Gabriel Appears to Zechariah at the Incense AltarBible World
1:8Luke 1:8
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
Luke 1:8 places Zacharias in Jerusalem in the temple, executing the priest's office before God in the assigned turn of his course according to established priestly custom. Priests served in the temple for a week twice a year, and this was his appointed period of service. On this occasion his duty by lot according to custom was to burn incense, standing before the golden altar in the holy place of the sanctuary when he went into the temple of the Lord. While he burned incense the gathered multitude, the whole multitude of Israel, prayed outside at the time of incense, with the cloud of incense and the prayers of Israel ascending before God. His particular work in that service was to pray for the people, asking pardon for public and national sins and praying for the promised Saviour to redeem them.
At the time he was far advanced in years and was righteous before God and blameless with Elizabeth in all commandments and ordinances, serving faithfully as a conscientious, God-fearing priest ministering in the holy office of the priesthood. While he served, an angel of the Lord appeared beside the altar of incense, standing on the right side of the altar, a position indicating favor. Zacharias took no note of the favor indicated, but was surprised, troubled, and filled with fear and self-condemnation, feeling God's mercy too great to credit. As a conscientious God-fearing soul he questioned whether he had offended God and whether the messenger had come to reprove or condemn him in judgment.
Heaven had sent its messenger to announce that his many years of prayer for the coming of the Redeemer were about to be answered in the birth of John the Baptist. That son to him and Elisabeth would bring joy and gladness, be great in the sight of the Lord, drink neither wine nor strong drink, be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb, turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. That foretold work was fulfilled when John preached with power in the wilderness of Judea to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand and turned many from unrighteousness. While many were turned, the Pharisees and rulers who believed not proved to be the son in the parable of the two sons who said I go sir but went not.
Because of his unbelief Zacharias was left unable to speak until the prediction was fulfilled. When he could not come out the people waiting feared God had shown displeasure. When he came out with his face shining he could only signal to them that an angel had appeared. The angel's visit while he served instructed him and Elizabeth how to train and educate their promised miracle child in old age to work in harmony with God in preparing a messenger to announce Christ. It required their faithful cooperation with God to form in John a character fit for his assigned work as a competent worker.
They did not leave John for the Lord to care for alone but acted their part by moving to a retired place in the country where he would not be exposed to city temptations or induced to depart from their counsel and instruction. By no careless neglect on their part would he fail to become good and wise to give light in darkness and guide feet into peace. The announcement connects with the need for temperance in the parents' habits.
Luke 1:8 places Zacharias in Jerusalem in the temple, executing the priest's office before God in the assigned turn of his course according to established priestly custom. Priests served in the temple for a week twice a year, and this was his appointed period of service. On this occasion his duty by lot according to custom was to burn incense, standing before the golden altar in the holy place of the sanctuary when he went into the temple of the Lord. While he burned incense the gathered multitude, the whole multitude of Israel, prayed outside at the time of incense, with the cloud of incense and the prayers of Israel ascending before God. His particular work in that service was to pray for the people, asking pardon for public and national sins and praying for the promised Saviour to redeem them.
At the time he was far advanced in years and was righteous before God and blameless with Elizabeth in all commandments and ordinances, serving faithfully as a conscientious, God-fearing priest ministering in the holy office of the priesthood. While he served, an angel of the Lord appeared beside the altar of incense, standing on the right side of the altar, a position indicating favor. Zacharias took no note of the favor indicated, but was surprised, troubled, and filled with fear and self-condemnation, feeling God's mercy too great to credit. As a conscientious God-fearing soul he questioned whether he had offended God and whether the messenger had come to reprove or condemn him in judgment.
Heaven had sent its messenger to announce that his many years of prayer for the coming of the Redeemer were about to be answered in the birth of John the Baptist. That son to him and Elisabeth would bring joy and gladness, be great in the sight of the Lord, drink neither wine nor strong drink, be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb, turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. That foretold work was fulfilled when John preached with power in the wilderness of Judea to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand and turned many from unrighteousness. While many were turned, the Pharisees and rulers who believed not proved to be the son in the parable of the two sons who said I go sir but went not.
Because of his unbelief Zacharias was left unable to speak until the prediction was fulfilled. When he could not come out the people waiting feared God had shown displeasure. When he came out with his face shining he could only signal to them that an angel had appeared. The angel's visit while he served instructed him and Elizabeth how to train and educate their promised miracle child in old age to work in harmony with God in preparing a messenger to announce Christ. It required their faithful cooperation with God to form in John a character fit for his assigned work as a competent worker.
They did not leave John for the Lord to care for alone but acted their part by moving to a retired place in the country where he would not be exposed to city temptations or induced to depart from their counsel and instruction. By no careless neglect on their part would he fail to become good and wise to give light in darkness and guide feet into peace. The announcement connects with the need for temperance in the parents' habits.