On Line Bible Study - For the week November 23-29, 2009
Lesson 415
Luke 1: 5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.
After situating his story historically, Luke sets the stage for what is to come. Much of what is to come is "unlikely" - like a barren woman giving birth to a child, and very late in time with regard to the chronology of her age. Presumably Zachariah and Elizabeth had long since stopped "trying" to have children (which does not mean they did not have a physically intimate life together). Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were from a priestly line; and both were "upright" when it came to their relationship to God. So the child they would bring into the world was, both physically and spiritually, from an excellent pedigree.
From the perspective of the Bible, for a couple not to have children indicated God's judgment upon them. But in the case of Elizabeth and Zechariah, Luke makes it clear there is no cause for such a judgment. They were "blameless".
Luke 1: 8Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
Zechariah was, according to Darrell Bock, one of 18,000 priests who would serve in the Jerusalem Temple. The burning of the incense was a high honor, and one that was determined by lot. Once chosen, a priest would never be chosen for this task again. Exodus 29:38ff gives the instruction for the "perpetual offering" - one in the morning, the other in the evening . The fact the text tells us that all the assembled worshipers were praying outside suggests that Zechariah was lighting the incense for the evening offering, a time in which many people would come to the temple for evening prayer.
It is in this moment of prayer - a singular moment in the priestly career of Zechariah, and a time when all the people were praying outside - that the angel comes and speaks:
Luke 1: 11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: "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.
John - born to one who is barren. Jesus - born to a virgin.
John - the forerunner. Jesus - the fulfillment.
John - the prophet. Jesus - the messiah.
John - paves the way. Jesus - the way.
Next time we will look at Zechariah's response to this "good news". With the stage set, the plot will thicken.
Luke 1: 5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.
After situating his story historically, Luke sets the stage for what is to come. Much of what is to come is "unlikely" - like a barren woman giving birth to a child, and very late in time with regard to the chronology of her age. Presumably Zachariah and Elizabeth had long since stopped "trying" to have children (which does not mean they did not have a physically intimate life together). Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were from a priestly line; and both were "upright" when it came to their relationship to God. So the child they would bring into the world was, both physically and spiritually, from an excellent pedigree.
From the perspective of the Bible, for a couple not to have children indicated God's judgment upon them. But in the case of Elizabeth and Zechariah, Luke makes it clear there is no cause for such a judgment. They were "blameless".
Luke 1: 8Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
Zechariah was, according to Darrell Bock, one of 18,000 priests who would serve in the Jerusalem Temple. The burning of the incense was a high honor, and one that was determined by lot. Once chosen, a priest would never be chosen for this task again. Exodus 29:38ff gives the instruction for the "perpetual offering" - one in the morning, the other in the evening . The fact the text tells us that all the assembled worshipers were praying outside suggests that Zechariah was lighting the incense for the evening offering, a time in which many people would come to the temple for evening prayer.
It is in this moment of prayer - a singular moment in the priestly career of Zechariah, and a time when all the people were praying outside - that the angel comes and speaks:
Luke 1: 11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: "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.
John - born to one who is barren. Jesus - born to a virgin.
John - the forerunner. Jesus - the fulfillment.
John - the prophet. Jesus - the messiah.
John - paves the way. Jesus - the way.
Next time we will look at Zechariah's response to this "good news". With the stage set, the plot will thicken.
posted by Mark D at 3:53 PM
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