by David Colburn- Pastor, Chaplain, Author: Bibleseven - Bible Study Resources
LUKE 1:5-25
During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old.
Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the holy place of the Lord and burn incense. Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering. An angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeared to him. And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel, was seized with fear. But 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; you will name him John. Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well.” 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. And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place.”
Now the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the holy place. When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the holy place, because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service was over, he went to his home.
After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. She said,“This is what the Lord has done for me at the time when he has been gracious to me, to take away my disgrace among people.”
PRAYER
Lord, as Your Word transitions from the Law-based practices and traditions of the Old Testament, may I be sensitive to Your emphasis on the way that the Gospels introduce Your new covenant built on Your sovereign gift of Grace through Jesus the Christ.
SCRIPTURE IN PERSPECTIVE
Luke tells the reader that he is following the pattern others used in reporting the events that were recorded “by those who were eyewitnesses” (Luke 1:2), which he was not. Luke acknowledges that he has undertaken to compile an “orderly account” (v3) to edify and to reinforce for Theophilus what he has been taught absent as complete a document as Luke has now compiled for him [and us].
The priest Zechariah, serving his turn in the temple where only a few are permitted, enters fearfully to burn incense to God on behalf of the people. Luke tells of the angelic messenger Gabriel, “who stands in the presence of God,” (1:19), bringing to Zechariah news of the upcoming miracle-birth of John (the Baptist or Baptizer) by his elderly wife. Gabriel is one of the rarely-named angels in the Bible. Zechariah, as a result of doubting the angelic proclamation even while in the presence of an angel, is struck mute until the prophesy is fulfilled.
Zechariah is without excuse for his doubts, because as a high priest he knows of God’s prophesies delivered via angels in the Old Testament and of God’s expectation that His heavenly emissaries be treated with the respect due them.
FAITH IN ACTION
Zechariah, although knowing well the fulfilled past prophesies of God, doubted Him based upon the unreliable evidence of what his mind’s eye saw with his worldly [non-spiritual] eyes [experience]: he and Elizabeth were elderly, much like Abraham and his wife Sarai, and past child-bearing years.
God tells us what we need to know, when we need to know it. He gave us His Word and, as we are waiting on Him, speaks to our hearts and minds. God’s written Word, illuminated by His Holy Spirit, is His primary means of communicating to His children today.
REFLECT
Do we, like Zechariah, also doubt God’s promises and then wonder why His blessings do not flow more freely in and through us into the lives of others?
When have you known clearly what God expected of you, yet doubted His provision or His wisdom? How has that made you temporarily “mute” in your witness for Him?
PRAY
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of the perfection of God.
ACT
I will prayerfully discern where my doubts about God have resulted in harm to my witness for Him, so that like Zechariah I am “mute.” Partnering with the Holy Spirit, I will repent (turn away) from my doubts and make an intentional effort to follow and trust God. Be Specific.
David Colburn Intentional Biblical Christian Living: Bibleseven.com
