Deeper Reflection
King Herod of Judea ruled from 37 BC to 4 BC. He was known as the great builder king who built many buildings, including the Temple in Jerusalem (where Zechariah served). Herod was also known for his cruelty, as seen in the slaughter of the infants recorded for us in Matthew 2:16-18. Contrasted with this royal figure is a priestly one – Zechariah. Both he and his wife, Elizabeth, had come from a priestly line. We notice at least two things in this passage. First, God restarted His work after 400 years of silence, not through the mighty ruling king, but through a righteous couple (v.6). Second, what may seem to be a curse – in this case, Elizabeth’s barrenness – was not due to sin, but was something God would use to display His glory.In our lives, we usually want things to turn out according to what we judge as good in our view. Yet, it is so important for us to learn to see things as God sees them, because His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are His ways our ways (Isa 55:8). Then we can continually trust God even when things do not make sense or feel good to us. And seek to live righteously before God by obeying His commands, all the while knowing that God already sees us as righteous because we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for all our sins.¹⁶

---

¹⁶ John 2:12; 4:10.