Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth, were what we in the southern United States refer to as "good people." They were "righteous" in God's sight and "blameless" in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. Stated in words we use today, they were people who did what they understood to be right. The word translated "blameless" did not mean "without mistake" or "perfect" as it often means today, but it meant people of integrity who were conscientious in obeying God's will.
Begin by noting this couple was righteous in God's sight and lived "blamelessly" in their obedience. Being devoted to God does not remove the challenge found in being useful to God (it removes the willingness--the righteous are willing for God to use them--but not the challenge--God's desires for us usually lie outside our expectations). Stress this was a couple of godly integrity. Their commitment to God was unquestionable, and their commitment affected who they were and how they lived.
These were devoutly religious people. They both were descendants of Aaron. Zacharias had the privilege of being a part of Jewish temple worship. (Because there were so many priests, the privilege of serving in the Jerusalem temple was an infrequent occurrence for most priests. An opportunity to perform a part of the temple duties might occur only once in a lifetime. Such temporary duties lasted for only a designated period of time.)
For their time and situation, they possessed all the right "credentials." As Israelites grew in population numbers, their priests also increased in numbers. Long before this time, there were more priests qualified to do temple service duties than there were duties to perform. Most of the temple tasks were temporary assignments for Israelite priests. Such opportunities were not frequent--there were too many priests. Remember only a priest could enter the actual temple (the building that housed the Holy and Most Holy place. Most people were restricted to the courtyards that were a part of the "temple complex." There were even restrictions on who could enter what courtyard).
Zacharias and Elizabeth had a personal problem. They were childless. The continuation of their personal family would not occur. They were elderly. Age made it impossible for Elizabeth to get pregnant and have a child. Yet, (though this was a much more important consideration then than it is to many in our society today) there is no indication in our text that either Zacharias or Elizabeth were bitter about their situation. Evidently they accepted their situation without complaint against God.
Then (when there was much less population than today) having children was regarded as quite important. To an Israelite woman, being married and having a child was an extremely important justification for her existence (for examples consider, Genesis 30:1, 23; and 1 Samuel 1). The fact that there is no indication Zacharias and Elizabeth were bitter toward God for their childlessness is significant. They were godly people who possessed a wonderful attitude.
Zacharias' temple duty was to offer incense. The procedure for offering incense took an understood amount of time. It was customary for Jewish people to be assembled in one or more of the temple courtyards during the procedure. It was a time of prayer. The offering of incense was taking noticeably longer than it usually took. His delay caused the people to be both concerned and curious (verse 21).
There was an altar (first in the tabernacle, later in the temple) (see Exodus 30:1; then Leviticus 16:11,12 for the use of the altar on the Day of Atonement). A hot coal was taken from another altar and placed in the incense altar where the incense (which was expensive) was burned. The incense burning produced a sweet aroma and a lot of smoke. The smoke and aroma filled the Holy and Most Holy place. When people outside saw the smoke, they prayed. The rising smoke accompanied the people's rising prayers as a declaration of praise to God.
Why the delay? An angel appeared to Zacharias with an incredible message from God. The incident shook Zacharias up (as it would us) because the incident was totally unanticipated. The message to Zacharias was beyond his personal belief. Zacharias' lack of confidence in God's message necessitated a conversation with the angel. The sign was primarily to convince Zacharias of the trustworthiness of the message. If Elizabeth was not yet pregnant (as verse 24 indicates; remember Sarah in Genesis 17:21?) or in the early stages of pregnancy, Zacharias would not speak for the better part of a year.
The people knew about how long it would take for the procedures of the burning of the incense. It was obvious to them that it was taking Zacharias too long to perform his duty. It was obvious to them when he came out of the temple building that he "had seen a vision in the temple" (see verse 22).
What was God's message delivered to Zacharias by the angel Gabriel? (1) Zacharias was not to be afraid of Gabriel. (2) Your petition has been heard by God (what petition had Zacharias asked for?) (3) Your wife, Elizabeth, will have a son. (3) You are to name your son John. (4) That son will fulfill an intention of God He declared long ago.
God would address their personal problem of childlessness when Zacharias was certain they were too old to have a child (see verse 18). Note God was not doing this for Zacharias' sake, but to advance His purposes as He kept His promises. God would use their childlessness to help achieve His objectives. Zacharias did not question God's objectives, but his own ability.
Zacharias' reaction to the message was disbelief. As we would say, "That is impossible! Give me a reason to believe what you said will happen. Do you not understand that Elizabeth and I are too old to have children?"
Zacharias' basic reaction was one of disbelief. Again, he did not doubt God's power, but his own inability. He did not realize that doubting his own ability was doubting God. (Do NOT conclude from this that God's actions are determined by human faith. Jesus died on the cross in spite of his fervent prayers. The lame man Peter healed neither asked for nor expected a miracle that enabled immediate walking--Acts 3:5-8. As important as human faith is, in every situation there is more involved than human faith.)
Gabriel gave Zacharias reason to have confidence in God's message. Zacharias would not speak until John was born. Note in verses 19, 20: (1) this angel had a name, (2) this angel had power, (3) yet, he is just God's messenger, and (4) he only delivers God's messages.
At that time, there was great confidence in the work of angels and the role of angels as God's messengers. We need to approach the appearance, the work, and the roles of angels with considerable carefulness. It is too easy to speculate when we have so little information.
Before you are tempted to criticize Zacharias for his initial lack of confidence, note several things. (1) Zacharias had never seen an angel before, just like you. He, too, likely believed angels existed and were used by God as messengers. There is an enormous difference in believing angels exist and seeing an angel with a name standing by a literal altar. (2) Zacharias had never received a personal message from God before. He, too, believed God existed, had messages to deliver, and was capable of sending His messages to people. However, there is an enormous difference between believing God exists and has something to say, and receiving a personal message from God. (3) There is an enormous difference between believing God can work through people of age and believing God can work through you. (4) There is an enormous difference between believing God has purposes that will happen in the future and believing God will begin accomplishing one of His purposes through you. Is it possible, if you were in Zacharias' place, you also would have been doubtful?
It is too easy to say, "Well, if I had been in that situation and that happened to me, I would have (done or felt) this way." Our understanding of miraculous situations increases when we realize they were people just as are we, and they were as unaccustomed to personally experiencing miraculous happenings as are we. Miracles in scripture are not presented as emotional events but as actual occurrences that were (frequently) unexpected.
Consider the son Gabriel promised Zacharias that God would give him. (1) He would be a source of joy and gladness (to some!). (2) God would consider him great. (3) He would be dedicated to God from birth. He would be filled with the Holy Spirit before he was born. (4) There is the definite indication that he would be the focal point of a national repentance movement. (5) He would prepare people to receive the Lord (whatever that meant). Would that appeal to you as your only child born to you late in life? Would you rejoice because God was achieving His purpose through you and your son?
Child-rearing is commonly a demanding experience and often a scary experience. To know before conception that a child is going to be unusual (maybe strange) is a demanding thought that many parents would not welcome. John would not be an easy child to rear! How would you like to know you were rearing a child full of the Holy Spirit from birth? How would you like to know you were rearing a child who would be the leader of a national movement? Would such knowledge fill you, as a parent, with anxiety or with joy?
It is too easy to doubt God when God plans to make specific use of us to achieve His purpose. It is hard to trust God when His actions lie outside our experiences and expectations. We much prefer, even as righteous people who seek to obey God's will, for God to work within our experiences and expectations. It is difficult to be confident that God finds our age and situation no obstacle to His use of us. Serving God is not just for young people.
It is difficult to place confidence in God when God functions outside our expectations.
For Thought and Discussion
They would call them "good people."
They were people of integrity who conscientiously obeyed God.
This couple was childless.
Nothing indicates they were bitter toward God about being childless.
His temple duty was to offer the incense.
The people (assembled in temple courtyards) prayed.
The angel, Gabriel, brought Zacharias a message from God about the birth
of a son to Zacharias and Elizabeth.
Zacharias was not to be afraid. He and his wife would have a son, and
they should name the son John.
His basic initial reaction was a reaction of disbelief.
As a sign, Gabriel said Zacharias would not speak until John's birth.
They were people like us. This was not an experience that Zacharias
had experienced before. The message was outside his expectations.
He would be a source of joy and gladness. God would consider him
great. He would be dedicated to God from birth, and be filled with the Holy
Spirit before birth. He would prepare people to receive the Lord.
Link to Student
Guide Lesson 1