SWEET INCENSE
Two things from this world last forever, souls and prayer.
We know that souls are immortal and will spend eternity with
either God in Heaven or the devil in hell. Likewise, prayer
lasts forever and is collected in Heaven in great bowls: "Now
when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and
the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having
a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers
of the saints" (Rev. 5:8).
When prayer is offered up to God, it leaves the realm of time
and enters the realm of eternity. This means that when prayer
enters the throne room of God, it remains before Him as sweet
incense, a pleasing aroma in the nostrils of God: "Then
another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the
altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it
with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which
was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with
the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's
hand" (Rev. 8:3-4).
Memorial offerings change the atmosphere of Heaven when accompanied
by memorial prayer, the sweet incense of Heaven. This means
that your request remains before God as a memorial, a petition
before an executive, a monument of offering and prayer.
A MOTHER'S HEART
Scripture reveals the heart of a mother in a woman who was
barren. Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, yearned for a son. Elkanah
loved Hannah, and placed no stigma upon her because of her
barrenness. However, Hannah desperately wanted a son.
Finally, Hannah could stand it no longer. While she and Elkanah
were at Shiloh to worship the Lord and offer sacrifice, Hannah
went alone to the door of the Tabernacle where Eli, the high
priest was sitting ...
"And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the
LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, 'O
LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of
Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant,
but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give
him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall
come upon his head'" (1 Sam. 1:10-11).
Notice that Hannah's vow declared what would happen to the
child if God would honor her prayer. Her prophetic declaration
said that this child would be given to the Lord for all his
life.
Hannah's petition of prayer was accompanied by the sacrifices
and offerings for which she and Elkanah had gone to Shiloh.
When Eli learned of her prayer and offering, he confirmed
the Word of the Lord to her and declared, "Go in peace,
and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked
of Him" (1 Sam 1:17).
THE FUTURE BELONGS TO GOD
When Hannah's son, Samuel, was born, she was true to her word
and took him to Eli and presented him before the Lord: "O
my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood
by you here, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed,
and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.
Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he
lives he shall be lent to the LORD" (1 Sam. 1:26-28).
Hannah set a memorial before the Lord by offering something
precious. The declaration she made before God made "official"
the desire of her heart for a son. The aroma of her prayer
remained like incense before the throne of God, holding her
request continually in front of the King.
Hannah declared her inheritance before God by leaving Samuel
in the care of Eli. A son was her assurance of being taken
care of in her old age—the same son she vowed to the
Lord as a memorial offering. Hannah realized her future was
in God's hands, not the hands of man. Her recognition of this
important fact enabled her to cast off her "security"
and place her life securely in God's care. |
