Scripture Post #323: *RIGHTEOUS & BARREN*

Luke 1:

6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

[Disclaimer: The images here (in their original forms) were from an image search-engine. The original sources of these images are unbeknown to me. I own no rights of these images.]

The "they" in verse 6 is Zacharias & his wife Elisabeth—John the Baptists' parents. Luke 1:5: "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth." Verse 5 lets us know that Zacharias was a Priest and Elisabeth came out of the Priest Aaron's bloodline. These were holy people. Verse 6 describes them as "righteous" and "blameless"—"walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord". But V. 7 states that "Elisabeth was barren". Why? How? She lived her life pleasing to GOD. How could such grief be in the lives of righteous people? A lot of times when things go wrong in our Christian-walk, we blame our sin or shortcomings. "Oh, my! I wouldn't've lost my baby if I had prayed enough!" Or, "It was the sin in my life that had me lose my house!" These things aren't always the case. (If you've asked GOD for forgiveness of your sin, in repentance, you're forgiven.) In Job's life we see that he went through severe hard-times! And Job was a man who…well, just look how Job 1:1 describes him: "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil." JESUS is the best example of someone who didn't deserve the extreme wrong they received. Righteous people go through. It's just what happens sometimes. And it's not the righteous' fault. And it surly isn't GOD's fault. A lot of times we blame ourselves or GOD, and we forget that there's a mean, ugly Devil who hates us!! But understand: JESUS made it out of HIS situation, and was exalted on high! Job made it out and was blessed greatly! And Zacharias and Elisabeth made it out of being childless. GOD blessed them with a great son: John the Baptist! Luke 1:13: "But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John."

V. 14: "And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth."

V. 24: "And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,"

V. 25: "Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men."

Understanding The Balance:

We must understand the balance of why bad things happen to the Christian, in order to be that much more affective in this Christian-walk. Bad things happen to good people. That point has been proven. And the source of the bad comes not from GOD, not from us, not from those around us, but from Satan: 1st Thess. 2:18: "Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us." Apostle Paul realized that his hindrance came from Satan; and he was right on the money! But we can't say things like: "Man, oh man! Satan gave me an STD when I was in bed with that person who wasn't my spouse!" That ain't the Devil; that's you!! Don't do the fool and blow it, and blame it on nobody or no one but yourself. Things we do can hinder our own lives: 1st Peter 3:7: "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." A Christian man's prayers can be hindered if he dishonors his wife. A Christian man can't cuss his wife out, then get on his knees in prayer and expect anything. And that Christian man can't blame his unanswered prayers on anyone but himself!

Summary: Satan can hinder the Christian. But also, Christians can hinder themselves. If you're going through and you know you live righteously, then Satan is causing your grief. If you're living unrighteously and you're going through, then you're causing your own grief. But as for the righteous of the LORD: hang in there as JESUS, Job, Zacharias & Elizabeth and many other have, so that you can receive great blessings of the LORD as these have! Amen and amen!!

Originally Published: Thur. 8/1/13