18 On the other hand, the historian Luke tells us about a tremendous blessing that emerged during the burning of incense. One day, the Temple lottery chose Zechariah, a descendant of Aaron, for this task. As Zechariah performed his priestly duties, an angel appeared and announced the unexpected birth of Zechariah’ s son, Yochanan the Immerser. A joyous Reveal Party took place – not with blue balloons, but while Zechariah was burning the Temple incense.
So when we pray that our worship would be like a fragrant offering, do we reflect on the holiness standards that God requires of his cohanim?
Holiness means being set apart. The truth is that God required not only Aaron’ s line but all of Bnei Yisrael( the House of Israel) to set themselves apart from other nations through their conduct and devotion to Him. In Leviticus Chapter 11, Adonai concluded his kashrut( kosher) instructions with a repeated command for his people to be kedoshim because he is kodesh.(“ Be holy, for I am holy.”)
What did God mean by that? Adonai instructed his people to do something different from pagan people- live differently, behave differently – so that they would look more like Him than like other nations. The expectation to live differently undergirded the relationship between God and his people. Adonai embedded instructions for holiness in everyday activities – eating, and burning incense in the temple- as daily and frequent reminders for them to live His way. This call to holiness was“ relationship preparation.”