Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-05

For 400 years the voice of God had
been silent as far as the prophets were
concerned. He had never left Himself
been shut up since Malachi had said that
God would send elijah the prophet be-
fore the coming of the great and dread
full day of the Lord, and he shall turn
the heart of the fathers to the children,
and the heart of the children to the ia
theirs, lest come and smite the earth
with a CURSE During those years the
Jews had again lost their independence,
they were scattered to every part of the
then know world, the temple had been
supplemented by synagogues everywhere.
Rome ruled with an iron hand. There
was expectancy on eevry side. Partic-
ularly was this true of the Jews who
felt the bondage of Rome most keenly.
THE temple service was still kept UP
according to the direction Of David. The
priests, the descendants of Aaron each
had his own time of service in the tenn
pie and during the interval lived in his
own village, titled his ground, and carried
on his own occupation.
In the days of Herod the great there
was a priest named Zacharias who be-
Ionged to the eighth course. He lived
in Hebron, probably, he had a wife named
Elizabeth, but no children. Because OF
the promise that ''the seed of the woman
shall bruise the serpent's head" every
Jewish woman hoped that she might pos
sibly be the mother of the Messiah; and
to be barren, therefore, was the greatest
reproach that could come upon her. For
years and years Zacharias and Eliza
beth had therefore been praying that
God would take away her reproach, and
give them a child The prayer seemed
to be unheard. They were both old now,
and in all human probability their re-
quest could not be granted
When It came time this year for the
| eight course TO serve for a week, Zach
arias left Hebron and went to Jerusa-
lem to perform his part. On this par
ticular day there were, as usual, three
priests serving at the altar of incense;
one removed the ashes of the former
service, one brought in the pan filled
with burning Goals from the altar of
/ burnt offering, and the third sprinkled
/ the incense on the hot Goals and inter-
ceded for the people as the smoke of the
/ incense assembled. OF course this was
the more honored of the three. Lots
were cast to determine which one should
perform this service, and today the lot
fell to Zacharias.
/ 1t was NnuS DIS ne was III the liIC VI
duty that the greatest moment of his
/ life was realized. He was a good man;
he did all he had been taught to do
as right. He was righteous. but not per-
/ feet as we shall see. But il was as
he was doing what he knew to be Gods
will for him that God appeared to him.
For as the smoke assembled there stood
Gabriel on the right side of the altar.
without the people were praying, mere
within he was praying for them.
The vision frightened him for the time;
/ he hadn't expected his prayer to be an
swered i'm that way. But Gabriel quickly
/ quoted his heart. saying, Fear not,
Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard, and
! thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a
son. ad thou shall call his name John. !"
Then he went on to the him of the work
the son should do and the blessing he
should be to the people.
Not only was Zacharias' prayer heard
and answered that day, but also that
of the people who were outside praying.
They were not asking for a son, but in
answering Zacharias' prayer, theirs were