In a world a lot less sanitized than ours, anything fragrant was highly valued. Small wonder that most world religions, including ancient Israel’s, used incense in worship. Israel’s law had guidelines for making the special incense used in worship (Ex.30:34–38).
Israel’s high priest burned incense daily in the tabernacle. It was burned on an altar of pure gold.
Incense is not mentioned much in the New Testament, although one of the gifts of the magi to the baby Jesus was a form of incense (Matt. 2:11). The book of Revelation speaks of incense in heaven, using it as a symbol: The elders in heaven hold “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (5:8).
Since the smoke of incense drifts heavenward, it is easy to see how it symbolizes prayer. Some churches still use incense in worship.
