Zechariah & Eliz., Righteousness, Lk.1.5f.

“Zechariah…and…Elizabeth…were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord” (Lk. 1:5f.). The challenge of Christianity is to apply to our lives the teaching of God through Scripture. Oftentimes, He utilizes other’s lives to assist us in our engagement of His truth. Luke begins his Gospel with a husband and wife who are made a part of God’s permanent record for the purpose of our enrichment. Zechariah and Elizabeth are set forth as God-fearing, yet fallible models. They are described as being “righteous in the sight of God.” The only way anyone can be righteous in the sight of God is to be aware that he stands before the face of God at every moment of his life. The righteous man is appreciative of the verity that he resides in the chambers of God’s presence. He knows there are no intermissions or vacations from God’s sight. Further, he has an appetite for being in God’s line of vision, and desires no vacation or recess from God’s presence. Zechariah and Elizabeth are also characterized as “walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.” The term “blameless” indicates a person about whom no justifiable complaint can be raised. Two Old Testament examples come to mind: “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God” (Gen. 6:9); and, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 1:8). You cannot walk blamelessly “in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord” unless you know “all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.” You must deploy substantial quantities of time and energy to even begin to grasp with greater fullness God’s commandments and requirements. This is a worthwhile involvement for God’s “Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Ro. 7:12). You should be willing to place yourself in the position of being taught by those who have a broad embrace of God’s word. You will also be obliged to guard yourself against inappropriate friendships and associations. God says the man is blessed “who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!” (Ps. 1:1, italics mine). Do you desire righteousness and blamelessness? The natural man can be comfortable in his unrighteousness and blamefulness. He is unaware of the extent of his nakedness; he is not burdened with the chasm existing between him and God (II Cor. 5:1ff.). If you were to step back and take a look at you from God’s perspective, what would you discover to be the kindling for a fire of separation between you and God?