is not only a pleasant fragrance of knowledge (2 Cor 2:15), or prayers or offers (Acts 10:4), or intercession (Ps 141:2; Rev 5:8); it is most especially a demonstration of the dominion of the sons of the right hand, the Benjamins, who from the “mountains of spices” (SoS 8:14), Mount Zion, must reign on earth in the place of Christ.
- Sela: This is a mouthful, but be sure to chew on it thoroughly so that the revelation becomes concrete. Pray through it. Many of the references will only make sense during the course of the coming teachings, but test the truth of them in your spirit. Read Eph 2:6 along with this.
- Read: Ex 37; Ps 87; Mark 13
- Memorise: Mark 13:12
