Experience God’s Joy

KEY VERSE: “They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the LORD blameless.” —Luke 1:6

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:5-13, 24, 25, 59-64

ZECHARIAH THE PRIEST and his wife, Elizabeth, had no children, not only because they were old, but because she was barren. They were both righteous, walking blamelessly in the sight of God. Despite the couple ‘ s piety, their heartfelt prayers for a child had gone unanswered. One day, Zechariah was performing his priestly functions, burning incense in the Sanctuary of the Temple, while a great crowd prayed outside in the Temple Court. Suddenly, Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, appeared to him and, in summary, said: “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. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. … Many of … Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.”—Luke 1:13-16, New International Version

The good news that his prayer was answered evidently proved too difficult for Zechariah to accept by faith, and as a consequence, Gabriel told him he would live in silence, unable to speak, until the child would be born. The people waited outside for Zechariah, surprised that he was staying so long inside. When he did come out, he could not speak to them because of having been struck dumb, but stood there making signs. Some time later, when Elizabeth was with child, and God’s promise fulfilled, she praised God for his kind favor to take away her reproach among women. When her time came to be delivered, she brought forth a son.

When the jubilant family and friends gathered to celebrate the joyful occasion, they wanted to name the baby for his father, but Elizabeth said, “Not so; but he shall be called John.” Zechariah “asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue was loosed, and he spake, and praised God.”—vss. 57-64

Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied: “Blessings on the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has turned his face toward his people and has set them free!” (vss. 67,68, Phillips Translation) “Long, long ago, through the words of his holy prophets, he [God] promised to do this for us, so that we should be safe from our enemies and secure from all who hate us. So does he continue the mercy he showed to our forefathers.

“So does he remember the holy agreement he made with them and the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, to make us this gift: that we should be saved from the hands of our enemies, and in his presence should serve him unafraid in holiness and righteousness all our lives.

“And you, little child, will be called the Prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way for his coming. It will be for you to give his people knowledge of their salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Because the heart of our God is full of mercy toward us, the first light of Heaven shall come to visit us—to shine on those who lie in darkness and under the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the path of peace.”—Luke 1:70-79, Phillips Translation

The child grew up, strong in spirit, dwelling in the desert until the day for him to serve Israel.

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