“The rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Luke 1:78-79
When the aging priest Zechariah was visited by an angel who said he and his wife would have a baby boy, it was just too much to believe. The righteous and respectable Zechariah responded as you or I might have, by saying, essentially, “You’ve got to be kidding.”
Gabriel didn’t take Zechariah’s skeptic response lightly. You can almost hear his majestic voice boom out, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news” (v. 19-20). Gabriel struck him completely silent. Such would be Zechariah’s condition from that moment until nine months later when Elizabeth delivered the baby, John.
The punishment Zechariah received for his disbelief gave him a lot of time to consider the wonder of God’s power and to quiet him before the Lord. Also, in his time of complete silence, he wrote the beautiful song we now have in Luke 1. It sings out in praise to the Lord, the God of Israel. With not one word about Zechariah himself, it lifts God high and rejoices in the Messiah.
Gabriel didn’t take Zechariah’s skeptic response lightly. You can almost hear his majestic voice boom out, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news” (v. 19-20). Gabriel struck him completely silent. Such would be Zechariah’s condition from that moment until nine months later when Elizabeth delivered the baby, John.
The punishment Zechariah received for his disbelief gave him a lot of time to consider the wonder of God’s power and to quiet him before the Lord. Also, in his time of complete silence, he wrote the beautiful song we now have in Luke 1. It sings out in praise to the Lord, the God of Israel. With not one word about Zechariah himself, it lifts God high and rejoices in the Messiah.
Scripture Focus
Luke 1:67-79
Insight
Sometimes in our confidence and righteous living, we scoff at God’s unexpected ways of dealing with us. He corrects us to draw us near to Him.
Bible In A Year
- Ezekiel 7-8
- Psalm 134
- Galatians 5-6