57 Now Elizabeth’s
full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how
the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. 59 So
it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they
would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he
shall be called John.” 61 But
they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this
name.” 62 So they
made signs to his father—what he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and
wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his
tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around
them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of
Judea. 66 And all
those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What
kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.
When Elizabeth’s full time came, she gave birth to her son and with the child’s birth there was great joy both in her family and in her community because the Lord had mercy on her, granting her a child in her old age, (but not to preserve her husbands lineage, but to prepare the way of the Lord). God then was already beginning to fill His Word that He had spoken about John (see Luke 1:13-14).
On the eighth day as was Law and custom they came to circumcise Elizabeth’s new born son, and so it was as the ritual took place, and they were going to name the boy Zacharias after his father, that Elizabeth spoke up and said “No, he shall be called John” just as the angel told Zacharias to name him. (vs. 59-60, see Luke 1:13). Those then performing the ritual were really startled by her saying this, since there was no one named John among their relatives (vs. 61). And so, this was a most unordinary request since Zacharias’ name and legacy could not be perpetuated through his only son of his old age. Therefore, they made signs to Zacharias his father asking him what he would have the baby named (vs. 62). Zacharias then still unable to speak asked for a writing tablet, and with that he wrote, saying, “His name is John.” And when he did so all present there marveled (vs. 63).
Vs. 64-66 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.
When Zacharias affirmed that the boy must be named John his mouth was immediately opened and his tongue loosed and he spoke, praising God (vs. 64). Delighting in Him for keeping His Word and promises spoken to Israel (see versus 67-80). Later on, when all the people heard about how his speech was restored when he did so, fear fell upon them, and the people spoke of all these things throughout all the hill county of Judea where he lived (vs. 65). Now many people kept this incident in their hearts saying, “What kind of child will this be?” (vs. 66) for these were some extraordinary events. Now the Scripture says that the hand of the Lord was with John (vs. 66). And so, from very early on in his life John was looked upon by the people as someone whose person and life the Lords hand was truly upon, later on then John during his preaching ministry was rightly seen by them as a prophet sent by God, and yet John was more than just a prophet, he was Christ’s forerunner, sent to declare His Arrival to us all (see Matt. 11:9-11; John 1-3).
Commentary
Vs. 57-58 57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to
be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how
the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.When Elizabeth’s full time came, she gave birth to her son and with the child’s birth there was great joy both in her family and in her community because the Lord had mercy on her, granting her a child in her old age, (but not to preserve her husbands lineage, but to prepare the way of the Lord). God then was already beginning to fill His Word that He had spoken about John (see Luke 1:13-14).
Vs. 59-63 59 So
it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they
would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he
shall be called John.” 61 But
they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this
name.” 62 So they
made signs to his father—what he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and
wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled.
On the eighth day as was Law and custom they came to circumcise Elizabeth’s new born son, and so it was as the ritual took place, and they were going to name the boy Zacharias after his father, that Elizabeth spoke up and said “No, he shall be called John” just as the angel told Zacharias to name him. (vs. 59-60, see Luke 1:13). Those then performing the ritual were really startled by her saying this, since there was no one named John among their relatives (vs. 61). And so, this was a most unordinary request since Zacharias’ name and legacy could not be perpetuated through his only son of his old age. Therefore, they made signs to Zacharias his father asking him what he would have the baby named (vs. 62). Zacharias then still unable to speak asked for a writing tablet, and with that he wrote, saying, “His name is John.” And when he did so all present there marveled (vs. 63).
Vs. 64-66 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.
When Zacharias affirmed that the boy must be named John his mouth was immediately opened and his tongue loosed and he spoke, praising God (vs. 64). Delighting in Him for keeping His Word and promises spoken to Israel (see versus 67-80). Later on, when all the people heard about how his speech was restored when he did so, fear fell upon them, and the people spoke of all these things throughout all the hill county of Judea where he lived (vs. 65). Now many people kept this incident in their hearts saying, “What kind of child will this be?” (vs. 66) for these were some extraordinary events. Now the Scripture says that the hand of the Lord was with John (vs. 66). And so, from very early on in his life John was looked upon by the people as someone whose person and life the Lords hand was truly upon, later on then John during his preaching ministry was rightly seen by them as a prophet sent by God, and yet John was more than just a prophet, he was Christ’s forerunner, sent to declare His Arrival to us all (see Matt. 11:9-11; John 1-3).
Scripture Quotations:
New King James Version. (1882): Thomas Dalke
No comments:
Post a Comment