The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-12-26
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

SUBJECTS: /. HAcHARIAs AT THE TEMPLE 9.
GABRIEL AND ZAcHARIAs IN THE Holy
PLACE.
l. HAcHARIAs MTEIsTERING AS PRIEST IN
THE TEMPLE AT JERUSALEM
1. Data.
Tho only New Testament account furnished
ms to Iacharias in the net of Offering incense in
the Holy Place is given by ST. Luke 1:5-10l
The incident occurred probably two decades
before St. Luke was born, and 80 to 80 years
before he wrote. lie had made dligent exam
nation of all the data at hand He was moved
OF the Holy Spirit to write, and was preserved
by such influence from error
2. Time
We may date the lesson b. G. T. and not I'M.
likely in the month of May. This was some
two or three years before the death of Horod
the Great This Her0d had been ruling for
about 30 years Verse 10, stating "the whole
multitude of the people" was present leads us
To put the lesson on Saturday, the Jewish Sab
BATH when the masses would be most likely to
attend services in the Temple. Incense was
offered twice each day. at o a. IN. and D. M
We cannot determine whether Xacharias was
serving In the forenoon or the afternoon. Dr.
Adam Clark essays in the morning Meyer thinks
10 was IN tho earlier service of the day. infer
ring this from the close connection indicated
between the lot and the offering of the incense.
The lot was probably cast each day in the
morning. Barnes puts the lesson in the after
noon.
From verse % we infer Zacharias was in
the early part Of his course lie could not
return at once, but was Obliged to remain till
the priests belonging to his course were re-
lieved from duty. When the Jewish ministry
became too numerous to servo at one time
they were divided by David into q classes or
courses Only those belonging to the same course
md Ii, L "a.
Tor one week. HonGe each class would serve
Tor two weeks per year. At the start tho
order IN which the "a courses we're successfully |
10 serve was settled by lot. Afterward the same |
order oil succession was mainai An ac-
count OF the division is found in Chr, "a: l. |
~. We lind from l Chr. 81 10 that the course |
of Abba (Abijah) was the eighth The I,eyites |
were also divided into 81 courses. Only four
OF the "a classes returned from the Babylonsh |
captivity, but these were redistributed into "a |
courses. (See Josephus. Z, 14,7.)
3. Where.
We find ourselves in Asia. Palestine. Judea,
Jerusalcms son Mt. MoTiah. in the Temple That |
structure consisted first of the Court OF the |
Genties, Enclosing the Temple proper The !
Temple, to wit. the building within the Gentle |
Court, was divided into four parts: l. The /
Court OF the Women, entered by the Gate Beau /
thu. = The Court OF the Priests entered by 1
the Gate Nicanor. 3. The Holy Place. 4. The |
Holy of Holes The Court of the Priests ex- |
tended Ia front and on the two sides of the +
Sanctuary, 10 wit. the Holy Place aud the Holy |
OF Holes. In the Holy Place which was 80 feet /
long aud 80 feet wide. were the altar Of incense,
table for shewbread aud the golden candestick |
Tho altar of incense was nj the west end near /
tho vail which separated the Holy of Holes /
from the Holy Place. The people were in what |
Is known IA the Court of the Women. room /
about 250 feet square. While they prayed in |
that court the priest offered sweet-smcling |
odors in the Holy Place ut the altar of incense. |
he Jews arranged their services so that priest !
and people always worshiped thus Jointly |
Prayer aud incense went up AZ the same time.
the incense being supposed to be a sort Of /
vehicle for conveying the prayers on high.
Tho home OF Zacharias was ut Juttah, in the |
southern pHrt of Judea. He was Mt Jerusalem |
twice each year 70 join with his course in their
service, covering each time ono week Juttah
was Ia tho hill country. w. 3d. It was %
miles south OF Jerusalem and five south of He
bron. ION Juttah, see JOSH, 10: 90 2i:I6J
4. Herod he Great
There are several Herods mentioned in the
New Testament. First of all is Herod the
Great. He Is the one 20 whom reference is
made In this lesson. He was the second son OF
Antipater. who was son of Antipas, the Gov
ernor OF Idumea- For aiding Cesar against AL
axandria ho was made Roman Citizen and |
also became Governor OF Judea Herod the
Great began 10 rule over Judea In about tho |
year H. &. 81. lie had, therefore, held the
iceptor for. say 80 years. At his death b. C.
5. Arcbelaus succeeded to the Kingdom. Herod
The Great became formally proseiyte TO the
J CIV ish faith. The act was evidently for politi-
cal eiloct. He renovated and repaired the jew
sh Temple To such an extent that the Temple
ot Christs time was often called Herod's Tenn
pie.
.. Zaehdrias aud Elisabeth
Zacharlas means. whom Jehovah remembers.
lie was descendant OF Aaron in the line of
lthamar. the sou Of Aaron He was a priest
lie belonged to the course of Abba (Abjah),
which was the eighth OF the ~ courses into
which the priests were divided a Cor, ~ :IO.)
lie WAS the husband of Elisabeth aud became
ather of st. John Baptist.
Elisabeth. The name means God her oath
Or Gods oath. or oath made to God Ii is the
suitable name for one consecrated to GOd-one
sealed to Jehovah by solemn promises She
was the daughter OF priest, husband of the
priest Zacharias, and became mother of the
orerunner OF Christ. by reason of her age.
aud in consequence OF some physical incapacity
If Elisabeth. her parontage was miraculous.
There were some features shared in common
BY Xacharias aud Elisabeth. Both were nd
saneed Ia age They were both righteous be-
Tore God, walking in all tho Commandments
and ordinances OF the Lord "bameless" ". 81
compare cases OF Noah Gen, I'll H. and Abram
Gen, IL: ~ As to Zacharias and Elisabeth
being righteous barnes says, a. Just holy this
means here more than external conformity to
he law. II Is an honorable testimony TO their
ptety toward God" Though as domestic oues-
ions were thon considered. there was some
revocation in his ease Zacharias did not
ccure divorce nor become guilty of polygamy
Both were then common crimes, aud abstaucd !
rom by only the moro pious. They were
blameless.' They were punctilouS Ia duty
They did not permit thcmsel YES To be mt fault
n omission or commission The reference is TO
heir keeping of the Commandments aud ordi.
lances. The account implies they were hearty.
ncere genuine, religious pous. Blame.
ess " refers TO tho opinion of the world ms 10
Iacharias aud wife, Ii Is the reverse of fright.
,0us," which relates to their condition in Gods |
esteem. They were without reprnach" phil
;; 49, Commandments aud ordinances relate
o external duties and hence to visible acts
Walking" in these, Iacharias and Elisabeth | !
onld be observed by society in general The
w0 were perfect and blamoess in their will |
ngness and disposition to obey Gods will, and !
o successful in their efforts as To escape any
'ublio censure as evil-doers
6. Suggestions.
|. Pray. Prayers are grateful TO God As
lowers aud sweet odors are To us. 1t is well to
ave regular set times for prayer.
=. While your pastor offers the incense of :
rayer, while he breaches, while he Is engaged
various clerical duties in the interest of your
aTish pray for him.
49, AZ