5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ~ Luke 1:5-11
In Luke 1:78, we read, "the rising sun will come to us from heaven.” This is a reference to the coming Jewish Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Luke 1, we enter God's story of redemption during the final hours of darkness before the sunrise arrived. The night, for Israel, had been long and dark, a history that began with Abraham, and a history of exile 400 years in Egypt, a history of wandering for forty years in the wilderness, a history of the conquest of the land of Canaan, a history of the occupation of the land of Canaan, a history of captivity, the northern kingdom taken captive in 722 B.C., and the southern kingdom taken into Babylon in 586 B.C.
Luke 1 provides the story of God breaking into the darkness of mankind. In Luke 1:5f we are introduced to the parents of John the Baptist, Zechariah and Elizabeth. It happened during “the time of Herod” who was Herod the Great. This evil and paranoid king had been appointed as King of the Jews by the Romans in 40 B.C. He was a tyrant who executed family members whom he felt were a threat to his power. He even kill one of his ten wives and three of his children! He was the same Herod who had the children two years and younger in Bethlehem put to death.
In contrast to Herod, we are introduced to a “priest named Zechariah" ... and "his wife...Elizabeth.” As v.1 points out, Zechariah was in “the division of Abijah” who was one of the heads of the priestly families in the Old Testament. His wife, Elizabeth, "was also a descendant of Aaron," was also of priestly lineage. This is important information regarding the Old Testament prophecies of the forerunner to the Messiah.
In v.6, Luke zeroes in on the character of Zechariah and Elizabeth. He highlights the fact that they were both "righteous in the sight of God.” To be righteous means to be in a right relationship with God. God declared them righteous by their faith in His promises. Their relationship with God enabled them to hold on to a God whom they did not understand, as we will see. And, as a result, this faithful couple were lights in their very dark world.
According to v.6, Zechariah and Elizabeth "observed all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.” This does not mean that they were perfect, it means they were defined by the Word of God. This is why they were right in the eyes of God. God made them righteous, not them. Their obedience to God's definition of things provided them with the wisdom to be defined by God. Biblical righteousness is an inward quality that manifests itself in outward obedience to God’s word. The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.
In v.7 we are provided with an underlining principle which explains this couples desperate dependency upon the Lord: "THEY WERE CHILDLESS." For a Jewish couple to be childless was thought to be a sign of God’s displeasure. To be barren was considered to be a tragedy, personally and socially. This pain undoubtedly drove this godly couple closer to God. This is the nature of our trials, they either drive us closer to Him or they drive us away from Him.
In v.8-9, we read, "8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense."
One of the highest honors for a priest was to offer incense which was done twice a day in the Temple, once in the morning and once in the evening when the evening sacrifices were made. The priest who was to offer the incense was chosen by lot. Since there were probably around a thousand priests in each division, being chosen to burn incense on this day was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Zechariah means “God remembers” and Elizabeth means “God’s promise.” On this day, God was not only remembering Zechariah and Elizabeth, He was remembering His eternal covenant of redemption with mankind.
According to v.10-11, while Zechariah was worshipping and serving the Lord, "an angel of the Lord appeared to him." It was at this point that God chose to intervene into the anguish of this couple who were, according to v.7, beyond their child bearing years. They were probably at least 60 years old.
Elizabeth's barrenness had nothing to do with sin in her life. This is why God includes v.6 which reads, "Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly." But it had everything to do with something God was planning.
God had something planned for this elderly couple which blew their minds. To them was to be given the forerunner, the first prophet in Israel for 400 years. The Lord Jesus referred to John as the greatest man who ever lived up until that time. They would have only one son. He would be the greatest human who had ever walked the earth. This is not divine punishment, their barrenness, this is divine planning.
God had something planned for this elderly couple which blew their minds. To them was to be given the forerunner, the first prophet in Israel for 400 years. The Lord Jesus referred to John as the greatest man who ever lived up until that time. They would have only one son. He would be the greatest human who had ever walked the earth. This is not divine punishment, their barrenness, this is divine planning.
This is how we must view the unwanted things in our lives, be it barrenness or cancer or the loss of a job. The unwanted things in our lives merely provide a context where God can and will do His thing. It is our unfailing faith which enables us to see His works He performs them.
Zechariah and Elizabeth were willing to be used by God, they learned that God’s “No” is not forever, and they were faithful to the Lord in spite of their circumstance. The kind of faith they displayed was enduring despite their pain and their uncertainties about God.
It was essential that the Messiah's story begin with the story of John the Baptist because he connects the Old Testament with the New Testament. The Old Testament and the New Testament does not propose two different approaches to God. There is not the approach of Judaism and the approach of Christianity. Rather, the Old and the New Testament are one revelation from God with continuity telling the story of redemption.
In addition, John the Baptist is the fulfillment of several Old Testament prophecies and this shows the accuracy of Scripture. And this, therefore, authenticates the New Testament. Think of all that preceded the arrival of John. We must be careful to keep our eyes on Him because He knows the big picture and we do not. This is the nature of faith. This is the only human thing that pleases God.
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