According to
Isaiah 8:16-22 the land of Israel had become a spiritually dark place. The
shadows of darkness, false idols and witchcraft like practices abounded. This
is the truth that we see in other places as well. Yet, what I love is how that
Isaiah 9 says how a child would be born that would take that darkness away and
bring light. He would need a forerunner
who would proclaim his coming and now we are introduced to the time of John the
Baptist.
How dark was the time? Would there be light in the darkness?
Luke 1:5-6 ( ESV )
5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named
Zechariah,£ of the
division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name
was Elizabeth.
6And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in
all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.
·
It was the time of Herod who reigned over
Jerusalem. Herod was an Edomite tyrant. He married at least 10 women, was known
for his cruelty and how he disdained the Jews. He allowed the temple to be
built to gain favor with them.
·
Zechariah
means the Lord remembers and was from the course of the priest of Abia.
As there was around 20,000 of them at this time their duties were divided by
family leaders. His wife Elizabeth was
from the tribe of Aaron as well. Her name meant the oath of God. Put them
together and you have the Lord remembers the oath of His covenant. How godly
were they?
·
Not just one but both of them walked rightly
before God or uprightly. They walked this way in front of God whether men saw
it or not. They were clean when it came to both moral and ceremonial laws. They
were not perfect but lived a life where they could not be accused of evil.
Luke 1:7-8 ( ESV )
·
They were childless and men of that time looked
at this as being a curse. She was barren despite her walk with God and was past
child bearing age. Yet despite unanswered prayers in this area they still
served God. Would I do the same?
The honor
Luke 1:9-11 ( ESV )
9according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to
enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the
right side of the altar of incense.
·
So many people were priest they were chosen by
lot for their responsibilities. Now for a once in a lifetime he would be able
to offer up incense. This represented the prayers of the people of Israel.
While he did this according to verse 10 outside of the doors people were
praying. Zechariah was the focal point of the point of the nation. Zechariah had lived a godly life in front of
his world and now by the grace of God he is allowed this special event in his
life.
·
According to tradition not scripture it was stated
how God would appear on the right side of the altar of incense. Yet, look who
appears there. An angel of the Lord, (Gabriel
v. 19) Why? Because at the start God wants people to see how vain their
traditions were. God would run His
program as He saw it would be not according to men.
How did he respond? What did the angel say?
Luke 1:12-19 ( ESV )
13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your
prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you
shall call his name John.
15for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine
or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his
mother’s womb.
17and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to
turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the
wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am
an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
19And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the
presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good
news.
·
Zechariah was startled like a calm sea taken by
a storm. Fear gripped him. (Not like supposed visions of today. Men of God are
terrified because we see His holiness and our total unworthiness.)
·
Gabriel now offers comfort by saying your prayer
is heard. God had heard their prayer after all this time and it would be a
boy. John would be his name, the
gracious giver or the grace of God. Their son would proclaim Messiah’s coming.
·
He would be a joy-Personal blessing knowing their
son would be the Messenger. Others would be blessed by his message as well. He
would be great not in the sight of men but in God’s eyes.
·
Not drink-Take on a Nazarite vow. He would be
totally controlled by the Spirit of God. Ephesians 5. He would bring the people
to God and see people come to know Christ.
·
His ministry was one who would go before or to
prepare the Lord’s way with power or the dynamite strength from the Spirit of
God.
·
Like us he would say, How can I be sure of this?
He only looked at the physical situation instead of trusting the message and
the messenger.
·
Who was this angel? Gabriel the one who was the
messenger to Daniel in Dan. 8:15-16. Zechariah’s punishment for his unbelief,
he would not be able to talk until after his son’s birth.
Meanwhile back at the ranch.
Luke 1:20-25 ( ESV )
20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day
that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will
be fulfilled in their time.”
22And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they
realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to
them and remained mute.
24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months
she kept herself hidden, saying,
25“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me,
to take away my reproach among people.”
·
Meanwhile-Outside the doors the people who had
been praying were now concerned about their priest. He had lingered in the
temple to long. When he comes out he cannot speak. He tried to get them to
understand. They finally realized he had seen a vision in the temple.
·
Zechariah was faithful instead of leaving what
God had called him to do, he stayed and ministered till his time was up. He was
faithful. Can you imagine what joy
filled his soul as they would see the prophecy of Gabriel fulfilled before
their eyes. Elizabeth became pregnant and hid herself for five months. Why? So
that she might show the world the full proof of God’s accomplishments. Those who
once looked down upon her with shame now saw her shame taken away.
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