EP 36: Paving the Way
Welcome to Part III of The Advent Collective! This week, we are taking a look at the "other" characters of the Advent story- Zechariah and Elizabeth. These two may not be the first to come to mind when considering the Advent story, but their roles are significant and worth looking into. So, hit that play button, and let's hop to it!
Welcome
Hello and welcome to the Daughter of Delight podcast. We are officially more than halfway to completing our special little Advent series. In fact, today marks part three of four. If you missed it, last week we took a look at an Old Testament prophecy regarding the foretelling of the coming of Christ. Now, there are SEVERAL prophecies in the Old Testament that speak of the coming Messiah, but the specific one we took a look at came from the prophet Jeremiah. So, be sure to check it out! If you have been tuning in to The Advent Collective weekly, I sure hope that you are being blessed by it. And thanks so much for making time to enjoy time in God’s Word alongside me! Today, we are going to be taking a look at the other characters of the Advent story, Zechariah and Elizabeth. This is a very powerful and purpose-filled story and I’m looking to diving into all the details with you, sister!Before we do, there are two things I want to cover with ya.
Review of the Week
First, as always, is our review of the week! It comes to us from MelroseF. And she says, “God is speaking through Elle every single minute of the episodes. She always backs up what she says with Scripture and that is so critical. Thank you!!” Sister, you are so welcome! It’s so important for us to make sure what we believe about God isn’t something that we have simply assumed about Him. God is who He says He is, and what we need to know about Him--everything He desires for us to know about Him--can only be found through the richness and intimate depths of His holy, infallible Word. I pray that anyone who listens to this podcast is constantly reminded and challenged to be an active participant of bible literacy; of knowing why we believe what we believe. Anyway, thank you so very much for taking the time to encourage me. It means a lot to have your support and I pray that God would continue to use the podcast to bless you in your walk with Him.
Please Rate & Review
To anyone listening who enjoys the show but hasn’t left a rating and review for it yet, would you please take some time today to do that for me? I can’t even tell you how helpful it is, and extremely encouraging, to have your assistance in helping people explore the show. As an avid listener of podcasts myself, the first place I go when looking for a new one to listen to is the review section. So, please, if you could spare 3 minutes to leave the show a review I would be so very, very grateful! And just know, I’m already sending you a giant bear hug through the screen.
Writing Applications Due Today
Okay, the final announcement I have for you today is for those of you who are planning on applying to be a writer for the next Daily Delight writing team. The application window closes TODAY, Wednesday, December 16, at 10 PM Central Standard Time. If this is the first time you are hearing about this and you would like to apply, go to www.daughterofdelight.com/more. If you’re almost done with your application, make sure you send it to me at hello@daughterofdelight.com by 10 PM CST tonight in order for it to be considered. I would love and so appreciate your prayers for wisdom and discernment as I make my way through these applications and determine my writing team for the very first writing quarter of 2021!
How to Prepare For Today's Episode
Okay, that covers everything I wanted to share with ya before we get started. This is yet another episode where I highly encourage you to grab your Bible, pens, highlighters, and notetaking journal if you haven’t already done so. Either way, whether you’re ready to take notes or you are in the middle of cleaning the house as you are listening to this, I pray it blesses you!
Paving the Way: The Other Players in the Advent Story
Now, I don’t know about you, but the sacred Advent season serves as a reminder for me that our perspective in this life is limited and we simply cannot grasp the great plans our good and gracious God is in the process of perfecting for us. This is a truth that brings a tremendous amount of comfort to my soul, especially after how 2020 played out, and I pray the same is true for you. Speaking of God’s perfect will, today I would like to talk about the “other players” in the Advent story- Zechariah and Elizabeth. While these two are not the first characters in the Christmas story that come to mind, it’s important to note the significant roles they played in preparing for the birth of Christ Jesus.
Luke 1
This is a painful story of a faithful couple, and we have much to glean from it. If you’ve got your Bible, go ahead and make your way to Luke 1. I am going to kick things off by reading verses 5 through 10.“5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[a] of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 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, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.” -Luke 1:5-10 (ESV)
What We Just Learned
Alright, so here is what we know about Zechariah and Elizabeth so far:
Zechariah was a priest during the reign of King Herod
If you know anything about Herod, you know that he was a wicked and ruthless king. In fact, in Matthew 2, we read about Herod giving the order for Jewish boys 2 years old or younger to be killed. He did this in an effort to preserve the throne. The Jews did not like Herod on the throne because, with their understanding of Scripture, they believed he had no right to rule over Israel. To them, his presence on the throne was a threat to their understanding of the promises of God. As for Zechariah, here is some helpful information to know in regards to his role as a priest. During this time, there were around 32,000 priests in Israel. They were divided into 24 divisions and each division would serve in the Temple for two separate weeks out of the year, and the rest of the year they would serve and minister in their hometown. At the time, Zechariah is serving his two-week period of being a priest in the Temple of Jerusalem. Verse 9 tells us that Zechariah was chosen to burn incense...and that was a BIG deal! The burning of the incense was a once in a lifetime opportunity that some priests never had, because it was a decision determined by the casting of lots. And on this particular day, the lot fell to Zechariah.
Next up, we learn Zechariah had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron
Elizabeth was from a priestly family, and I share this with you because it was considered honorable if a priest married a woman from a priestly line and vice versa. Commentators believe that Luke records this special information about Elizabeth in order to show that Zechariah and Elizabeth were doing everything to uphold the laws and traditions of the Jews, and their position was one of privilege and prestige.
Finally, we learn that Zechariah and Elizabeth were considered righteous before God, yet they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in age.
Because of the promises of God stated in the Hebrew Scripture--that is, the Old Testament-- the Israelites believed that if a woman was barren, it was because God was punishing the couple for sin committed by either the husband or the wife.But with Zechariah and Elizabeth in consideration, that doesn’t make sense, does it? Because we just read that both were considered righteous before God. These two were devout Jews, committed to Jewish laws. The Israelites believed that as long as they remained faithful to God and one another, God would remain faithful to them.That being said, we can only imagine the speculation others must have had that Zechariah and Elizabeth were not as righteous as they seemed. They were righteous before God, but their inability to bear a child brought with it guilt and shameAnd to the Jewish community, the reasoning was clear as day: God keeps His promises. Thus, one of them failed at some point in time and God was punishing Elizabeth’s womb for it.
Imagine...
I’m sure there were many awkward stares and uncomfortable moments as a result and I can only imagine the sense of hopelessness and helplessness these two experienced throughout the years because of it. Verse 10 tells us people were outside at the hour of incense, and honestly, I wonder if some people were there to see what would happen with Zechariah being the one to burn incense. We all have a nosy Nancy or two in our lives, and I’m sure there were a handful in the crowd on this day! Zechariah was probably a little fearful as to what would happen as well since he had been chosen to burn the incense while his wife remained barren. Remember, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and the decision for which priest would do it was determined by the casting of the lots. There was no mistake in that Zechariah was to be the one who burned the incense on this day.That being said, if there was a sin which God was judging them for, and which Zechariah was unaware of, entering the Temple to burn the incense without having been cleansed of that sin would be a death sentence. Was Zechariah truly as righteous as he appeared?
Luke 1:11-15
Well, let’s find out! Take a look at Luke 1:11-15 with me: “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.’” -Luke 1:11-15 (ESV)
Zechariah's Encounter with the Angel
So, all of a sudden this angel appears out of nowhere, and, naturally, Zechariah is covered in fear at his sight. I’m sure it crossed Zechariah’s mind that this was the end for him. But make no mistake, sister, it is no coincidence that the angel’s appearance and the announcement of John’s birth took place while Zechariah was performing this once in a lifetime opportunity and while God’s people were praying at the temple. Immediately, the angel calms Zechariah and proclaims good news. He delivers an answer to Zechariah and Elizbaeth’s prayers! They would indeed give birth to a child--a baby boy--and his name would be John, meaning “God is gracious.” The angel goes on to share five reasons why many will rejoice at his birth!
Looking at verse 15, we first learn he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
Next, we learn that he would not drink wine or strong drinks.
In a culture that frequently drank wine or beer with meals, someone who did not drink alcohol on a frequent basis did so as part of a vow, or to perform service to God, to publicly show that they were setting themselves apart from culture for God’s use.
Third, we hear that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
This indicates that God has chosen him for a very specific purpose. And that, He did! Let’s connect the dots here for a second, sis. In order for God to come as powerfully as promised, the way needed to be paved and the people needed to be prepared. This--the announcement of the birth of John--was part of the way! John’s birth would prelude to the birth of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
The fourth reason many will rejoice about John is found starting in verse 16, where we learn that he will turn many children of Israel to God.
This symbolizes repentance. We all know Israel, as the people of God, strayed from God. John would be influential in leading many back into His loving embrace. John fulfills through his preaching and baptisms at the Jordan we see recorded in Luke 3.
The fifth and final reason is that the ministry of John, recorded in verse 17, will be in the spirit and power of Elijah, one of Israel’s greatest prophets.
Like Zechariah and Elizbaeth had been waiting a long time for a son, Israel had been waiting for another prophet to arrive, especially one in the spirit of Elijah who would prepare the way for the Messiah.
Paving the Way
God’s great purpose for John’s life was to use him as an agent of restoration and reconciliation. John would restore justice and righteousness among the people of Israel so that they would be ready to receive the Lord their God. John would pave the way for the coming of Christ.
Zechariah's Response to the Angel
Let’s take a look at Zechariah’s response:“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. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.” -Luke 1:18-23 (ESV)
Zechariah's Lack of Faith
Although Zechariah was righteous and godly (Luke 1:6), he doubted the angel’s announcement. Honestly, I wonder why...why didn’t he rejoice immediately? To ensure it was actually true, he requested a sure sign--as if the angel’s presence was not enough--and the angel responded by stating his name, Gabriel. The name Gabriel means God is my hero and the word angel means messenger of God. His presence alone should have been enough for Zechariah to know he could trust Elizabeth would actually bear a son. Once Gabriel states his name, and as a result of Zechariah’s lack of faith, he shuts Zechariah’s lips until John was born. Meaning, Zechariah had to use his ears while he waited, watched and listened for God to bring Gabriel’s announcement to life. For nine whole months, he could not speak. Can you imagine? That being said, it is important to note that this was not an act of condemnation from the Lord. It was an act of discipline. God used this time to perfect a greater faith in Zechariah, who would later go from being a priest to a prophet. (Luke 1:67-79)
A Special Note
If you remember, there were people praying outside the temple the whole time Zechariah and Gabriel’s encounter took place. Some probably wondered what was taking so long and assumed he may have been struck dead because he was not really as righteous as he appeared. When he comes out of the temple and is unable to speak to those waiting, we are told in verse 22 that they assumed he had seen a vision. Something special to note here is that a final blessing was expected from the priest when he returned from burning the incense, and it appears in verse 22 that Zechariah performed this blessing with hand motions rather than words.
Elizabeth's Response
Alright, now let’s take a look at Elizabeth’s response! Take a look at Luke 1:24-25 with me:“After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, ‘Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.’” -Luke 1:24-25 (ESV)Zechariah may have only been able to initially see the obstacles of his age and his wife’s barren womb, but Elizabeth saw so much more. She recognized that only God could have blessed her with a fruitful womb. Thus, she responded to the invaluable gift He had given her with great joy and gratitude.
Elizbeth Remains Hidden For Five Months
Now, Elizabeth did withdraw from the crowd and kept herself hidden for five months. There is no sound explanation for this, but there are many possibilities. Take, for example, the fact that the Jewish community wouldn’t believe she was pregnant until she actually started to show and she wanted to protect the purity of the child in her womb because of this. Regardless of what the reasoning at hand here is, Elizabeth’s barrenness is parallel to the barrenness of Israel. Like Elizabeth, Israel was barren in that it had no prophet and no king. Israel’s land was being ruled by unwanted foreigners like King Herod. As the story unfolds, Luke shows that by removing shame and reproach from Elizabeth, God also begins to remove the shame and reproach upon Israel. Her son would usher in another miraculous son, who would remove the reproach of all people. And thanks be to God for that!Sister, God is coming to do the impossible; to take our barren lives and make them fruitful again.
John Would Pave the Way for the Coming Messiah
Although John was the answer to Zechariah and Elizabeth’s prayers, he was so much more than that. You see, John was also the answer to the prayers of God’s people over the centuries that a way would be made for the Savior to come! It was God’s perfect plan that John would be the one who would pave that way. John became a glimmer of hope not just for his parents but for the countless others who would come to faith in Christ Jesus, the living hope of the world! This is the hope we rejoice in today!Christ Jesus died a death He did not deserve so that we could live; so that we could walk in the forgiveness His grace so freely gives.
The Savior Has Paved the Way For Us
Our perspective in this life may be limited and we may be unable to fully grasp the great plans our good and gracious God is in the process of perfecting for us because of that, but it is my prayer that we would rejoice in the truth that the Savior of the world has gone before us in order to pave the way, for us.May we be proactive participants of trusting in God’s pleasing and perfect will, even through the veil of our doubt, anxiety, and fear; even when things don’t make sense to our fickle minds. May we walk in the glorious news of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, today and every day. Soli deo Gloria.
Thank You
Thank you for tuning in to today’s special Advent episode, Paving the Way. I hope you enjoyed our time together considering the lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth just as much as I did, and that God used it to grow your anticipation and longing for the second coming of Christ all the more! Sister, I am so glad and grateful you are part of the Daughter of Delight community and am eager to be back with you for our fourth and final part of The Advent Collective next Wednesday. Continue to enjoy the beauty of this sacred Advent season and I will talk with you soon!
More
If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to check out parts one and two of The Advent Collective as well!Want more? Check out our Daily Delight blog for more encouragement.