Advent

During the Advent season we may again pause at the Lord’s faithfulness in the unfolding history of His redemptive acts. The Lord’s gracious dealings with Elizabeth point particularly to His unsearchable wisdom and counsel but no less to the wonder of condescending mercy. To worship and adore these and other attributes of God is what the Lord always works in His children. So, the wonder of the birth of John was not only a message that the Lord had visited and redeemed His people in general but also meant a very special and personal visit of the Lord in the life of Elizabeth. Where this takes place there is no giving of credit to man. As such, Elizabeth has no desire to end in man but rather in her Benefactor. That must needs be so because what comes from the Lord returns unto the Lord. This is the Lord’s doing for one that was called barren. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children (Psalm 113:9).

This wonder is experienced in the depths of barrenness. How unsearchable are the ways of the Lord and past finding out. It had become totally impossible from Elizabeth’s side, but nothing shall be impossible with God. Take this to heart, struggling souls in the depths of impossibility and trial during the Advent season! We take notice of both Zacharias and Elizabeth’s life and conduct under the cross laid upon them. Dear reader, to be found walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless (meaning: giving no offence in anything, not seeking the conflict with God’s law but the obedience unto it) is a great grace. Such graces are precious and tried. Such are peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby. Faith has blessed fruits. Meekness and humility are ornaments of grace.

Perhaps there are yet a few exercised people like Elizabeth among us. It is all wrong on your side, and consequently you must go through an unfruitful, barren way and existence before God. Perhaps you can find no righteousness in self—yet cannot let the Lord go. You fail in all duties like those of prayer, faith, and holiness; instead of increase, there is decrease; instead of forward, backward. Mark, however, the way the Lord leads. He will not suffer the righteous to be moved. Soon you will say with Elizabeth, “Thus…” “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 54:1). Take a little courage from Elizabeth’s inner-chamber’s testimony, and “Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption” (Psalm 130:7).

“…In the days wherein He looked on me.” Here Elizabeth confesses the Lord’s unchanging faithfulness. The Lord did not forsake the work which His hands had begun. He kept the feet of His child throughout every day of her life and every moment of her trial. He wrought all her works in her and made everything beautiful in its time. Thus the Lord still works, also in 2019.

Thus…also reveals a heartfelt approving of that way. There was no other way; it had to be this way, the royal way, the right way, the only way—God’s way. “As for God, His way is perfect, the word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him” (Psalm 18:30). Now there may also be peace with that way. Oh, what a blessed place to be—one with the way of the Lord even when the way is in the sea and the footsteps are not known. None of God’s children are strangers of such approvals in their life. What a precious bowing under God. Here the Lord is no longer deemed to be wrong but is praised and honored. Indeed, such moments are foretastes of heaven where the Church will praise Him forever for the way He “thus” dealt with them here upon earth.

“…To take away my reproach among men.” This may look like self-pity on the part of Elizabeth. It may convey the impression that Elizabeth was more concerned about her personal reproach in this trial. Saul once said to Samuel, “Honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel…” (1 Samuel 15:30b). My reproach…how often can self-pity take over. Here we only need to ask what that reproach then was and how she dealt with it. The answer lies in the previous verse where we read that Elizabeth hid herself five months…Why? Elizabeth assigns the reason for her peculiar seclusion to the Lord Himself. It is as if she says, “My being with child was God’s work, and now I leave it also up to the Lord to deal with me further.” It shows how Elizabeth had conducted herself all these years. It gives us the impression that she never complained though her cross and suffering were grievous.

Humility is such a dear mark of grace because it is afraid of robbing the Lord of His honor. It is the opposite of a boasting found in our day which is nothing else but boasting of and in self, an honoring of self before people. By letting the Lord take away her reproach Elizabeth’s humility comes to the foreground. It is the opposite of what Saul said to Samuel. Elizabeth’s barrenness had been a painful thorn, but when the Lord sheds light upon His way, He it is that will give grace and glory. The Lord does not do half a work. He gives His people a full blessing, and that includes a token of His favor. Then all is well, all is made beautiful in His time—even Elizabeth experienced this. The Lord will beautify His people with salvation. Elizabeth is now with child—is that not a monument of God’s grace and goodness? She may carry the herald of the coming King under her heart—John shall be his name: “God is gracious.” Have you ever seen or met such people? Sometimes the Lord causes it to be visible on their very countenance. There is no need to say many words then nor ask doubtful questions— it is clear, it is visible. The Lord crowns and gives testimony of His own work. p

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen