Into the Holy Place: Luke 1:8-10
“8) Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9) according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10) And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.” Luke 1:8-10
The priestly divisions would come to Jerusalem to serve in the temple for a month at a time. Zacharias was of the division of Abijah. He was in Jerusalem serving his monthly duty at the temple.
He was involved in the daily sacrifices and taking the offerings from the people. It was an exhausting schedule six days a week, but even on the Sabbath they had certain duties in the temple.
The daily duties included the replacing the show bread, offering incense and trimming the lamps that illuminated the Holy Place. One hour a day was devoted to this ceremony. It was called “the hour of incense offering.” (Hebrews 9:1-10 gives a brief synopsis of the temple service.)
From the priestly division on duty at the temple, a daily lot was taken to see who would enter the Holy Place and replace the show bread, trim the lamps and burn incense.
It happened on this day that the lot fell on Zacharias. Few in each division were ever selected for this honor. It was a once in a lifetime time privilege.
While the priest was in the Holy Place, the people outside would be in earnest prayer. (See Luke 1:9) The procedure took approximately one hour.
Thus the stage was set for a significant event that put Zacharias in the spot light for all Israel. He was delayed in the Holy Place long past the usual hour. That meant he was either dead because of the burning anger of God for some irreverence, or God was doing something very special and unusual. Stay tuned as the story unfolds.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoSev Global.
“8) Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9) according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10) And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.” Luke 1:8-10
The priestly divisions would come to Jerusalem to serve in the temple for a month at a time. Zacharias was of the division of Abijah. He was in Jerusalem serving his monthly duty at the temple.
He was involved in the daily sacrifices and taking the offerings from the people. It was an exhausting schedule six days a week, but even on the Sabbath they had certain duties in the temple.
The daily duties included the replacing the show bread, offering incense and trimming the lamps that illuminated the Holy Place. One hour a day was devoted to this ceremony. It was called “the hour of incense offering.” (Hebrews 9:1-10 gives a brief synopsis of the temple service.)
From the priestly division on duty at the temple, a daily lot was taken to see who would enter the Holy Place and replace the show bread, trim the lamps and burn incense.
It happened on this day that the lot fell on Zacharias. Few in each division were ever selected for this honor. It was a once in a lifetime time privilege.
While the priest was in the Holy Place, the people outside would be in earnest prayer. (See Luke 1:9) The procedure took approximately one hour.
Thus the stage was set for a significant event that put Zacharias in the spot light for all Israel. He was delayed in the Holy Place long past the usual hour. That meant he was either dead because of the burning anger of God for some irreverence, or God was doing something very special and unusual. Stay tuned as the story unfolds.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoSev Global.
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