Incense used in worship throughout the Old Testament was symbolic of one’s prayers before God. So what happened that caused Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu to die as they presented incense before God?

Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord was speaking about when he said, ‘All who serve me must respect my holiness; I will reveal my glory to my people.’”^[a] But Aaron remained silent. – Leviticus 10:3 GNT

Prayers are not disrespectful in and of themselves and neither is burning incense, but the manner in which it is offered can be disrespectful if not done with the right heart. In other words – it is not what you do it is how you do what you do.

It reminds me of the difference between Abel and Cain’s offering – one was acceptable and one was not.

I am challenged in my prayer time to respect God’s holiness.

Hallowed be Thy name.

This is, indeed, somewhat obscure, and not expressed in good German, for in our mother-tongue we would say: Heavenly Father, help that by all means Thy name may be holy. But what is it to pray that His name may be holy? Is it not holy already? Answer: Yes, it is always holy in its nature, but in our use it is not holy. For God’s name was given us when we became Christians and were baptized, so that we are called children of God and have the Sacraments by which He so incorporates us in Himself that everything which is God’s must serve for our use.

Here now the great need exists for which we ought to be most concerned, that this name have its proper honor, be esteemed holy and sublime as the greatest treasure and sanctuary that we have; and that as godly children we pray that the name of God, which is already holy in heaven, may also be and remain holy with us upon earth and in all the world.

But how does it become holy among us? Answer, as plainly as it can be said: When both our doctrine and life are godly and Christian. For since in this prayer we call God our Father, it is our duty always to deport and demean ourselves as godly children, that He may not receive shame, but honor and praise from us. – Luther