Zechariah, Waiting, Doubt and God
Today's reading is the story of the announcement of conception and birth of John the Baptist. I'm going to make a few comments to "prime" us and then invite you to read the passage and let it speak to you...- Zechariah and Elizabeth were good people and yet they also experienced the heartache of a broken world. They were barren and yet, in spite of not being able to have children, they were faithful and prayerful
- Israel had been through what scholars call "400 silent years" where there had not really been a clear "word" from the Lord. The prophets had been silent, Israel was under the dictatorship of the Romans and the priests went through the rituals, but God had not spoken to His people directly. Unlike Samuel, Zechariah doesn't have an Eli to coach him through a heavenly visitation.
- God is at work in the details, in something as simple, for example, as the casting of lots to decide who the priest on duty would be. Bear in mind that the casting of lots meant that some priests might never serve at the altar of incense.
- In Revelation the bowls of incense are seen as symbolic of the prayers of God's people.
- The name John means "God is Gracious" and his role was to bring joy. (Bear in mind that even while John was in his mother's womb, he danced when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, entered.)
- Even priests doubt, and though it may seem that the angel was punishing Zechariah, his muting became the proof that something had really happened.
As we enter Advent, I think there are many of us who have struggled for long, and prayed many prayers. God comes to us in the midst of pain and we can be agents of joy. He works in ordinary people and even in "coincidences". Doubt is an enemy to be battled and I think being quiet can be a powerful doubt-dispeller.
Throughout his novel "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", CS Lewis' characters describe their longing and expectation for God's deliverance after an unnaturally long and harsh winter. They encourage each other with the words: "Aslan* is on the move..."
Read today's passage with the same anticipation.
| 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 upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. 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. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." 18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." 19 The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time." 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among the people." (Luke1:5-25) |
* In CS Lewis' novel the Christ-figure is portrayed by a lion named Aslan.
