 |
| diorama of . . . not exactly sure! |
Elisabeth
I noticed something in these portraits of faith that I think is staggering – Joseph saw an angel, Zacharias saw an angel, Mary saw an angel; Elisabeth did not; she is the only one of the inner circle who had no divine visitation. Let’s get to her story, which all takes place in Luke 1.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
Elisabeth was the daughter of a priest. She appears to have been named after Aaron’s wife, Elisheba, which in the Greek is written Elisabeth. She was righteous, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But, they had no children, which she herself calls a reproach (v 25).
“For the ancient Israelites, fulfilling the first commandment given by God in the Bible—“Be fruitful and multiply”—was thus a need urgently felt.”* Consequently, marriage was the norm and childbearing was the expectation and hope of every married couple.
And to make it worse, they were now well stricken in years. So old that the hope of having children had died. If they were unable to have children when they were young and in the prime of life, it was an impossibility now. When I looked at Zacharias I suggested that the failure to have children, the unanswered prayer, had resulted in discouragement. The question, as we consider Elisabeth, is, did she share his despondency?
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
Elisabeth was not with Zacharias in the temple when the angel appeared to him. But surely he told her about it when he got home. Or, wrote it down! At the very least he had to explain his inability to talk. I believe the evidence demonstrates that he told her about the angel and the promise of a son. After all, when the baby was born, she wanted to name him John (see v 60).
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
But did she have faith? It doesn’t say this, but I am absolutely convinced that when Zacharias explained what had happened to him in the temple and the promise of the angel her heart was filled with faith. By faith she took steps to get pregnant and praised the Lord when she conceived. And God’s commentary on this as told to Mary, And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
I asked, Did Elisabeth have faith? The answer is supplied abundantly here – YES.
What a wonderful and amazing passage! The babe in her womb leaped at hearing the voice of Mary and Elisabeth herself was filled with the Holy Ghost.
She spake out with a loud voice – it seems that prophecy was uttered in a loud voice.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb – she knew the babe Mary carried.
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? – has she faith? Yes. She knew that the babe in Mary’s womb was the Lord Christ.
And blessed is she that believed – she blesses Mary for believing but she also believed. Mary believed that she, a virgin, could have a son; Elisabeth believed that God could give her, an old woman past childbearing years, a son. The power of God is on full display here and these women are walking in faith!
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Mary seems to have remained with her until just before the delivery.
57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
Just as the angel said. What she said of Mary can be said of her, “Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John.
These neighbors and cousins seem rather pushy/bossy to me, trying to name her baby and arguing with her about her chosen name! But Elisabeth was full of faith and stood her ground, Not so; but he shall be called John.
Elisabeth was a woman who believed God. She believed the most amazing things without the assistance of an angel or a star. All she had was Zacharias’ report of his angelic visitor and the promises spoken to him - she laid hold of them and pressed on! She had faith to receive grace to conceive, faith to recognize Christ, and faith to rejoice in God's grace.
This is a testimony to pay attention to and emulate!
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
Oh, glorious victory
That overcomes the world.
(Faith Is the Victory, John H. Yates, 1891)
* Women in Ancient Israel and the Hebrew Bible, article by Susan Ackerman
No comments:
Post a Comment