This is typical Lukan (a term to indicate it relates to the Gospel of Luke) style, to pair a story of a man with a story of a woman. Luke almost can't speak of one without the other. Before I go any further, I should tell you that about 90 percent of what I know about the New Testament, I learned from my friend, Eric Huntsman, a religion professor at BYU, either from his marvelous Education Week classes or his great books.
Luke addresses a Gentile audience and is a master at including everyone in his audience. He addresses his Gospel to a "most excellent Theophilus," whose identity is not known. We don't know of anyone historically with such a name, although there is much conjecture on the subject. In the Greek, Theophilus means, "friend of God," or "beloved of God." So if you consider yourself a "friend of God," welcome aboard.
Prayer Number 1 Is Answered
Zacharias was of the house of Aaron, as was his wife, Elizabeth (see Luke 1:5). In earlier times only the high priest of the Aaronic order would be eligible to offer incense upon the altar of incense, but after the second temple was built, the assignment to burn incense was decided by lot on a daily basis and all the priests became eligible.
Zacharias and Elizabeth are childless and "well stricken in years" (Luke 1:7). And perhaps the first tender mercy of the Lord was the opportunity Zacharias had to burn incense on the altar as the lot fell on him.
The altar of incense represents the prayers of the saints. John the Revelator sees a similar altar in vision as he states,
"And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne" (Revelation 8:3).
The smoke from the burning incense symbolized the prayers of the saints ascending to heaven.
Zacharias and Elizabeth must have spent hours on their knees praying for a child, and now, against all odds, their prayer is being answered. And just like Revelation, an angel is standing at the altar, and he announces himself as Gabriel (aka Noah; see Bible Dictionary, "Gabriel"). Who could be better than Noah to announce these glad tidings? Noah's family faced destruction from the Flood. Zacharias and Elizabeth are facing the likelihood of no children at all. Now their very personal prayer is being answered as Gabriel says, "Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John" (Luke 1:13).
The incense offering is described in the Bible Dictionary as follows:
"Live coals were brought from the brazen altar of burnt offering and placed on the golden altar of incense; then the priest to whom the lot had fallen entered alone into the Holy Place, carrying in a censer the incense, which he cast on the fire. Then, bowing reverently toward the Holy of Holies, he returned to the congregation, who were praying outside, and pronounced the blessing in Num. 6:24–26."
The prayerful incense offering involved a willingness to sacrifice, as represented by the brazen altar of burnt offering, and it involved the purifying influence of the Holy Ghost, as represented by the live coals (see Isaiah 6:6-7 for a similar experience with live coals). The priest went alone into the Holy Place as a mediator for the people and then returned to pronounce the blessing upon them. Christ, as the Great High Priest, went alone into Gethsemane, as He said, "I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone" (D&C 76:107).
Prayer Number 2 Is Answered
While the incense was being offered before the throne of God, the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies, toward which the priest would bow, the people outside were praying. God, in His omniscience, hears and responds to both prayers.
Zacharias has been struck dumb and left in humble reverence at the sacred nature of the events transpiring inside the temple, so he can't pronounce the blessing to the congregation. But the same angel, Zacharias, aka Noah, will deliver the glad tidings to a sweet, pure virgin named Mary, who faces potential ridicule, alienation, and separation from her espoused husband, Joseph.
Here is the blessing that Zacharias was unable to announce to the assembly outside:
"The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
"The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
"The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
"And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them" (Numbers 6:24-27).
So God sent His Son to bless them, keep them, make His face shine upon them, give them His grace, and put His name upon them to bless them. He sent the Prince of Peace.
And who could be better to deliver the message than Noah? He saved all remaining mankind from flood waters, just like Jesus saves us from death and hell and grants eternal life to those who will come unto Him.
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