AWWR #7

Read: Luke 1:5-12

Sing: He Who is Mighty

We are going to camp here for a few days. It is amazing, it hasn't been that many months ago that I started studying and reading for Luke, and I have already forgotten some of the beautiful truths dug out of this portion of scripture. Christmas is a time that can become so rushed and frantic and distracted. I am desiring that we can linger and long for the Word and the truths of Jesus as we study through.

This passage really struck me for a number of reasons but today I would like to talk about the faithfulness of God's people. We have presented Zachariah and Elizabeth. Scripture records them as "walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statues of the Lord." Pause. I am fairly confident that an opening sentence on my character would not read this way. It would be a lie. And this being the Word of God we know he cannot even smudge the truth. Zachariah and Elizabeth loved the Lord. They were faithful.

Not only were the faithful but they were faithful in affliction and faithful in silence. Today, lets explore the later. 

As Zachariah went to perform his priestly duties, he was going to serve the Lord. When the angel appears to him, this is the first word from God since the time of Malachi. 400 years. 400 years of quiet. Yet in that quietness, we stumble upon the story of not just one but several individuals who served Yahweh and were "righteous before God." This would mean, their faith was not for show, not for the sake of job, or because of their lineage, to be found righteous and walking blamelessly would mean that had to believe that God is who He says He is. 

I am not sure I would have that type of faith. Its hard to wait a day for the Lord to answer a prayer, let alone a year...let alone 400. These people did not have bibles or apps or even the church structure we are blessed with today. But, what they did have was more than enough. They had the portion of scripture from the Old Testament and they had the means of the historical preservation of their own history and seeing that God is a promise keeping God. 

But, 400 years! The Israelites couldn't keep it together for 40 days the first time Moses goes up the mountain to speak to God. They were begging Aaron for an idol this side of a month, and Aaron who had witnessed the miracles of God's rescue, brought a calf before the people. Now we can flash forward to a precious barren couple, a priest being faithful to his duties with hope unseen; and a barren wife faithfully serving besides her husband, trusting in the promises of God.

Barrenness in biblical times was seen as a curse. Typically it would have been seen as a punishment for sin, but we are told in Elizabeth's case she was barren simply because God willed it. She was barren because that is how the Lord intended her to live all of those years. In her barrenness, in her ache of an empty womb, we know she still lived well. How? Because it says in God's word, they were righteous before God, they walked in his statues. Elizabeth's condition did not control her worship, Elizabeth's situation did not write her "spiritual abilities." Even in her longing, she was found faithful.

In the Psalms we see it written over and over again about the precepts of the Lord (19&119) examining 19:8-9 in light of what we have learned about Zachariah and Elizabeth are overwhelming. "the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous all together." Their lives reflected that they believed the Word of God.

Friend, this Christmas, in the rush and the distraction, may we draw closer to Him. May we trust that what He says is true. Despite any affliction or trials or silence we might be experiencing, may we ask God to teach us to be faithful to keep His commandments and walk with hearts full of joy.