ELIZABETH: FAVOUR DELETES DISGRACE

“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days He has shown His FAVOR and taken away my DISGRACE among the people” – Luke 1:25 (NIV).

Favour deletes disgrace. Favour rolls reproaches away. Zechariah and Elizabeth had no children, and it could not naturally be expected that she should conceive of a child in her old age. But God fixed His eyes upon Elizabeth and granted her the desire of her heart, a unique son. His favour deleted the disgrace of childlessness from off her destiny. This woman whose name ‘Elizabeth’ meant “My God has shown” gave birth to John in her old age.

Luke’s gospel commenced with the angelic announcement of Gabriel to Zacharias, the elderly priest in the temple, that the couple’s prayers had been answered and that Elizabeth will bear a son who will come in the spirit of Elijah the prophet, turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and prepare the way of the Lord (1:16). Until the birth of John, Zechariah was to remain mute because of his unbelief if the announcement (1:20). For reasons which the Bible did not reveal Elizabeth remained in seclusion for five months (1:24-25).

The odds seemed to have been stacked against Zechariah and Elizabeth: here was an obscure, socially insignificant, elderly and childless couple. The Bible however reveals positive qualities which might have positioned them to finding favour with God, and which were probably the basis for their selection as the parents of John. Two qualities seemed to stand out in their favour. First was the fact that Zechariah was a priest and both were of the priestly tribe of Aaron. It must have been important to God that John be of the priestly line, even though his calling was largely prophetic. Second and perhaps more important, was their spiritual service, devotion and piety: they were described as “righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly” (1:6, NIV). Not only was this a priestly couple, but they were a pious couple as well. Again, we see SERVICE as a primary platform of FAVOUR.

God is willing and able to show the ‘Elizabeth-kind’ of favour to whosoever would come to Him by faith. Except for the wife of David who despised the anointing upon her husband, all other women that were ever called barren or childless in the Bible became joyful mothers of children: “He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful motherof children. Praise ye the LORD” (Psa.113:9).