31. 1 Kings xviii. 37.
32. Mal. iv. 5, 6.
33. St. Luke i. 17; comp. St. Matt. xi. 19.
If the apparition of the Angel, in that place, and at that time, had overwhelmed the aged
priest, the words which he heard must have filled him with such bewilderment, that for
the moment he scarcely realised their meaning. One idea alone, which had struck its roots
so long in his consciousness, stood out: A son - while, as it were in the dim distanc e
beyond, stretched, as covered with a mist of glory, all those marvellous things that were
to be connected with him. So, when age or strong feeling renders us almost insensible to
the present, it is ever that which connects itself with the past, rather than with the present,
which emerges first and strongest in our consciousness. And so it was the obvious doubt,
that would suggest itself, which fell from his lips - almost unconscious of what he said.
Yet there was in his words an element of faith also, or at least of hope, as he asked for
some pledge or confirmation of what he had heard.
It is this demand of some visible sign, by which to 'know' all that the Angel had
promised, which distinguishes the doubt of Zacharias from that of Abraham,34 or of
Manoah and his wife,35 under somewhat similar circumstances - although, otherwise also,
even a cursory reading must convey the impression of most marked differences. Nor
ought we perhaps to forget, that we are on the threshold of a dispensation, to which faith
is the only entrance. This door Zacharias was now to hold ajar, a dumb messenger. He
that would not speak the praises of God, but asked a sign, received it. His dumbness was
a sign - though the sign, as it were the dumb child of the prayer of unbelief, was its
punishment also. And yet, when rightly applied, a sign in another sense also - a sign to
the waiting multitude in the Temple; a sign to Elisabeth; to all who knew Zacharias in the
hill-country; and to the priest himself, during those nine months of retirement and inward
solitude; a sign also that would kindle into flame in the day when God would loosen his
tongue.
34. Gen. xvii. 17, 18.
35. Judg. xiii 2-21.
A period of unusual length had passed, since the signal for incensing had been given. The
prayers of the people had been offered, and their anxious gaze was directed towards the
Holy Place. At last Zacharias emerged to take his stand on the top of the steps which led
from the Porch to the Court of the Priests, waiting to lead in the priestly benediction, 36
that preceded the daily meat-offering and the chant of the Psalms of praise, accompanied
with joyous sound of music, as the drink-offering was poured out. But already the sign of
Zacharias was to be a sign to all the people. The pieces of the sacrifices had been ranged
in due order on the altar of burnt -offering; the priests stood on the steps to the porch, and
the people were in waiting. Zacharias essayed to speak the words of benediction,
unconscious that the stoke had fallen. But the people knew it by his silence, that he had
seen a vision in the Temple. Yet as he stood helpless, trying by signs to indicate it to the
awestruck assembly, he remained dumb.