[Num 1:53 NKJV] 53 "but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle…”
[And the rest of the tribes camped around the Levites who camped around the tabernacle. So the tabernacle, the alter of sacrifice and incense burned there at the very center of the people representing the presence of God in their midst.]
[Rev 8:4 NLT] 4 The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God's holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.
[Our prayers and praises are like the smoke and incense rising up to God, a sweet and joyful aroma for Him.]
[Exo 30:8 NKJV] 8 "And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.
[Lev 24:1-4 NKJV] 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 "Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually. 3 "Outside the veil of the Testimony, in the tabernacle of meeting, Aaron shall be in charge of it from evening until morning before the LORD continually; [it shall be] a statute forever in your generations. 4 "He shall be in charge of the lamps on the pure [gold] lampstand before the LORD continually.
[Lev 6:13 NKJV] 13 'A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out.
[The perpetual, continual burning, rising up in the midst of the nation of Israel, symbolized prayer for the people. Hundreds of years later, the alter sacrifices and incense burners were moved to the Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. This city is located near the geographic center of the 6 continents, and at the crossroads of three most populous – Africa, Asia, and Europe. The smoke rising up from the temple now represented prayer for all nations.]
[Isa 56:7 NKJV] 7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices [Will be] accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."
[Mat 27:51 NKJV] 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
[After Solomon’s Temple is destroyed by the Babylonians and later re-built, then expanded by King Herod, in approximately 33 A.D., the veil in the Temple separating us from God is torn, symbolizing that now we are allowed to boldly approach God’s presence in the Holy of Holies through praise and prayer. When under the O.T. temple worship, only the high priest could go in once per year, and only after extensive sacrifices and cleansing. Now all who have accepted Jesus are allowed to boldly enter into God’s presence.]
[Heb 4:16 NKJV] 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
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