The Priest
A. Zechariah, “Jehovah has remembered”
1. He was a priest from the family of Abijah, the 8th of the 24 courses, who ministered at the Temple in turn (1 Chroncles 24).
2. He served for one week twice a year at the Temple.
3. Offering the incense was a task a priest could do only once in his career.
4. The Hour of Incense came twice a day at 9 am and 3:30 pm.
5. The people waited in the Temple courtyard for the priests to emerge from the Holy Place and pronounce the Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24-26).
B. Zechariah was married to Elizabeth (Hebrew, “Elisheva,” or “God’s promise”). Elizabeth was barren.
C. Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were elderly.
The Angel
A. Gabriel, “Man of God”
B. Archangels
1. According to the Apocrypha, Book of Tobit 12:15, “I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.” John Milton uses this in his Paradise Lost.
2. According to the Pseudipigrapha Book of Enoch: Four archangels Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael.
3. According to the Bible, only four angels are named:
a. Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:11-17)
b. Michael (Daniel 10:13; 10:21; 12:1; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7)
c. Gabriel (Daniel 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19, 26)
d. Abaddon or Apollyon (Revelation 9:11)
C. Two Holy Archangels, Gabriel and Michael
1. Gabriel is the special messenger of good news. He comes to Daniel, and tells him of the restoration of Jerusalem; to Zachariah, he announces the birth of his son, and declares what his glorious office would consist in; to Mary of Nazareth, he foretells the nativity.
2. Michael, on the other hand, appears as the warrior of God. In the Book of Daniel he wars with the enemies of the people of the Lord; in Jude and in the Revelation of St. John he is the victorious antagonist of Satan the enemy of the Eternal.
The Good News
A. God has heard and remembered your prayers.
1. As priest, Zechariah often prayed for the redemption of Israel.
2. As a man, Zechariah and Elizabeth often prayed for a child.
B. “You will have a son, name him John, and he will prepare the way for the redemption of Israel.”
1. He will be named John, “Jehovah’s gift,” v. 13.
2. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, v. 15.
3. He will not drink wine or strong drink. Unlike Samuel and Samson, this was imposed by God, not by his mother.
4. He will be a prophet in the spirit and power of Elijah, v. 17.
5. He will make people prepared for the Lord.
C. Zechariah doubts and is stricken mute, v. 20.
D. Elizabeth conceives and hides herself 5 months and praises the Lord, vv. 24-25.
Conclusion
A. God hears and remembers our prayers.
B. Remain faithful even when your prayers seem forgotten by God.
C. Jehovah’s ultimate gift is the gift of His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.