Luke 1:9
according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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While the incense offering was a solemn duty, what's easily missed is that this highly coveted role, which symbolized the prayers of God's people ascending to heaven, was determined by lot. This randomness underscored that even the most sacred earthly service depended entirely on God's sovereign choice and appointment, not on human merit or ambition.
This passage sets the scene with Zechariah, a righteous priest of the Abia division, diligently performing his duties in the Temple. It describes the custom where priests were chosen by lot for specific sacred tasks, and for Zechariah, it was the highly esteemed role of burning incense. This act, a symbol of the people's prayers ascending to God, took place in the inner sanctuary, a privilege reserved for priests, while the community waited outside.
Imagine stepping into the holiest place, the very presence of God. What would that moment feel like? This was Zacharias's reality.
The burning of incense in the Temple was a highly significant and sacred ritual. It wasn't just about making the place smell nice; it was a profound symbol.
A Symbol of Prayer
According to the Old Testament law, incense was burned twice daily, morning and evening. This act was meant to represent the prayers of God's people ascending to heaven. Think of it as a fragrant offering, a tangible sign of their devotion and pleas reaching the divine ear.
A Coveted Privilege
This particular duty, the burning of incense in the inner sanctuary (the Holy Place), was the most esteemed and sought-after of all priestly tasks. It was so significant that it was decided by lot, ensuring fairness and divine appointment. To be chosen for this role meant you were stepping into God's immediate presence, acting as a mediator between heaven and earth, with the hopes and prayers of Israel rising with the smoke.
God doesn't do things haphazardly. Even the seemingly mundane details of ancient worship reveal a divine hand at work.
The selection of Zacharias to burn incense wasn't random; it was part of a divinely ordained system.
David's Arrangement
Centuries earlier, King David, under God's inspiration, organized the priests into 24 divisions or 'courses'. This wasn't to change God's law but to bring order and prevent confusion or ambition within the priesthood. Each course served for a specific period.
The Role of the Lot
Within their week of service, the specific duties, like cleansing the altar, preparing the lamps, or burning the incense, were assigned by lot. This ensured that every priest had a fair chance at the different responsibilities and, crucially, that the assignment was seen as coming from God Himself. It underscored the idea that even the highest honors were gifts from above, not earned achievements.
Understand the original words
naos · Greek Noun
The dwelling place of God’s presence on earth, dedicated to His worship. It was the central location for sacrifices, ritual service, and communion between God and His people.
thymiama · Greek Noun
A substance burned as an offering to God, representing the prayers of the saints ascending to His throne. The act of burning it was a sacred liturgical duty performed in the presence of the Lord.
The priestly system, with its rotating duties and sacred rituals like burning incense, was deeply ingrained in Jewish life. The selection by lot for such a significant and symbolic act highlights the order and reverence surrounding temple service, making the angel's appearance to Zacharias during this specific, coveted duty profoundly impactful.
c. 1400 BC
Davidic Priesthood Order Established
King David, under God's direction, organized the Levitical priesthood into 24 rotating 'courses' or shifts to manage the temple service. This system ensured an orderly and fair distribution of duties among the many priestly families.
c. 950 BC
Solomon's Temple Dedicated
The First Temple in Jerusalem is completed and dedicated, becoming the central place of worship and sacrifice for Israel. The daily and special services, including incense burning, are performed here according to God's law.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of the First Temple
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy Solomon's Temple, and exile many of the Jewish people. This event marks a severe disruption to the established priestly order and temple worship.
c. 516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
After the return from Babylonian exile, the Jewish people, with permission from the Persian Empire, rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. The 24 priestly courses are reinstituted, continuing the traditions.
This passage details the Old Testament law requiring incense to be burned twice daily in the Lord's sanctuary, establishing the custom that Zacharias was following.
1 Chronicles 24:10This verse names Abijah as the eighth division of priests, showing the established order of the priesthood by David, which Luke references as the 'course of Abia'.
2 Chronicles 26:18-19This account of King Uzziah's leprosy for attempting to burn incense highlights the sacredness and exclusivity of this priestly duty, which Zacharias performed by lot.
Psalm 141:2This psalm describes incense prayers ascending to God, directly paralleling the symbolic meaning of the incense offering Zacharias was performing on behalf of the people.
Revelation 8:3-4This New Testament vision connects the incense offered by an angel with the prayers of the saints, further emphasizing the symbolic significance of Zacharias's task as a representation of prayer.
calvinLuke 1:5-13: "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth."
- In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7. And the…
clarkeLuke 1:9: "According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord."
His lot was, etc. - We are informed in the Talmud, that it was the custom of the priests to divide the different functions of the sacerdotal office among themselves by lot: and, in this case, the decision of the lot was, that Zacharias should at that time burn the incense before the Lord, in the holy place.
While the incense offering was a solemn duty, what's easily missed is that this highly coveted role, which symbolized the prayers of God's people ascending to heaven, was determined by lot. This randomness underscored that even the most sacred earthly service depended entirely on God's sovereign choice and appointment, not on human merit or ambition.
This passage sets the scene with Zechariah, a righteous priest of the Abia division, diligently performing his duties in the Temple. It describes the custom where priests were chosen by lot for specific sacred tasks, and for Zechariah, it was the highly esteemed role of burning incense. This act, a symbol of the people's prayers ascending to God, took place in the inner sanctuary, a privilege reserved for priests, while the community waited outside.
This passage sets the scene with Zechariah, a righteous priest of the Abia division, diligently performing his duties in the Temple. It describes the custom where priests were chosen by lot for specific sacred tasks, and for Zechariah, it was the highly esteemed role of burning incense. This act, a symbol of the people's prayers ascending to God, took place in the inner sanctuary, a privilege reserved for priests, while the community waited outside.
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c. 40 BC
Herod the Great Becomes King of Judea
Herod, an Idumean appointed by Rome, becomes king, marking a period of Roman influence and significant, often brutal, rule over Judea. The priestly families continued their service during his reign.
c. 5 BC— this verse
Zacharias Serves in the Temple
Zacharias, a priest from the division of Abijah (the eighth course), is serving his appointed week in the Second Temple. He is chosen by lot, a custom maintained for centuries, to enter the Holy Place and burn the daily incense offering.
"according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense." — While the incense offering was a solemn duty, what's easily missed is that this highly coveted role, which symbolized the prayers of God's people ascending to heaven, was determined by lot. This ra…
