Luke 1:18-25: a reflection

18Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 19The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” 21The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple. 22When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute. 23When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. 24After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying, 25“Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”

The priest Zechariah is told by the angel Gabriel that his elderly wife Elizabeth will bear a son, and he responds with doubt: how can I be sure of this, seeing I am old and my wife is well along in years? For his unbelief he is told he will be unable to speak until the promise is fulfilled. It is a discipline, but notice what it is not: the promise still stands. Zechariah's doubt does not cancel God's word; it only means he will wait for it in silence.

And the promise comes true. Elizabeth conceives, and she rejoices, saying, the Lord has done this for me; he has looked on me to take away my reproach. In a culture where childlessness carried deep shame, God had seen her long sorrow and lifted it. The God who was faithful despite Zechariah's doubt was also tender toward Elizabeth's quiet grief. His purposes moved forward, carrying both the discipline of the doubter and the comfort of the sorrowful.

There is grace in this story even in its discipline. God does not abandon Zechariah for his unbelief; he holds him to a season of silence and then fulfills his word anyway. And he remembers Elizabeth, lifting a reproach she had carried for years. When your own faith falters, take heart that God's promises do not depend on your perfect belief, and when you carry a long sorrow, remember that God sees it. He is faithful to the doubter and tender to the grieving.

Lord, you held Zechariah to a season of silence for his doubt but kept your promise anyway, and you lifted Elizabeth's long reproach. When my faith falters, remind me that your promises do not rest on my perfect belief. And when I carry a hidden sorrow, remind me that you see it. Thank you that you are faithful to the doubter and tender to the grieving. Amen.