THE WORD 4 ev 1

Welcome back!

Today’s reading is Luke 1 (click here for link)

Luke chapter 1 is not only the longest chapter in this gospel, but the longest chapter in the entire New Testament! So, we receive a lot of information, and of course, much of it is very familiar. However, as I was reading this morning, something unusual happened… In the back of my mind I kept hearing the words, “Let my prayer rise before you as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”

Beautiful words which I immediately recognized to be a part of our liturgy for the service of Vespers, and later, I tracked it to Psalm 141:2. But what does it mean for our prayers to rise like incense?

Perhaps a little explanation might help:

The use of incense was a part of the religious rites of ancient Israel and has a long history in Christianity. In a worship service, clouds of incense represent cleansing and purification, and the sweet smell suggests Christ’s robe of righteousness that covers our sin. Incense is sometimes used to give honor to holy things and holy people, the primary symbols of the liturgy. In very traditional services, the gospel book, the altar, the bread and wine, the ministers and the congregation are incensed as a way of showing their importance in worship. Incense is also used to add a festive accompaniment to processions, adding “holy clouds” and “holy smells” to the air. Incense deepens our experience of the liturgy because it incorporates the sense of smell.

Incense is mentioned frequently in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In fact, the gifts the Magi offered to the Christ Child included gold, frank”incense” and myrrh. In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, the knowledge of Christ is compared to a fragrant odor. And finally, the vision of heaven in Revelation includes the elders holding bowls of incense, described as the prayers of the saints. (Revelation 5:8)

However, what struck me as interesting in today’s reading was the picture of old Zachariah standing before the altar with incense drifting heavenward. This was more than just a duty for him that day—although a very honorable duty it really was as Luke explains that priests were chosen by lot for this service, which meant that some priests could go their entire lifetime without having this honor. But Zachariah apparently had other things on his mind. He was praying. His prayer was, no doubt, a familiar one, “Lord have mercy. Give us a child.” Like any parents who have longed for a child, I am sure that Zachariah’s prayer had “incensed” the presence of the Lord many times.

Yet, amazingly, on this particular day, God smells the fragrance of longing in old Zachariah’s prayers and God responds. Imagine looking up from your prayers in the dark temple and seeing Gabriel across the altar from you, as if he has just come out from the Holy of Holies, between the altar and the table of shewbread, “on the right side of the altar.”

But was God really answering Zachariah’s prayer? After all, it could be argued that Elizabeth was allowed to conceive because it was God’s plan all along to send John the Baptist (Zachariah’s son) to be the one who prepares the way for the ministry of Jesus. Yet, while this is true, don’t be too hasty. God could have chosen any set of parents for this noble duty—to raise the Baptist. But God chose Zachariah and his barren wife Elizabeth. He chose the desperateness of their terrible situation to show great mercy. The fragrance of this elderly couple’s prayer moved him to action. In fact, Gabriel says, “Zachariah, Do not be afraid. Your prayer has been heard.”

Has your prayer been such? Does it drift perpetually into the nostrils of our Lord like incense?

Never discount the power of prayer. We have a God who loves us for the sake of his own Son, Jesus Christ. For Jesus sake, the Father listens to our prayers—even gives his own Spirit, who dwells in us and prays for us (Romans 8). And yes, while it may be true that God sometimes denies us the things for which we pray, never stop offering up the incense of your prayers. Fill heaven with aroma of them. Who knows, perhaps for the sake of Jesus, God may reverse a sickness, heal an infertile womb, a fractured marriage. God has done such things before on behalf of prayer! But if not… we also pray, “Yet, not my will, but thy will be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Even when there seems no hope, the Christian prays, “Dear Father, for Jesus sake, please…”

“O Lord, I call to you: come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you. Let my prayer rise before you as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” (Psalm 141:1-2)

God’s blessings to you as you wait for his answer.

Pastor Aaron