Exodus 30  This chapter contains instructions for the altar of incense and  the bronze laver for washing.  It also gives the recipe for the anointing oil and incense.

The Lord instructs Moses and the priests to preserve the oil and incense in these proportions exclusively for the tabernacle.  The anointing oil is so holy that all of the furniture , the utensils, and people involved in the work of the tabernacle are anointed with it, consecrating them.. "that they may be most holy; whatever touches them shall be holy." 

Both the anointing oil and the incense are not to be ever mixed or used by anyone else.. "Whoever shall mix any like it, or whoever puts any of it on a layman, shall be cut off from his people." (v33 and 38) .

The oil and incense would have beautiful aromas.  The incense was to be offered on the incense altar twice a day, morning and evening by Aaron, the high priest.  The oil was used only to consecrate the priests and the items in the tabernacle.

The emphasis here is on holiness. The Lord required His people to acknowledge and understand that everything about Him is holy.. separated,  set apart, from what is common.  These items revealed that holy distinction.  Over and over again the Lord taught His people to distinguish between what is holy and what is common. This has never changed, but we have lost sight of this.

Jesus taught us to pray.. " Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallow be Your Name."  His name is to be set apart, hallowed, treated with a sacred reverence.  This reflects the third commandment - "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.."  

Tozer writes this about God's holiness - "We know nothing like divine holiness. It stands apart, unique, unapproachable, incomprehensible and unattainable.  The natural man is blind to it. He may fear God's power and admire His wisdom, but His holiness he cannot even imagine." 

Father in heaven, Holy One, we hallow Your Name,  acknowledging  that You alone are Holy.  Yet You require us to be holy as You are Holy.  It is here that we recognize our utter failure and inability to be holy apart from the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ the Lord. We receive His righteousness as we trust in Him.  Thank You for this grace.. this gift that is far above anything we can even ask for or imagine.  Fill us with Your Spirit again Lord, consecrating us, setting us apart for the work of Your ministry.. whatever that might be this day.  It is in the Name of Jesus we ask this. Amen.