‘INITIATING The TURN’-I—Luke 1:5-25
Attention:
Whenever we go to Florence, we go ‘thru the woods’ rather than using the interstate. To get to Florence, we usually go thru Mechanicsville to ‘South Charleston Road.’ & that comes out by the ‘Otis Elevator Company’ building.
Coming from Bennettsville on Salem Road toward Drake, there is a 90º left turn just after the bridge over Drake’s Millpond slough.
Immediately after that 90º left turn, there is an immediate, even sharper 90º+ right turn, that puts you onto ‘Screwpin Road’ off of ‘Salem/Drake Road.’
When approaching the first turn, & in order to navigate it properly, you must begin slowing down considerably BEFORE the bridge over the creek/slough.
& you can’t just ‘gun it’ immediately after you make the Drake slough turn, because you have to slow down even more, in order to make the immediate right turn onto Screwpin!
Just as major adjustments are put into action, in order to properly & safely ‘Make the Turns’ onto Drake & then Screwpin Roads...
So, fulfilling the prophecies of Malachi 4:5-6 & others of the prophets, toward ‘turning the hearts of His people’, God Himself had to initiate some major changes/adjustments.
*The title of this sermon ‘turns’ on Lk. 1:16-17. ‘INITIATING The TURN’-I—Luke 1:5-25
Need:
On a Global level, a national level, & a local level, people are spiritually teased & bantered about by the societies in which they live. There are so many fleshly-driven ‘lifestyles’ available to people & pressed upon people, that it makes your head spin! Each of those lifestyles is chosen by individuals & groups of individuals because of their particular ‘belief system.’...That is, what they hold onto in the depth of their heart & soul.
However, EVEN in the midst of such overwhelming confusion & indecision, a person CAN experience true & lasting peace, certainty, & confidence, in their lives...IF they are simply willing to TURN to God, by trusting Him & His design for the world, that He created.
Over 2000 years ago, God ‘INITIATED’ that TURN toward Himself, thru a Jewish couple in Israel.
Luke informed his audience of the initial steps that God took to turn His people toward Himself.
God began the process of turning of His people toward Himself.
What principles did God use to begin turning people toward Himself?
11 principles God used to begin turning people toward Himself.
1—In Initiating the Turn, God uses...
RIGHTEOUS FAITHFULNESS(:5-7)
Explanation:(:5-7)
:5—“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, & her name was Elizabeth.”
:6—“& they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments & ordinances of the Lord blameless.”
:7—“But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, & they were both well advanced in years.”
:5—“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea,...”
The initial events which Luke records, took place during the time that “Herod” was “king of Judea.”
The “Herod” noted in verse :5, is ‘Herod the Great.’
•There are 4 different ‘rulers’ named “Herod” mentioned in the Bible—“Herod the Great” was the forefather/progenitor of Herod ‘Antipas’; Herod Agrippa-I; & Herod Agrippa-II. Herod had 14 children.
• “Herod” was born in the far southern section of Palestine, South of the Dead Sea, known as ‘Idumea’ or ‘Edom.’ So though “Herod” reigned over “Judea”, he was not a descendant of Israel or Jacob, but being Idumean or Edomite, was a descendant of Jacob’s brother Esau.—David Guzik.
•At 25 yrs. of age “Herod” ‘the Great’ became ‘Governor’ of Galilee(in 47 BC), by which title he ruled until 37BC.
•Herod received his commission to reign as king, from the Roman senate in 40 BC, at the suggestion of Octavius & Mark Antony(a lifelong friend of Herod’s).
•When Herod conquered Jerusalem 3yrs. later, in 37 BC, he officially began his reign as ‘King of Judea.’
•He reigned as ‘King of Judea‘ from 37 BC-4 BC(death).
•“Herod’s” reign as “King of Judea”, encompassed the Roman occupied lands of 1)“Judea” proper, 2)Galilee(North & West of the Sea of Galilee), 3)much of Perea(Moab & Ammon--SE of the Jordan River & Dead Sea), & 4)included Syria to the Northeast of the Sea of Galilee.
*The events recorded in Luke’s Gospel, took place near the end of Herod’s reign, when he died at 70yrs. of age in 4-BC. Jesus was born near the time of Herod’s death.
•Today, we don’t have time to go into discrepancies concerning our ‘calendar.’
:5—“There was...a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah.
The events recorded by Luke, concern a particular priest whose name was “Zacharias.”
“Zacharias”—Zacariav—Noun Proper Masc.—Zacharias = “remembered of Jehovah”—1) The father of John the Baptist; 2) Son of Barachias, who was slain by the Jews between the altar & the temple. Strong—Zacharias(i.e. Zechariah), the name of two Israelites. Used 11X.?Of Hebrew origin—hyrkz Zek-ar-yaw'; OR--whyrkz Zek-ar-yaw'-hoo; Lit = ‘Jah has remembered’— Zecarjah, the name of twenty-nine Israelites.?From—rkz zaw-kar'; —properly--To mark(so as to be recognized), i.e. To remember; by implication--To mention; also(as denominative from rkz)--To be male; a primitive root.—&—hy Yaw—Jah, the sacred name; contraction for hwhy Yeh-ho-vaw'; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God, & meaning the same.
Luke tells us that “Zacharias” was “of the division of Abijah”(AKA-‘Abia’) That is, “Zacharias” was a “priest” by virtue of the fact that his lineage arose thru the family of “Abijah”(1Chr. 24:1-19).
Per John Gill in ‘AEOTO&NT’ ;& D. L. Bock in ‘BECNT’:
Individual “priests” served for 2, 1-week periods each year. There were 24 divisions/courses which served during any given year.
•Those ‘divisions/courses’ were subdivided into ‘orders.’
•Each ‘order’ served a ‘daily rotation’ during its weeks of service at the temple.
•Each ‘rotation’ consisted of 4-9 priestly houses or families.
The “priest’s” daily tasks revolved around giving themselves specifically to the tangible rites surrounding the divinely prescribed worship, prayer, & sacrifices associated with the sacrificial system of the temple in Jerusalem. They were also the designated overseers of the Levites, who aided the priests in their work.
During the remainder of the year, when the “priests” were free from serving in their assigned course, & particularly for those who lived far from Jerusalem, they engaged themselves with teaching, fasting, praying & reading of the written word, in the synagogues of their own cities.
Immediately following the Babylonian captivity(607BC-537BC), only four of the twenty-four priestly courses immediately returned to Israel: Those were the families of Jedaiah, Immer, Pashur, & Harim(Ezra 2:36-39). Obviously, some of “Abijah’s” & thus Zacharias’ priestly ancestors, ‘must have’ returned to Israel at a later date.
:5—...“His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, & her name was Elizabeth.”
“Zacharias” was married to “Elizabeth”, who was herself a woman of priestly descent, from the lineage of Aaron. Such a marital arrangement was expected for the priesthood. •“Elizabeth’s” name means—“Oath of God” or “My God has sworn.”
•The first priest ordained of God, was Aaron, Moses’ brother. & Aaron’s wife was named Elisheba[ebvyla] (Ex. 6:23) AKA--“Elizabeth.”
“Elizabeth/Elisheba”—Elisabet—Indeclinable Proper Noun Fem.—Elisabeth = “Oath of God”—1) The wife of Zacharias & mother of John the Baptist, of the priestly family, & a relative of Mary- Lu 1:36. Strong—Elisabet, an Israelitess. Used 9X.?Of Hebrew origin—ebvyla El-eey-sheh’-bah—Elisheba = “my God has sworn” or “God is an oath”—1) Aaron's wife.?From—la ale—Strength; as adjective--Mighty; especially--The Almighty(but used also of any deity); =‘Who (is) like God?’.—&— ebv sheh'-bah; OR(masculine)--hebv shib-aw'—Seven(as the sacred full one); also adverbially--Seven times; by implication--A week; by extension--An indefinite number; a primitive cardinal number.
:6—“And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments & ordinances of the Lord blameless.”
Beyond their being of priestly descent, both “Zacharias” & “Elizabeth” were “righteous” in God’s eyes.
•“They were both righteous before God,” That is, they lived empowered, by NOT simply doing their utmost to keep the “commandments” & requirements, so that they wouldn’t be in a bad way with God. Instead, they kept them, continually “walking” in them, because *their hearts were ‘right’ before God.
Mal. 2:7—““For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.”
•They “walked” in the power of God’s love & desire for them, in a manner that made them “blameless.” That is, considering the common weaknesses & limitations of their humanity, they did nothing that would offend God.
Job 1:1—“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; & that man was blameless[Mt tawm] & upright, & one who feared God & shunned evil.”
Their ‘trust in God’ was reflected in their individual lifestyles as well as in their married lifestyle. “Zacharias” & “Elizabeth” were a couple that openly exemplified all that trust in God meant.
•All their unashamed & bold commitment & service to God, occurred PRIOR to the fullness that would later come thru the Cross of Christ. They trusted God’s commitment to the ‘promised’ New Covenant, without knowing the name of the Christ thru Whom it would be implemented.
That they walked “blamelessly” “does not mean they were sinless, but rather that their lives were characterized by [heart-felt & sincere] obedience to God’s law.”—MNTC
“Blameless”—amemptov—Adj. Nominative Plural Masc.—1) Blameless, deserving no censure, free from fault or defect. Amemptov is strictly unblamed, one with whom no fault is found. This of course refers particularly to the verdict of others upon one. Strong—Irreproachable. Used 5X--Lk. 1:6; Php. 2:15; Php. 3:6; 1Thes. 3:13; Heb. 8:7.?From—A(as a negative particle).—& a derivative of—memfomai—To blame.
“Zacharias” & “Elizabeth”, along with Mary & Joseph(1:26-27ff.), as well as Simeon & Anna(2:25-35; :36-38), offer us a picture of the “noblest product of Old Testament education”(Ragg). & as such, they are those who were “privileged to see with clear eyes, the dawn of the New Testament revelation.””—RWP
:7—“But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, & they were both well advanced in years.”
Though they were both lived rightly before God, & though He found no fault in them, they did not have even one child, even though they evidently wanted children(:25). “Elizabeth was” recognized as “barren”(unable to have children).
*Lk. 1:25—“Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.””
•“Elizabeth’s” being “barren” was a source of ‘reproach’, ‘shame’, or ‘disgrace’ in her Jewish society. The same was true for all Jewish women. Some looked upon a woman being “barren” as a sign of ‘disfavor’ from God.
This was an older couple because the Scripture says that “they were both well advanced in years.”
•So no doubt, “Elizabeth” had spent the better part of her life under that yoke of ‘disgrace’ caused by her “barrenness.”
?What course of action do you take when things don’t go your way?...
?What happens when you can’t get what you really want?
In order to know if a person relies on God, don’t look to what they tell you about that relationship. Instead, look at the way he/she reacts & responds to difficulty.
•That will tell you whether the person is a willing servant of God as their Master, OR that they have instead, made God THEIR servant, viewing Him as their ‘Sugardaddy.’
?What happens when ‘God does not ‘bless you’(as you prefer)?
**True Christians remain faithful to God!
?How do you react to personal years of physical &/or mental suffering?—Physical suffering has great potential to ‘wreak havoc on’ & ‘play with’ your faith in God.
Argumentation:
Mat. 5:17-20—“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven & earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, & teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does & teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes & Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Mat. 23:1-12—“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes & to His disciples, saying: “The scribes & the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. “Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe & do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, & do not do. “For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, & lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad & enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, “greetings in the marketplaces, & to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, & you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. & do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. & whoever exalts himself will be humbled, & he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Mat. 6:21, 33—Jesus said,—“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”......“But seek first the kingdom of God & His righteousness, & all these things[our needs for daily living] shall be added to you.”
Illustration:
A person who trusts God ‘no matter what.’
•DESPITE the heartache of loss of life. Their ‘spiritual’ composure doesn’t change. Their heart breaks...They cry out because of their loss...BUT they continue to trust God & in their heart-of-hearts, DESPITE any setback.
•They not only ‘know’ that God is Good, but they continue to RELY upon the fact that God is Good! RIGHTEOUS FAITHFULNESS
Application:
?Can God depend on YOUR RIGHTEOUS FAITHFULNESS to Turn people to Himself?
?Will YOU serve God in initiating the turn?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
The ‘Turns’ at Drake’s Millpond slough, & Screwpin Road. They require making ‘major adjustments’ to speed & direction, in order to properly & safely navigate the Turns.
So, God had to Initiate ‘major adjustments’ spiritually, to bring about His salvation & direction for mankind!
Action:
In Initiating the Turn, God uses...
1. RIGHTEOUS FAITHFULNESS(:5-7)
Pt# 1 only! presented 09/10/2023am to:
Salem Baptist Church
1618 Salem Rd.
Bennettsville, SC 29512
