In contrast to the unbeliever’s view of burdens often regarded as ‘burdensome’ with respect to time and attention, the Biblical view of burden emphasizes faith, support and shared responsibility. In fact, the biblical key to bearing up well while bearing a burden is:
Luke 1:6: “And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.”
- Grammatical Usage: “righteous” or “dikaios” meaning, “conformed to God’s convictions.”
- Literal Interpretation: And they were both conformed to God’s convictions, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.
- Contextual/Comparison: God keeps His Word: God continually uses His Word.
A. GOD’S SURE WORD AND PROPHECY ARE ALWAYS ON TIME
It has been 400 years since God has engaged His people, often referred to as ‘the 400 years of silence.’
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- Inaction is often misinterpreted…either God isn’t…or God isn’t interested. Either misinterpretation results in unbelief which, for the unsaved, questions the very existence of God while, for the believer, questions the engagement of God.
- Breaking His silence, at the opportune time
- Rome proved a unifier
- Roads and transportation were in place
- Written correspondence was commonplace
- Speaking to the faithful Zacharias and Elizabeth
- The conviction of their obedience: “They were righteous before God.”
- The rule of their obedience: “The commandments and ordinances of the Lord.”
- The universality of their obedience: “Walking in all the commandments.”
- The consistency of their obedience: “Walking….”
B. THE BURDEN OF THEIR LIVES
Burdens are defined as an emotional or psychological weight that an individual carries due to stressors, responsibilities or negative experiences. This can manifest as feelings of anxiety, depression which overwhelm, often resulting from personal or social factors. According to v. 7, Zacharias and Elizabeth had 4 burden aspects:
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- Stricken in years, they had no child
- This immediate disclosure underscores their preoccupation
- Culturally, bareness was viewed as a curse from God
- Unceasing, fervent prayer has been offered to God
C. THE BURDEN LIFTED
It proved an ordinary day preceded by an ordinary day as both carried out their duties. It was another day of waiting upon and for God. It is always wise to wait on God:
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- First, it is wise to wait because God gives clear direction only when we are willing to wait. “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14)
- Second, it is wise to wait because God uses that waiting time to get us in step with His plan. Delayed timing, from our perspective, is perfect timing from God’s point of view. Most of the time, our decisions affect others’ lives. In His timing, He perfectly meshes it all together.
- Third, it is always wise to wait because God uses the time of waiting to prepare us for the answer
- Fourth, it is always wise to wait because it strengthens our faith. God is more interested in our character than in our comfort, waiting is a lot more palatable.
- Fifth, it is always wise to wait because God gets our attention; sifts our motives.
If we are to wait on the Lord, how do we do it? We follow Zacharias & Elizabeth’s example:
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- We do it actively. We wait where we are, doing what God says to do, until God intervenes or tells us to do something different.
- We do it patiently. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him” ( 37:7). We must be willing to endure until He works.
- We do it silently. “My soul silently waits for God” ( 62:1).
- We wait courageously because we are standing on the Word of God: “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope”” ( 130:5).
There are six rewards of waiting:
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- We discover God’s will and purpose: “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him” ( 3:25)
- We receive supernatural physical energy and strength (Isaiah 40:29-31)
- We win battles: “The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His lovingkindness” ( 147:11)
- We receive answers to our prayers: “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry” ( 40:1)
- We see fulfillment of faith: “They shall not be ashamed who wait for Me” ( 49:23)
- We see God working in our behalf: Isaiah spoke of the God “who acts for the one who waits for Him” ( 64:4)
D. BURDEN TRANSFORMED TO BLESSING
As Zacharias and Elizabeth maintained their faith…waiting, burden became a blessing:
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- Their prayer for a baby showed their love of one another, God and His timing
- God gave them a child still remembered…multitudes heard him preach, even the wicked Herod was in the congregation
- Angel’s word of the forerunner of the Christ rewards consecrated parenting
- Zachariah’s prophecy proves both praise and vindication
- Conclusion: Will I walk in this couples example, faithfully trusting God with my burden?
