- (Luk 1:8 ESV) Now while he was serving as _______________ before God when his division was on duty,
- This is the normal run of the life of a priest
- The job of the priesthood was to administer the _______________ of the covenant
- Between God and His people
- To atone for their _______________
- But even this was flawed and incomplete
- Much of the work they did was chosen by casting lots.
- (Luk 1:9 ESV) according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by _______________ to enter the temple of the Lord and burn _______________.
- Casting lots – kinda like drawing _______________
- This would basically be taking a handful of stones and putting marks on them.
- Each priest would pull out a stone and that would determine that they did
- So it is not a democratic vote
- It is not based on experience or merit
- _______________ were not the only ones who would do this
- Acts 1:21-26 the replacement for _______________ was selected by casting lots
- Most priests were never selected to do this
- So for this ot be happening to Zechariah was a momentous thing
- Once in a _______________.
- There are roughly 18,000 priests in _______________ at this time
- And they would each serve in the temple only _______________ weeks out of the year
- Where they would do this was just outside of the holy of holies
- Which was this representation of God’s _______________ among them
- And for anyone except the high priest
- This was as close as you could get to the holy of _______________
- Thus to the very _______________ of God in their culture.
- It is representing their prayers
- Outside the people are praying
- Inside this incense is wafting up into the sky like their prayer being lifted up to _______________
- (Luk 1:10 ESV) And the whole _______________ of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
- The whole multitude of the people were praying outside
- Likely this is the evening ceremony as more people would be there
- At the hour of incense.
- This is a very ritualistic event for the Jews
- They would carry hot _______________ in
- Leave the incense on them to be burned
- This OT system of rituals and priests and sacrifices
- It was pointing toward this point that the Messiah would come and finish the work
- Hebrews 8 & 9 – whole chapters
- _______________ – what has been is no more
- All that you have known is going away
- All of the old is being replaced
- Israel the _______________ is about to change
- And they are being given the thing they have most longed for: ______________
