Luke 1:9-10
according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easy to miss is that drawing lots for specific duties, like burning incense, wasn't just about orderly procedure; it made this singular moment incredibly rare for any given priest. This rarity elevated the significance of the act, transforming it from a routine task into a highly coveted and potentially life-altering privilege before God.
In ancient Jerusalem, priests were organized into rotating families, and specific duties within the temple were decided by lot. Zacharias, a righteous man from the priestly line of Abijah, drew the highly coveted lot to enter the inner sanctuary and burn incense, a symbolic act of presenting the people's prayers to God. This solemn and solitary task placed him directly before the Lord's presence, just as the people waited outside in prayer, unaware of the miraculous encounter about to unfold.
Imagine the anticipation! A specific, sacred task within the very presence of God. This wasn't just any job; it was the pinnacle of priestly service.
In ancient Israel, the priesthood was a large, intricate system. To ensure fairness and prevent ambition, King David organized the priestly families into 24 'courses' or rotations (1 Chronicles 24). Within each course, daily duties were assigned by lot. The act of burning incense in the Temple's Holy Place was the most esteemed and coveted of these duties. It symbolized the prayers of God's people ascending to heaven. For Zacharias to draw this lot meant he was chosen, by divine order through the custom, for a moment of profound privilege and spiritual significance, right at the threshold of God's presence.
Zacharias and Elizabeth were 'righteous,' yet they faced a deep sorrow. Their story reminds us that God's timing for answered prayer is often beyond our own understanding.
The verse places Zacharias in the Temple, burning incense. The ancient commentaries suggest this was a moment of intense prayer, not just for the nation, but potentially a personal one for Zacharias. He and his wife Elizabeth were 'both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless' (Luke 1:6), yet they were childless and advanced in years. This deeply personal longing, combined with their faithful service, set the stage for a divine encounter. The angel's message, 'your prayer has been heard,' confirms that their years of silent, faithful longing hadn't gone unnoticed. God's plan unfolded precisely when and how He intended, using a moment of sacred duty to answer a lifetime of prayer.
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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.
proseuchomai · Greek Verb
The act of communicating with God through petitions, thanksgiving, or confession. It is an expression of human dependence upon God and faith in His responsiveness to His people.
The specific practice of assigning priestly duties by lot, including the honor of burning incense in the Holy Place, highlights the meticulous order and tradition within the Second Temple's worship, setting the stage for a miraculous divine encounter.
c. 457 BC
Ezra's Reforms
Following the return from Babylonian exile, Ezra led reforms that reinforced the importance of the Law and temple worship. This period saw a renewed emphasis on priestly order and adherence to Mosaic ordinances.
c. 400-175 BC
Second Temple Period
This era saw the rebuilding and ongoing administration of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The Hasmonean dynasty eventually gained control, influencing the priesthood and temple governance.
c. 63 BC
Roman Intervention in Judea
Roman General Pompey interfered in a dispute over the Hasmonean throne, leading to Roman dominance over Judea. This marked the beginning of a period of Roman political influence and, later, direct rule.
37 BC – AD 4— this verse
Reign of Herod the Great
Herod the Great, an Idumean appointed by Rome, ruled Judea. While a period of relative peace and extensive building projects (including expanding the Second Temple), his reign was marked by political intrigue and brutality.
c. AD 25-30
Priestly Service of Zechariah
During this time, Zechariah, a priest from the division of Abijah, was serving in the Temple in Jerusalem. According to the established custom, priestly duties, including the highly coveted role of burning incense, were assigned by lot.
This passage describes the divine command for incense to be burned twice daily, establishing the ancient practice that Zacharias was carrying out by lot.
1 Chronicles 24:3-19This chapter details David's division of the priestly families into courses, explaining the 'custom of the priesthood' and how lots were used to assign specific duties within those rotations.
Leviticus 16:12-13This describes the high priest's unique role of entering the Holy of Holies with incense once a year, highlighting the symbolic importance and solemnity of handling incense before the Lord, a practice foreshadowed by Zacharias's lot.
Psalm 141:2This psalm connects the offering of incense directly with prayer ascending to God, giving deep theological weight to Zacharias's specific priestly duty at that moment.
Revelation 8:3-4This New Testament vision directly links an angel offering incense with the prayers of the saints, showing how the Old Testament practice symbolized the prayers of God's people reaching Him through Christ.
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.
What's easy to miss is that drawing lots for specific duties, like burning incense, wasn't just about orderly procedure; it made this singular moment incredibly rare for any given priest. This rarity elevated the significance of the act, transforming it from a routine task into a highly coveted and potentially life-altering privilege before God.
In ancient Jerusalem, priests were organized into rotating families, and specific duties within the temple were decided by lot. Zacharias, a righteous man from the priestly line of Abijah, drew the highly coveted lot to enter the inner sanctuary and burn incense, a symbolic act of presenting the people's prayers to God. This solemn and solitary task placed him directly before the Lord's presence, just as the people waited outside in prayer, unaware of the miraculous encounter about to unfold.
In ancient Jerusalem, priests were organized into rotating families, and specific duties within the temple were decided by lot. Zacharias, a righteous man from the priestly line of Abijah, drew the highly coveted lot to enter the inner sanctuary and burn incense, a symbolic act of presenting the people's prayers to God. This solemn and solitary task placed him directly before the Lord's presence, just as the people waited outside in prayer, unaware of the miraculous encounter about to unfold.
"according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense." — What's easy to miss is that drawing lots for specific duties, like burning incense, wasn't just about orderly procedure; it made this singular moment incredibly rare for any given priest. This rarity…
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