Golden vials full of odours

Revelation 5:8

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

I am greatly encouraged this morning reading about the prayers of saints. For they are likened to golden vials full of odors. These odors are aromatic. They are a sweet-smelling savor. They are pleasant to the Lord Jesus. As these elders and beasts fall down before the Lamb, they do not come before Him empty handed. They are strumming on harps. They are worshipping the Son of God, the Lamb of Calvary, who was slain, that we may be redeemed unto God out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. These harps, no doubt, are creating the most beautiful music that could ever be fathomed. It would, in fact, surpass our greatest musical compositions and arrangements. It would exceed in glory all of the earthly performances, and would transcend the beauty of earthly instruments. For it is heavenly music! But they do not only have harps, but they also bear these golden vials. They are gold, signifying their inestimable value. They are precious to God. And out of these vials pours forth the great fragrance of the prayers of saints.

Dear friend, always remember that this is how valuable your prayers are to the Lord. A sweet aroma, a pleasant fragrance, that rises up to the Lord. He loves its fragrance. He enjoys its sweet aroma. It is as incense to Him. And He listens to those prayers. The souls under the altar will soon speak, and He will listen to them. In the same way, He listens to us intently. He bows down His ear, He hears us speedily. He does not shut out or block out our prayer. For it is exceedingly sweet to Him. It is as a garden of spices, a cluster of roses. This is what our prayers mean to Him. Dear one, do not think that the sweet smell of your prayers do not reach Him. Now a lustful or sinful prayer is not pleasing to Him. It is detestable and repulsive. But if you’ll come to Him with a true heart and in full assurance of faith, He will smell that and will be pleased with your supplication.

Beloved, let us stay before the throne. Continue to pray! Continue to seek the Lord! Know that your prayers do not go unnoticed! Be not disheartened when they are not answered at once. Know that the Lord never forgets, as we often do, and He has not forgotten your prayers. He has smelled every one of them. They are as incense to Him, emanating from the golden vials in Heaven. What a thought this is!

“Dear Lord, how we praise you that our prayers are always heard. They reach your ears and your nose. You smell them, you detect them, and you love them. May every prayer of ours be as sweet incense. May they be offered up in the trueness and purity of our heart. And may we remember that you hear them, and love them. May we persist in our prayers to you in faith, knowing that it is pleasing to you. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”