Luke 1:13-17
We have, in these verses, the words of the angel who appeared to Zacharias. They are words full of deep spiritual instruction.
We learn here, for one thing, that prayers are not necessarily rejected, because the answer is long delayed. Zacharias, no doubt, had often prayed for the blessing of children, and, to all appearance, had prayed in vain. At his advanced time of life, he had probably long ceased to mention the subject before God, and had given up all hope of being a father. Yet the very first words of the angel show plainly that the bygone prayers of Zacharias had not been forgotten:─”Thy prayer is heard: thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son.”