ZACHARIAS

AND

ELIZABETH. ~ 355

CCXXXVI.

_pxcneniss AND fi LIZABETH.

Z\HEK prophets had fore-
Bp toe that before the com-
ing of Christ, a messen-
| ne should be sent to
make ready the way be-

fore Him. Who was this messen-

ger? We are now going to read
about Him.

There were living at this time in
Judea, two old people, a man and
‘his wife, named Zacharias and
Elizabeth. They were among the
few Jews who truly s od and.
were waiting and the
coming of the Saviougy arlas
was a priest, a Levite; ‘a -of those
whose duty it was to offeteacrifices,
and to burn incense in the temple
of the Lord. Zacharias and Eliza-
beth had no son nor daughte
comfort them in their old age; *:
they did not feel sorrowful nor des-
olate; for they had one friend who
would never leave them, nor for-
sake them—that kind God who has
said to his people, “ Even to your
old age I am He: and even ‘to hoar
hairs will I carry you.” Isaiah

xWi. 4.
How pleasant it is to have God to

comfort us when no earthly friends
are near! Do you wish to have
God for the friend of your old age?
Then seek Him now. “ Remem-

 

 
 
  
  
 
  
 

ber now thy Creator in the days of

in the temple, an angel of the Lord
appeared to him. He saw the angel
standing on the right side of the
altar of incense, close to him; and
Zacharias was troubled, and very
much afraid. But the angel spoke
to him, and said, “ Fear not, Zacha-
rias, for thy prayer is heard, and
thy wife Elizabeth shall have a son,
and thou shalt have joy and glad-
ness, and many shall rejoice at his
birth. He shall be filled with the
Holy Ghost. And many of the
children of Israel shall he turn to
the Lord their God.”

This.was joyful news for Zacha-
rias; but it was so wonderful, that
he could not at first believe it; and
he asked, “ How shall I know this ?”
Was it right of Zacharias to doubt
the truth of what the angel said?
No; it was weakness of faith which
made him doubt. He ought to
have remembered, that “with God
all things are possible,” and that
nothing is too hard for Him.

The angel answered, “I am Ga-
briel. I stand before God, and He
has sent me to tell thee this good
news. And now thou shalt be dumb,
and not able to speak, till the day
when these things shall be done, be-
cause thou believest not my words.”
So the angel departed, and Zacha-

‘Yias was struck dumb to punish

thy youth ; -? and He will not forget | him for his unbelief.

you in your old age.

One day, when Zacharias was} the angel? —

Was Zacharias alone when he saw —
Yes, all the people

-burning incense in the holy place’| were outside praying, while the in-