God commanded the making of sacred anointing oil to anoint all the furnishings of the sanctuary as well as Aaron and his sons so that they would be set apart as holy. Everything anointed with sacred oil became holy. This signifies that it was dedicated to God. To carry out the holy priestly ministry, the priests first had to be consecrated through this sacred anointing. The anointing oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Jesus himself was anointed with the Holy Spirit at his baptism in the Jordan River. Likewise, through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we can become a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, called to carry out God’s holy mission.
The incense used on the altar had to be made according to God’s command and used only for him. God warned that anyone who made similar incense merely to enjoy its fragrance would be cut off from the people. The incense symbolizes the prayers of God’s people. Just as various spices were blended together, our prayers should be sincere, broad and diverse. As we prepare both the anointing oil and the incense according to God’s command and use them for his glory, we must examine the intentions of our hearts, asking whether we seek for God’s glory or our own.
Aug 4, 2026
SACRED ANOINTING OIL AND INCENSE
Passage: Exodus 30:22-38
Key verse: 31
NIV
chapter 30
22. Then the LORD said to Moses,
23. "Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant calamus,
24. 500 shekels of cassia - all according to the sanctuary shekel - and a hin of olive oil.
25. Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil.
26. Then use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law,
27. the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense,
28. the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand.
29. You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.
30. "Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.
31. Say to the Israelites, ’This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come.
32. Do not pour it on anyone else’s body and do not make any other oil using the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred.
33. Whoever makes perfume like it and puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off from their people.’"
34. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take fragrant spices - gum resin, onycha and galbanum - and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts,
35. and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred.
36. Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.
37. Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the LORD.
38. Whoever makes incense like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from their people."
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for setting apart your people through the Holy Spirit. May our unceasing prayers rise as a fragrant aroma to you.
One Word: Anointed, chosen vessel for God’s glory