Righteous Long-Suffering – Luke 1:5-22

Anyone can follow the Lord when it’s easy and the promises of God seem to unfold, but who are we when this doesn’t seem to be the case? Prayers are not answered, Scripture promises do not appear to be fulfilled and the ache of the heart is beyond bearable.

The place of brokenness is the place where faith is revealed.

Zechariah and Elizabeth, even though heart-broken, were faithful. They followed the Lord’s commands blamelessly. And even when they did not understand, they held the course.

Because Zechariah was a priestly descendant, once a year lots were drawn as to who would go in and serve before God. Zechariah was chosen, not by lots but by God. I bet God couldn’t wait to share with him.

While serving his priestly duty, an angel appeared before him. He told Zechariah that he would have a son. Not just any son but a special son. He would be a Nazarite in that he would drink no wine and not cut his hair. And he would be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. It also says this:

 “and 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” (Luke 1:17).

Wow.

Right away Zechariah would know what he was talking about. His son would be the fulfillment of the verses in Malachi.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction” (Malachi 4:5-6).

Can you imagine? You are an old man, you can’t have children, then Gabriel shows up and says you will have a son and he will be the one prophesied about that will prepare the way for the Lord? The LORD?

In his brilliance, Zechariah responds, ‘Hey, how is this possible? We’re old?’

Unlike with Mary who asked a similar question, yet was poised for faith, it seems like Zechariah was truly doubting. Likely the result of a lifetime of discouragement. And yet, this was Gabriel in front of him.

Gabriel, who had been excited to bring this amazing news, now tells Zechariah that because he did not believe him as an angelic visitor who stands in the presence of God, he will now be silent until the birth of his son.

Meanwhile, the worshipers outside were getting annoyed. It was one thing to worship for a little bit, but shouldn’t Zechariah be done now? What was his problem? Why was he taking so long?

When Zechariah came out and couldn’t speak, they got it. He had seen a vision.

They didn’t know what it meant. It was the first time in a long time that anyone had an experience with God like this. But there it was.

——–

In 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.  And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,  according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.  And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.  And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.  And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.  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, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,  for 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.  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,  and 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.”

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”  And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.  And 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.”  And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.  And 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.

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