Here's a trivia
question for you: every Gospel except one begins by talking about Jesus. Which
one is it? It is Luke, the Gospel we read today. With what does Luke begin?
It begins by talking about a married couple named Zechariah and Elizabeth, and
the life of a married couple seems appropriate for a Sunday we have chosen to
designate Marriage Sunday. We are told that Zechariah and Elizabeth had a problem. Early on in chapter one it is stated this way: "they had no child." (vs. 7) They had no child, but they wanted a child. And that's a common problem isn't it? Still today a lot of couples want a child, but they are unable to conceive. They go through all kinds of costly medical procedures and all the emotional ups and downs that accompany them. They are willing to sacrifice a lot in order to have a child.
As hard as that is in our own day, it is even worse for Zechariah and Elizabeth. In that day and age a woman who could not produce a child was not fully a woman, and a man who could not produce a child was not really a man. If there was ever a situation that was beyond hope, this is it. In our day and age a woman who is nearing the end of her child bearing days will say that her biological clock is ticking. Well, in this instance Elizabeth's biological clock had quit ticking. The story says that they were "advanced in years."
How did they respond to their situation? This appears to be a highly unusual couple. This huge problem did not seem to undermine their relationship with God or with each other. Often this happens to us when we face a problem like this doesn't it? It undermines our relationship with God, our spouse, and others. But this doesn't happen with them. In verse 6 it says that they were "righteous before God." They were "blameless."
In the face of a problem that often ruins relationships both human and spiritual, how were they able to remain righteous and blameless? The answer is provided in verse 13. An angel appears to Zechariah while he is offering incense in the Temple and the angel says, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife will bear a son, and you shall call his name John."
Why did their relationship with God and each other not disintegrate even though they didn't receive the gift that they were looking for? Apparently, because they never ceased to pray. Even as they grew old, even as they lost the capacity to conceive, they never ceased to pray. Though prayer is the first thing God desires, when we are under stress or attack, it is often the thing that we neglect to do.
So, in their marriage the thing that seems to make the critical difference is prayer. I know that seems strange to our ears. When we think about what makes for success in marriage, it is the last thing that we think about. For many couples prayer is simply an add-on. It is something that we will do occasionally if we are desperate. But for Zechariah and Elizabeth it is essential. It is the factor that makes the critical difference.
The book of Genesis gives pretty clear directions as regards marriage. Man and woman each represent one-half of the divine image. (Genesis 1:26) They come together for the sake of being God's agents in the world. (Genesis 1:28 & 2:5) They help each other fulfill God's purposes for the world. (Genesis 2:18) Obviously, in order to do this, they must remain in contact with their Creator.
And that's just the way it should be. How ridiculous it is to think that we can have success in marriage apart from God. After all, it is God who invented this institution. How can we have success apart from the directions that the inventor gives us? But like Adam and Eve we choose to ignore the directions. We turn the whole institution on its head. We think that marriage exists primarily for our sake rather than for God's sake. Often it is even worse than that. Each partner thinks that the institution exists for his or her sake. The whole thing can become simply an exercise in selfishness.
The only way to turn the situation around and enjoy the fulfillment that God intends is to turn to God. This is why couple prayer is so important. It is a regular statement that we know that we should exist as God's servants. Only as we fulfill God's purposes are we fulfilled.
So, let's talk about why we need a prayer relationship with our spouse and how we can bring that about. Why should couples pray together?