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. Luke 1:5
What was the spiritual condition of Judaea in the time of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ? Were the people observing the laws and ordinances that God had given to them? Were the offerings and the feasts being observed as Moses had commanded? It is difficult for us to tell, even if we study the history of that time. The confusion created by the Roman occupation, with all of its pagan trappings, would have played a large role in the indifference of many Jews toward their religious obligations. And yet, many of the people had a deep sense that they were God’s chosen people, and they made an effort to observe God’s laws. And there were some among them who were truly faithful and devoted to God. Zacharias and Elisabeth were examples of some of the godly couples who honoured their Lord in what must have been a difficult time.
As a priest, Zacharias would have to be of the tribe of Levi, a descendent of Aaron. Not all Levites took their heritage seriously, with many choosing to abandon their responsibilities to be the spiritual leaders of Israel. But not Zacharias. He was committed to serve as he was taught. Twice a year, he would spend a week in Jerusalem, performing priestly duties in the temple, and he would perform those to the best of his ability. He respected the high honour that this duty represented. He would make a good father for a man who would be identified by the Lord Jesus as the greatest of the prophets. But John had a godly mother, too. We are told that Elisabeth was also of the lineage of Aaron. In an environment where mixed marriages were the norm, Zacharias and Elisabeth sought to preserve God’s order. She was a good companion for her godly husband. It is little wonder, then, that their son would grow up to be such a dynamic man of God.
In some ways, Zacharias and Elisabeth might seem to be insignificant people with little impact on society. But they were godly people who God could – and did – use for his purposes. In the same way, Christian couples today may well feel that they don’t really make much of a difference, even as they seek to be faithful to their Lord. But they live in a world where godly couples are the exception. And it is only in such homes as theirs where God can raise up men and women to be of service to Himself. Faithful couples never know whether their faithfulness to God and His Word will result in great blessing through their children.
The next verse tells us that Zacharias and Elisabeth were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Oh that God would give us more godly couples like them today! – Jim MacIntosh