Exodus 30:9
Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon. Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.
The golden altar of incense stood in the holy place of the sanctuary before the veil separating the holy from the most holy, and this command governs its worship. It was reserved for the holy incense God commanded, and no unauthorized incense, no burnt sacrifice, no grain offering, and no drink offering was to be placed upon it. The fire upon it was kindled by God and kept sacred, incense was burned there morning and evening, and the altar was marked with the blood of sin offerings and sprinkled on the Day of Atonement. The incense had to be offered in the prescribed way, for sacred service must follow God's directions, and strange fire offered in disregard of them is unacceptable to God.
A cloud of fragrance ascended daily before God with the prayers of Israel, for the incense represents the prayers of the saints in faith, which Jesus presents to the Father and which rise like sweet fragrance. The prayers, praise, and confessions offered as this incense must be purified by Christ's blood and presented with His spotless righteousness in order to be acceptable to God. Worship at the altar must not be profaned by what is common or unauthorized, for the sacred fire represents God's holy work, while common feelings, plans, and speech dishonor that work and discourage its workers.