Knowing The Word in Luke 1:8-12

Zechariah and the Angel

1:8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

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Many priests, like Zechariah, lived in the countryside and came to the temple in the city of Jerusalem to minister following a roster. There were more priests than needed, so activities were distributed by lot. Offering the incense was considered a high privilege, and no priest could do it more than once in his lifetime. This moment, then, might have been the most important time in Zechariah’s priestly life!

The people were waiting outside for Zechariah to come out of the temple with his reappearance inexplicably delayed. We learn why: an angel of the Lord had come to speak to him. No angel had spoken to an Israelite in hundreds of years. Why had he chosen now to speak and why to Zechariah? Naturally, Zechariah was fearful. Wouldn’t you be if an angel appeared out of nowhere and started speaking to you?

God was on the move and so were his angels. Zechariah would not be the only one to receive an unexpected visit. The first two chapters of Luke are full of angelic activity. Angels bookend the beginning of the Messianic age in the birth and resurrection of Jesus.

Application

What do you know about angels? They are not winged creatures but messengers of God.

To learn more, read this excellent blog posting by Wayne Grudem: https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/biblical-facts-angels.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you that you sent your angels to prepare the way for the birth of John the Baptist who prepared the way for the ministry of your Son. As you spoke to your people through angels, speak today into our hearts, into our souls, and into our minds that we may know you and love you for what you have done for us in the birth and resurrection of Jesus.