Holy

Luke 1:5-25

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." 19 And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 "Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

According to historians the number of Levitical priests living in Jerusalem at the time were sufficient that the honor of entering the Holy of Holies could fall to a man only once in his lifetime, or perhaps not at all. This was a truly awesome responsibility. They were going into Most Holy place of God. It has even been said that a rope was tied to the ankle of the one who entered, in case he dropped dead while inside, so no one would have to go in to retrieve his body. The Bible does tell us that bells were sown onto the hem of the high priestly garment he wore: “You shall make … bells of gold … around the hem of the robe. And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.” (Exodus 28:33-35).

You could die in there!

So when Zechariah saw an angel beside the incense altar, of course he was afraid. But the angel’s message is a blessing. An impossible child would be born after all hope was gone. He would have the spirit and power of Elijah, something God had promised over 400 years before: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 6:5,6)

Zechariah’s disbelief resulted in him becoming mute until the child’s naming ceremony when he gives the child the name the angel instructed him to, and his tongue is released to praise. But for now, he must leave the Holy of Holies and try to convey to the others that something marvelous has happened, not just for himself, but for all Israel who waited for the Lord.

And it happened, just as the angel’s message had promised.

I know that my approach to God is not often enough marked by the reverent fear I should have in the presence of the Holy One, whose might can only be hinted at in the revelation that His spoken word can render suns from nothing; whose holiness is such that seraphim cannot cease to proclaim it day and night; whose perfection cannot be comprehended by our imperfect minds.

Years ago I heard a radio message that changed my life. (Unfortunately I did not hear the preacher’s name, nor have I been able to track it down.) The sermon was based on Isaiah 6:3,

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

 the whole earth is full of his glory!"

The whole sermon was an examination of the meaning and implications of the word “holy” as “separate, unique, distinct”. As I listened I understood that in all the universe, there is no other like God. There may be gods, but none who compare with Him. He alone is God. He is separate from Creation in the sense that He existed without it for eternity. He is unique because there is no other God and nothing in heaven or earth compares with Him. He is distinct because at His heart nothing changes or touches Who He is. He is holy.

Yet in approaching the One Who dwells in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16) we are not blinded. Instead we find that the heart of holiness is love. Jealous, raging love; but for those who come at His invitation, tender, kind, compassionate love. Just as Zechariah feared judgment at the angel’s appearance but received good news concerning the hope of redemption, so we also fear a holy God (as well we should) and receive good news.

Holy Lord God Almighty. I cannot even lift my eyes in the purity and holiness of Your presence. And yet You lift me up by Your hand. For You desire for me to come into Your presence. You made a way to present me holy and blameless before You—in love. I am undone, for nothing in myself could prepare me for this, but You have done it. You are the lifter of my head This is good news! Your love and mercy are great beyond all praise, and I bow and bless Your name. AMEN.