EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/24/2026
11:38 PM
My
Worship Time Focus: PT-1
“The Divine Reproof For Zacharias’s Unbelieving Response”
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference:
Luke
1:18-25
Message of the Verses: “18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I
know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, "I am
Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to
bring you this good news. 20 And behold,
you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take
place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their
time." 21 And the people were
waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak
to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept
making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he
went to his home. 24 After these days
his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden,
saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for
me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.’”
Earlier this evening I had a Spiritual Diary written
for this section of verses, not all of them but part of them as this section
will take a few days to get through, but when I went to save it the SD was gone
as this newer laptop did it to me again.
I will only begin this section this evening and try to put more of it on
tomorrow evenings SD.
MacArthur begins: “Incredibly, Zacharias’s initial fear at
seeing the angel soon turned to unbelief.
Instead of being grateful, Zacharias reached with skepticism. Expressing doubt and faithless distrust, he
asked incredulously, ‘How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced
in years.’ Much like those praying
for Peter’s release from prison (Acts 12:12-16), Zacharias refused to believe
even when given the answer he had requested.
So like all believers, he was righteous before God, but not sinless.”
(Acts 12:12-16)
“12 When he realized this, he went to the house of
Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered
together and were praying. 13 And when
he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to
answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in
her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was
standing at the gate. 15 They said to
her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and
they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they
opened, they saw him and were amazed.”
To doubt the certainty of the word of God and the reliability
of His promise (cf. Josh. 23:14; 1 Kings 8:56; 2 Cor. 1:20; Titus 1:2; Heb.
10:23) is to deny His truthfulness. Thus
Zacharias’s unbelief drew the angel’s stern rebuke. ‘I am Gabriel,’ he declared, ‘who
stands in the presence of God.’ The phrase
translated I am Gabriel is emphatic, indicating that this was no ordinary
angel.”
(cf. Josh. 23:14; 1 Kings 8:56; 2 Cor.
1:20; Titus 1:2; Heb. 10:23)
“14 "And now I am about to go the way of all
the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word
has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning
you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.’
“56 "Blessed be the LORD who has given rest
to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has
failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant.”
“20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in
him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
“2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never
lies, promised before the ages began”
“23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope
without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
“One of
only two angels named in Scripture (the other is Michael [Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1;
Jude 9; Rev. 12:7]), Gabriel was God’s primary messenger, sent to communicate
some of the most monumental announcements in redemptive history (cf. Dan.
8:16-26; (:21-27; Luke 1:26-38).”
(Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Rev.
12:7)
“13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood
me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for
I was left there with the kings of Persia,”
“21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the
book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except
Michael, your prince.”
“9 But when the archangel Michael, contending
with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to
pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.’”
“7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his
angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,”
2/25/2026
12:00 AM
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