Luke 1:21-25

Luke 1:21-25

And the people were waiting with apprehension for Zechariah and they were amazed at him in the delay in the temple.  And after coming out he was not powerful enough to speak to them; and they perceived that he has seen a vision in the temple.  And he was gesturing to them and he was remaining mute.  And it became that his day of service was being fulfilled.  And after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived.  And she was hiding herself for five months while saying that the Lord did this to me in this manner in the days which He looked upon me to remove my reproach in mankind.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

There are people waiting for Zechariah.  After all, he had been selected to perform a duty.  Other priests were no doubt waiting for his duty to be completed so that they could commence their own duties.  No doubt there were supervisors of the temple who wanted to make sure that Zechariah did his job as God would expect.  When Zechariah is delayed, these people understandably get worried.  I can see how a small crowd might gather when Zechariah doesn’t come out of the temple area after a reasonable amount of time had taken place.

How does God use human curiosity to help create a crowd to witness His work?  How does God use a human desire for order and familiarity to create anticipation?

Second Thought:

The Lord’s word is true.  Zechariah is unable to speak.  He is not able to explain his delay, although clearly the people figure out that something had happened. In this story we can see that there are indeed consequences to our actions.  God is a forgiving God, but our actions and attitude will bring consequences.  However, that does not mean that God abandons us.  He can work through our consequences.  Zechariah is able to get the idea across to the people that something happened.  Zechariah is allowed to continue to live, to go home to his wife, and to conceive a child.  We will have consequences, but God will be with us and work through them if we are willing.

Are you ever tempted to think that God’s forgiveness and His mercy negate the consequences for our actions?  Why is that easy to think?  Why is that wrong to think?

Third Thought:

Elizabeth’s reaction here is completely foreign to the typical human reaction in the world.  Many people – when blessed by the unthinkable – brag about it.  They post pictures of it on Facebook.  They text all of their friends.  They call anyone they can think of calling.  While these are not necessarily inherently bad things, they are avenues through which the focus can become about us and not about God.  Look at how Elizabeth responds. She actually cloisters herself.  Rather than go to everyone she knew, she actually withdraws.  She allows herself to get closer to God and focus on God.  In Elizabeth’s reaction we can see that she is indeed righteous.  Her focus is on God and God’s hand, not her own glory.

If this happened to someone that you knew and they withdrew, how would you react?  Would you think the person strange or unusual?  How can Elizabeth’s reaction help us understand the difference between a natural human reaction and the reaction of someone who is focused upon God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 1:26-29