"This Is the Way..."

December 20, 2016

“This Is the Way…”

Blessings folk!

Near finish to Zacharias account…

Luk 1:21-25

The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.

But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.

When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant,
and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,

“This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me,
to take away my disgrace among men.”


The encounter took long enough that the folk were wondering what was happening.
What was causing the delay in Zacharias coming out?

When he did come out, he could not speak.
Unbelief will do that to us.
Silence us.

They realized he had seen a vision in the temple.
How?
He likely “signed it”.

When his priestly duties were completed he went home.
Interesting.
Probably a fairly short time.
The priests had a two-week cycle.
I believe he would not have been able to minister any more at that time due to his affliction.
The Law would not allow such.

Anyway, he goes home.

Again, as with Abraham and Sarah, something happened one day.
Something that likely had not occurred for some period of time.
Zacharias and Elizabeth were both beyond child-bearing age, yet one day, a time of marital intimacy.
Imagine.
They would have known.
They knew the Word of the angel.
They knew the Promise.
They knew what was occurring.

Imagine the emotions, the joy, the wonder.

Then, the wait.

They were in awe.

Elizabeth awaited 5 months in seclusion.
She rejoiced in the strange, marvelous and “outside-of-nature” timing of the Lord.
The Lord had dealt favor upon her.
Her reproach was gone.

The Lord does so for us also.
What reproach might the Lord be taking away…even today?
What favor might He be pouring forth?
Do not disbelieve.
Believe with all your hear, mind, soul and strength.