Page 16 - July 2025 - Truth & Tidings

him from the most holy place. Flanked give up. God delights to hear and answer
by the table of shewbread on one side the prayers of His own.
and the golden lampstand on the other, God was on a timetable with Zacharias
Zacharias cautiously approached the altar and Elisabeth, as He always is. The last
with incense ready. He couldn’t wait to tell time Gabriel made an appearance, proph-
Elisabeth all about it. And that’s when it ecies were given in relation to the exact
happened. Someone else was in the holy timing of the Messiah’s arrival (see Dan
place. Who would dare to enter? 9). And God had in mind the right person
“And there appeared unto him an angel for announcing the Messiah’s coming – the
of the Lord standing on the right side of son of Zacharias and Elisabeth. Twenty
the altar of incense. And when Zacharias years before would have been too early.
saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell One year before would have been too
upon him” (vv11-12). It is not until verse early. God is always right on time.
19 that we learn who the angel is – Gabriel, Sometimes the Lord has us wait be-
the ancient messenger who appeared to cause there might be something better
Daniel in Babylon some 500 years earlier. 5 for us down the road. And when we wait
Zacharias’ big day just got bigger. patiently upon Him, He often gives us
Old Prayers more than we ever imagined possible.
Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed for a child.
Perhaps even more surprising than the They received so much more, for the child
appearance of Gabriel was the message born would be a prophet, and not just any
Gabriel brought. “Fear not, Zacharias: for prophet – the prophet who would prepare
thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth the way for Israel’s glorious Messiah. God
shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call still answers prayer, even if some seem
his name John” (v13). Thy prayer is heard? past their expiration date.
It had been years, maybe decades, since
Zacharias and his dear wife had prayed New Promises
for a child. They had forgotten those old Gabriel made many promises on behalf
prayers long ago. But God had not for- of the Lord he represented. The son to
gotten them. God remembered – which, be born would “be great in the sight of
interestingly, is the meaning of Zacharias’ the Lord …. And many of the children
name. We can be encouraged that God can of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their
answer our prayers when it looks like the God. And he shall go before him in the
window of opportunity has forever closed spirit and power of Elias, to turn the
upon them. Keep praying for your lost hearts of the fathers to the children, and
son or daughter. Keep praying for your the disobedient to the wisdom of the just;
spouse who needs the Lord. And never
to make ready a people prepared for the
Lord” (vv15-17). Zacharias would recog-
5 The accounts of Gabriel’s appearances to
Daniel and Zacharias share a number of nize these promises as the closing words
similarities: a fearful human response, being of their last prophet, Malachi (4:5-6). But
rendered speechless, occurring at the time of Zacharias was having a hard time taking
evening sacrifice, and announcements related to this all in. “And Zacharias said unto the
the coming of the Messiah. See R. Kent Hughes,
Luke Volume One: That You May Know the Truth angel, Whereby shall I know this? For I
(Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 22. am an old man, and my wife well stricken

208 TRUTH kTidings July 2025