The Thread of Fragrance| READ: 2 Corinthians 2:1-11
First, let's set the stage. This church is honestly on the struggle bus. They have embraced some pretty questionable, downright immoral behavior in their home churches.
Paul has had enough and sends them a first letter of rebuke. It does not go well. Paul even follows up with a visit that he calls painful. So here we are, opening 2 Corinthians, a letter in which both Paul and the church seek reconciliation.
The Thread Of Fragrance | READ: 2 Corinthians 2:14-17
Paul compares spreading the knowledge of Yaweh to spreading a sweet aroma, and I love the imagery that Paul creates here!
Have you ever been captivated by the smell of a flower, something baking in the oven, or a beautiful-smelling perfume? When a fragrance is pleasing and captivating, you are usually driven to find the source.
The same goes for those who have knowledge of Yahweh. Those who are in the new covenant should be such a pleasant aroma; people should be motivated to find out what’s producing that aroma.
But where does Paul get this idea? This idea weaves all the way back in Exodus!
The Thread Of Fragrance | READ: Exodus 30:7-10
Did you find it? Yahweh instructs that incense was to be burned morning and evening before the Lord as an offering. The incense would burn before the Lord throughout the generations.
The same direction applies to burning incense during the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16:12-13.
What was the blend of this particular incense? We find the recipe in Exodus 30:34 - 37. (A Holy Blend). The incense would not only create smoke but would also emit a recognizable sacred fragrance.
Prayers Like Incense|READ: Psalm 141:2 | Rev 5:8 | Rev 8:3-4
The thread of fragrance is woven into the Psalms, where David says that his prayers are like incense. They would burn all day and night in front of the altar, bringing the aroma of David's prayers before Yahweh.
This idea is woven allll the way to Revelation. In John's vision, he sees a bowl filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. The smoke of the incense, filled with the prayers, rises before Yahweh.
From Yahweh’s command to burn incense at the altar in Exodus to the end of Scripture, we see the imagery come full circle: the prayers of the saints are held before Yahweh as incense, rising like smoke in His presence. How amazing is it to see this imagery come to life?!
An Aroma For Generations | 2 Corinthians 2:15 – 17
Looping this idea back to where we started, with this background knowledge, re-read 2 Corinthians 2:15-17.
Paul is building on the imagery of incense and aroma—how our prayers rise before Yahweh as something lovely and fragrant. But if our prayers rise like smoke to Yahweh, what about our actions?
Paul says that the knowledge of Yahweh is a sweet aroma. It’s captivating. It piques curiosity. We’ve all said it before: “What is that smell, and where is it coming from?”
What if our lives could do the same—captivate others and spark curiosity about who Yahweh is?
Yahweh states in Exodus that the incense will burn from generation to generation. This connection made me "inquisitive" - What would continue from generation to generation?
Could it be prayers that will go on from generation to generation?
Could it be worship that would go on from generation to generation?
Could it be his children who would go on from generation to generation?
Could this be referencing the Church—the multi-ethnic new humanity united through what Jesus has done for us?
We have been given a new heart and an eternal purpose: to carry the knowledge of Yahweh from generation to generation, spreading the sweet, sacred aroma of who He is to the world.
Could this be how the incense can continue for generation after generation?
Digging Deeper| Other Passages on Incense or Aromas
- Aroma Impacts Yahweh's Decision | Genesis 8:21
- Christ's Actions Are Like a Fragrance | Ephesians 5:2
- Gifts to Yaweh are Aromas | Philippians 4:18
- The Deeper Meaning of Incense | (Two Minute Video)
