officiating priest was left alone within the Holy Place, to await the signal of the president

before burning the incense. It was probably while thus expectant that the angel Gabriel

appeared to Zacharias. As the president gave the word of command, which marked that

'the time of incense had come,' 'the whole multitude of the people without' withdrew from

the inner court, and fell down before the Lord, spreading their hands  90 in silent prayer.

It is this most solemn period, when throughout the vast Temple buildings deep silence

rested on the worshipping multitude, while within the sanctuary itself the priest laid the

incense on the golden altar, and the cloud of 'odours' (Rev 5:8) rose up before the Lord,

which serves as the image of heavenly things in this description (Rev 8:1,3,4): 91 'and

when He had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of

half an hour...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. And the smoke of the

incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the

angel's hand.'

The prayers offered by priests and people at this part of the service are recorded by

tradition as follows: 92 'True it is that Thou art Jehovah our God, and the God of our

fathers; our King and the King of our fathers; our Saviour and the Saviour of our

fathers; our Maker and the Rock of our salvation; our Help and our Deliverer. Thy name

is from everlasting, and there is no God beside Thee. A new song did they that were

delivered sing to Thy name by the sea-shore; together did all praise and own Thee as

King, and say, Jehovah shall reign who saveth Israel. 93

'Be graciously pleased, Jehovah our God, with Thy people Israel, and with their prayer.

Restore the service to the oracle of Thy house; and the burnt-offerings of Israel and

their prayer accept graciously and in love; and let the service of Thy people Israel be

ever well-pleasing unto Thee.

'We praise Thee, who art Jehovah our God, and the God of our fathers, the God of all

flesh, our Creator, and the Creator from the beginning! Blessing and praise be to Thy

great and holy name, that Thou hast preserved us in life and kept us. So preserve us and

keep us, and gather the scattered ones into Thy holy courts, to keep Thy statutes, and

to do Thy good pleasure, and to serve Thee with our whole heart , as this day we

confess unto Thee. Blessed be the Lord, unto whom belongeth praise.

'Appoint peace, goodness, and blessing; grace, mercy, and compassion for us, and for

all Israel Thy people. Bless us, O our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Thy

countenance. For in the light of Thy countenance hast Thou, Jehovah, our God, given

us the law of life, and loving mercy, and righteousness, and blessing, and compassion,

and life, and peace. And may it please Thee to bless Thy people Israel at all time s, and at

every hour with Thy peace. [May we and all Thy people Israel be remembered and

written before Thee in the book of life, with blessing and peace and support.] Blessed be

Thou, Jehovah, who blessest Thy people Israel with peace.'

These prayers ended, he who had formerly trimmed the candlestick once more entered

the Holy Place, to kindle the two lamps that had been left unlit; and then, in company

with the incensing priest, took his stand on the top of the steps which led down to the

Court of the Priests. 94