People in the Bible Who Pleased God – Zacharias & Elizabeth

    Opening our Bibles to the first chapter of Luke, we are introduced to a beautiful older couple from the tribe of Levi. The husband, Zacharias, served in the temple, and he and his wife, Elizabeth, “were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” (Luke 1:5-6)

    The angel, Gabriel, appeared to Zacharias while he was burning the incense in the temple. When Zacharias saw him he became afraid, but Gabriel said, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, your prayer has been heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” (Luke 1:8-13)

    We are told in verse 7 of this chapter that Zacharias & Elizabeth had no child because Elizabeth was barren. I think it is safe to deduce that Zacharias’ prayer was, for a long time, to have a child – he may have even asked specifically for a son – to carry on in service to the Lord. Now, they are both well advanced in years and Zacharias’ prayer has been heard and God is granting his petition: a son, whose name will be John.

    Gabriel tells Zacharias of John’s birth and life: you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth (v14), he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and drink neither wine nor strong drink (v15), he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb (v15), he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God (v16) He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (v17).

    Zacharias simply could not believe these glad tidings – How can I know that this will happen? – so, because he did not believe, he was made mute and would not be able to speak until the day these things would be fulfilled.

    We now get our first glimpse at the heart of Elizabeth. After Zacharias completed his time of service at the temple, he returned home and after those days, Elizabeth conceived and she hid herself five months saying, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach* among people” (Luke 1:25). Elizabeth praised God for being gracious to her and blessing her with a child.

*reproach means shame, disgrace. Read and consider how Rachel felt, and how Hannah felt, when they were barren, and their responses when they were blessed with a child (Genesis 30:30:1-2; 22-23, 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11).

    When Elizabeth was six months along, Mary (who was now pregnant with Jesus), came to visit her. When Mary entered the house and greeted Elizabeth, her baby leaped in her womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to Mary in a loud voice: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:42-45)

    Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months before returning to her house (Luke 1:56), and it soon came time for Elizabeth to give birth, and a son was born. When their neighbours heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

    When it was time for the baby to be named and circumcised, they expected him to be named Zacharias after his father, but Elizabeth said, “No, he shall be called John” (Luke 1:59-61). When they made signs to Zacharias, he wrote on a tablet, “His name is John,” and they all marveled. At this moment, Zacharias’ tongue was loosed and what was the very first things he did? He praised God!

    Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and he praised God for His mercy in remembering His holy covenant with Abraham and redeeming His people, and then he prophesied about his infant son: “And you, O child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins. Through the tender mercies of our God, with which the Dayspring* from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace.”  *Dayspring literally means Dawn, representing the Messiah

What can we learn from Zacharias & Elizabeth?

    We should pray and continue in faithful service. Zacharias & Elizabeth did not become bitter that they did not have a child; they did not turn from God nor blame Him because Elizabeth was barren. They made their requests known to God and continued in faithful service to Him. Their prayers for a child may have begun within the first years of their marriage, but it wasn’t until they were old that it was granted. Don’t give up on prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Don’t give up on God (1 Corinthians 15:58). Don’t grow bitter, grow better – not so you will earn your request, but so you will be properly prepared for whatever God grants you. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:22-23; 5:14-15) and your prayers will be heard!

    When we are prepared we can be useful for God. Zacharias & Elizabeth humbly served God, never knowing that in doing so they were also preparing themselves to be parents to a son who would be the prophet preparing the people for Jesus’ teaching. When we humbly obey God and cleanse ourselves from what is dishonorable, we can be set apart and useful for the Master, and prepared for every good work (2 Timothy 2:19-26). We don’t look for how great or small the task will be or how God will use us, we simply ready ourselves (through continued study, prayer, praise, and obedience) for whatever God gives us to do each day.  

    We can praise God and give Him the glory. Elizabeth gave glory to God before and after the child was born – the neighbours heard that the Lord had shown her mercy – Elizabeth very likely proclaimed God’s praise to all who came to help and visit her at the birth of her son – and the first words out of Zacharias’ mouth were proclamations of praise at God’s faithfulness, mercy, and grace! Whether we are waiting or content, God is worthy of praise! Tuning our hearts toward gratitude and thanksgiving, and thinking about God’s continuing faithfulness, will help us to proclaim His praises to those who ask a reason for the hope that is in us with meekness and fear (1 Peter 2:9; 3:15).

    Zacharias & Elizabeth are not mentioned beyond this chapter, but what is written in the fifty-nine verses pertaining to them shows a lifetime of faithful service to God and each other.  They trusted in God, they prayed to Him, and they praised Him and gave Him the glory. They knew the Scriptures, they knew the promises and prophecies of the Messiah, and rejoiced that the fulfillment of those same prophecies was beginning in their lifetime. We do not get a sense of “Look at me! Look how God is using me!” but of “God is redeeming His people as He promised! God is merciful! God is faithful! May God be glorified!”

    We only have the dash that is carved between the dates on our gravestone, let’s make the most of that time by preparing ourselves to be useful for our Master by humbly obeying His commands each and every day of our lives!

You can do it! So can I!!