A Multitude Praying - Luke 1:10

The beloved physician Luke wrote how, “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord”, and in chapter one and verse ten of his book Luke shares how, “the whole multitude of the people were praying”, where we read:

And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

The verse reads, “And the whole multitude of the people ...” Luke began with the words, “And the whole multitude” or “and each, every, all and everyone of the great number, bundle, company, throng and populace” “of the people” which means “pertaining to the human beings both male and female”. Luke shared how there was a “large crowd” assembled when Zacharias entered the “temple” area.

The verse continues, “... were praying without at the time of incense.” Luke added the words, “were praying without” which means “the whole multitude was supplicating, worshiping and making orations to God outside of the temple” “at the time of incense” or “during the certain moment and point of time pertaining to the burning of the fragrant powder within the temple”. Luke shared how a “large crowd” gathered outside of the temple were “praying” as the “incense” was being offered up by Zacharias.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn of many other people being involved in this special duty of Zacharias. Though Zacharias was chosen to “offer burning incense” as a symbol of prayer, others were gathered outside of the temple to pray with him as well. God loves to have people involved in His Kingdom, and when they yield their lives to His Son Jesus to be their personal “Savior and Lord”, He allows them to “serve” in whatever capacity they may. One of the greatest ministries within God's church is “prayer”, and this “assembled multitude” were fulfilling that function well.

Next time Luke shares how, “there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".