Teasing the Old Testament - From Luke chapter 1

In the past when I've had the blessing of studying, preaching, or teaching on the advent of Christ I've often missed out on just how saturated Luke's gospel is with Old Testament references. That is a much too long way of saying, I'm learning new things from Luke 1 and I'd like to share some of it with you. 

In Luke 1:5-7 we're told about Zechariah and given some details regarding his service as a priest and some details about his wife Elizabeth and her lineage:

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

In these few verses we have at least 3 possible references to the Old Testament. 

The first reference is the division of priests in which Zechariah served. We're told about the priestly division of duties and the division of Abijah is mentioned as eighth in the list of 1 Chronicles 24:10b. This organization of priests and their responsibilities marks a tradition of at least 350 years and more likely is close to 1,000 years (depending on when you date the life and times of King David and Solomon). 

The second reference is the explicit connection between Elizabeth and the line of Aaron. Luke has already pointed out Zechariah's lineage as a descendent of Aaron in the line of service of Abijah, but now he's going above and beyond to bring Aaron into the mind of his audience. Aaron was the brother of Moses and the original High Priest when the Lord God covenanted his rule with his people after delivering the ancient Israelites from Pharaoh. Aaron was the mouthpiece of Moses as appointed by God when Moses shrank away from the call of the Lord to return to Egypt (Exodus 4:10-17). I believe this reference was intentional for the purpose of making a parallelism between Aaron and Moses and John the Baptist and Jesus the Messiah. 

The third reference is the calling to attention that Zechariah and Elizabeth were childless. This is not due to any sin on their part or any consequences of wickedness. Verse 6 makes clear Zechariah and Elizabeth's relational position before God almighty as being righteous. This corresponds to multiple instances of Old Testament children of promise who are born out of unforeseen circumstances. There are at least two possible references for us to have in our minds: Abraham and Sarah (in Genesis) and Elkanah and Hannah (in 1 Samuel). It was to Abraham and Sarah that God promised a nation from the child of their old age. Isaac was the child of promise to Abraham and Sarah. Hannah was barren and prayed to the Lord to have a child, and Samuel was that child. He was devoted in service to the Lord all his life and served as prophet and judge in Israel anointing the first two kings of Israel. The birth of John to Elizabeth is an answer to prayer, a blessing from God, and he would then go on to live as the forerunner of the Messiah. 

If the Holy Spirit through Luke didn't want the readers and hearers of Luke's gospel to be thinking about the Old Testament, he could have left the above details out! Luke's gospel as it begins clearly ties the ancient family of God, the traditions of Worship for God, the faithful provision of God and the redemption of God's people together with the coming birth of John the Baptist and Jesus the Messiah. The connections don't end here, there are connections to the Old Testament in almost every sentence of Luke chapter 1. I hope you are able to read a few verses from Luke 1 and find some more references! 

(Hint, take a look at Genesis 15:8 and Luke 1:18. What is the substance of the question Abraham asked God and Zechariah asked God? Is there another reference even in the questions asked to God and his messenger?)