Chapter Two

Elizabeth awoke to the sound of soft steady snoring.  At seventy three years of age, she had now listened to it for sixty years. She could pick Zechariah’s snore out of a house full of men snoring. There wasn’t much about him that she did not know now. The sound of his voice, the scent of his clothing, the touch of his hand on her shoulder, the myriad of looks that crossed his face daily.

She reached for his hand under the covers and squeezed it slightly when she found it. His snorted slightly and quietly cleared his throat. He squeezed her hand back then settled back to a rhythmic cadence of exhale then snore, exhale then snore.

Smiling, Elizabeth let go and pushed back the blanket from her stout frame and spoke the morning blessing.

“I give thanks before You, Living and Eternal King, that You have returned within me my soul with compassion; how abundant is Your faithfulness!”

Rolling over on her stomach she raised herself off the thin, straw filled mattress into a kneeling position. She pushed again with her hands and stood up. She shook her head side to side then pushed her long gray hair back over her shoulders. She waited for the pain in her bones to subside a bit before walking over to the window to have a look at the morning sky.

Opening the wooden doors of the window she gasped at the horizon painted orange and purple. The leading edge of the sun was ascending from behind the ridge of hills to the southeast. It’s brilliance was almost too much to look upon directly. Another few minutes and it would wash away the color from the clear blue sky and begin the slow march across the sky, heating the small hillside village like the fire of a furnace. Blessed be the Lord who made such wondrous sights she thought to herself as two birds flew by chasing one another then flitting out of sight.

She poured a glass of water and washed away the sleep from her throat. She had a full day ahead and began forming a checklist of tasks in her mind. First on the list was fetching water from the well. She liked to do in the cool of the early morning before the sun became too hot. She changed into her daytime clothing. Exiting the front of the house she grabbed the yoke for carrying the water pots and hoisted it upon her shoulders and neck and headed for the well.

* * *

Zechariah listened to the door close as Elizabeth left to get water. He normally slept a little longer than her but usually not by much.

“I give thanks before You, Living and Eternal King, that You have returned within me my soul with compassion; how abundant is Your faithfulness!” He said then rolled over and pushed himself up until he was standing. He took a short step to steady himself, his hips and knees bearing witness to his age.

He rolled up the mattress and cover then stuffed them on the shelf above the west window. Turning he watched the restless sheep and goats vying for his attention in their night pen by the front door.

“My little ones,” he said to them. “What is it you want on such a fine morning as this?”

The sheep and goats began crying to be let out pushing one another and trying to nose their way to the front of the line. Zechariah propped the front door open with a rock then opened the gate holding the animals inside. They quickly filed out to the front of the house and followed Zechariah to their day pen. Once all the animals were inside he threw an armful of hay over the side of the pen and headed back inside.

He stopped briefly when he entered the small house and said a blessing unto the Lord.

He slipped into his day clothes and finished the glass of water Elizabeth had poured earlier. Their small two room home barely covered 750 square feet. The main room provided space for the animals, cooking, storage for their few belongings. They used part of the space for sleeping at night and for eating during the day.

Zechariah pulled the eating table out from the wall. Taking the sitting mats off it he arranged them in their usual order. Zechariah like order. Everything was meant to be as it was meant to be he always said. Occasionally Elizabeth would place the mats out of order just to watch him fuss over them. He set the small oil lamp in the center and the cutting board for bread beside it.

Zechariah pulled a small container of incense down from the small shelf in the rear of the house and placed it on the table. He then retrieved a small charred pot adorned with angels on the side. They blew trumpets, a scene from the story of Jericho. This pot, a gift from his first Rabbi when he was a young boy, smelled of incense even before he place any in it. Every morning, since he was twelve years old, he had burned incense and said his morning prayers using this very pot. It was more than an old friend. It had become a part of his life, his soul. To lose it would be nearly as painful as losing his precious wife Elizabeth.

He set the pot on the table then went to the small oven and retrieved a single coal from it. Placing the coal in the pot he then began sprinkling incense over it and speaking the morning prayers.

“My God, the soul You have given me, She is pure. You create her, You form her, and You breathe her into me. and You guard it while it is within me. One day You will take it from me, and restore it to me in the time to come. As long as the soul is within me, I will thank You, HaShem my God and God of my ancestors, Master of all works, Lord of all souls. Blessed are You, HaShem, who restores souls to lifeless bodies.”

* * *

Miriam was the only person at the well when Elizabeth arrived, as was the case with most mornings. She lowered her shoulders until the pots rested on the ground then lifted the yoke over her head and set it upon the ground. She sat down next to Miriam on the rock covering the mouth of the well.

“How are you my young friend,” Elizabeth said.

Miriam smiled. She loved these early morning conversations with her old friend. Much wisdom was passed along just for the asking.

“Now that you are here my heart dances with joy,” Miriam said.

Elizabeth slipped her arm around Miriam and pulled her close. The two sat for a few minutes enjoying the embrace. Finally, Elizabeth leaned away and looked at her friend. Miriam was the closet thing to a daughter she had. She was one of the few neighbors who did not remind her daily she had born her husband no children. With Miriam, there was no look of judgment in her eyes, only empathy. She seemed to understand her pain better than anyone, and yet she was barely 14 years old and not yet married.

Elizabeth had prayed every day for the first fifty years of her marriage for a child, but when she passed the age when she could bear children, she accepted her fate and tried to hide her shame as best she could. Still, there were those who reminded her every chance they could. This was one reason she came to the well before the others. The other reasons, well, there really weren’t any.

“Guess what,” Miriam said.

“What.”

“Benesh and his father Haskel want to speak to my father. They have sold some land to raise money for a dowry.”

Elizabeth smiled at her young friend. “I have seen how he watches you. Where is he now, doesn’t he usually come and roll away the stone for you to get water? He should be here enjoying the beautiful morning with his secret love.”

“He is soooo shy. He blushes every time I smile at him. I have been wondering if he would ever speak to my father.”

“Benesh is a good boy. His family is a fine family.,” Elizabeth said.

Miriam leaned closer to Elizabeth. “Tell me Elizabeth. How did you and Zechariah get married?”

“Oh child, you don’t want to hear about that.”

“Yes, yes,” Miriam said. “Tell me, please.”

“Well, he used to peek around the corners at me. Not unlike Benesh with you. This went on for so long. I was thirteen. My father used to chase him off with a switch whenever he caught him staring at me.”

“I can see it now. Him running away and all.” Miriam said.

“Yes, he would run,” Elizabeth chuckled. “But not too far. He would come back and get chased off again. His father was a shepherd. Had many sheep. He used to be gone for weeks at a time when the grass grew thin here. Then, just when I got used to him being gone, I would here my father shout, ‘Zechariah,’ he would say, what are you looking at? Go tend your sheep.’ Then I would hear a switch hit the side of the house and the sound of Zechariah running away again.”

Miriam giggled and squirmed sitting on the rock.

“Then, one day I saw Zechariah and his father Mordechai talking with my father. I knew he had finally gotten up the nerve. Oh, how my sisters and I carried on, watching out the window. My father was beside himself. How do you talk to a man about marriage when you have a house full of women giggling and peeking out the window. Anyway, he pulled out a leather pouch and handed it to my father. He counted the coins and agreed with them right there.”

“I wonder how Benesh will do it.”

“Tradition Miriam. Tradition.”

“Perhaps I will come riding my new donkey.”

Elizabeth and Miriam both nearly fell off the rock at the sound of Benesh’s voice. He laughed at both of them and motioned for them to get off the rock. He handed Miriam the reigns to the donkey he was leading and pushed the rock off the mouth of the well. He took the bucket and rope off his donkey and dropped the bucket into the well and let the rope slip through his hands till it hit the water. He twirled the rope around until he felt the bucket begin to fill then lifted it up a couple of feet and let it crash into the water. He then pulled it up and poured its contents into one of Elizabeth’s pots. He filled them both then filled Miriam’s pots also.

He place his rope and bucket back on the donkey and picked up Elizabeth’s yoke. He slipped it over his head he rested it on his shoulders. He jostled it back and forth a little till he had it positioned well then started back towards her house. Looking back at the two speechless women he said, “Are you going to bring my donkey with you?”

Miriam handed Elizabeth the rope tied around the donkeys neck and  picked up her pots.

“Don’t be thinking that just because you carry water pots for an old woman that you will get a piece of sweet bread with dates in it.” Elizabeth said.

“Why would I think that?” he replied. “My mother, she feeds me well. And she tells me everyday, ‘if you see an old woman carrying water pots, take her pots and hand her your rope. Why should she carry pots when she can lead a donkey so much better than a young man?’ How can I shame my mother by letting everyone see that I do not carry an old woman’s pots?”

“You have a good mother Benesh. She has raised you well.”

And the donkey said “Hee haw, hee haw.”

 © 2011 John Pearson All Rights Reserved.

Chapter One

“Hi Gabriel”, Rachel shouted.

Turning towards the young voice Gabriel watched Rachel emerge from the crowd milling around in the outer court of the temple. Smiling, he bent down and waited for her hug to arrive. She collided with him as fast as her five year old legs could carry her. He embraced her with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Rachel, you look lovely.”

“What’s going on Gabriel? Why is everyone coming to the temple today?”

Our Father has an very important announcement to make,” he answered while giving Rachel a tickle to her ribs.

Giggling she managed to ask, “Do you know what it is?”

“No one knows Rachel, except the Father. Where is your brother Danny?”

“Playin.”

“Is he trying to outrun Moses again?”

“Don’t know,” Rachel replied.

“Gabriel,” a voice boomed from behind them.

Turning his head and shoulders around, Gabriel found Michael the Archangel standing directly behind him.

“Michael,” he exclaimed. “How are you?”

Fine,” he replied smiling. “This is Jeremy, my young protégé.”

“Ga…Ga..Gabriel?” Jeremy inquired. His eyes wide open darted back and forth between Michael and Gabriel.

“The one and only,” Michael said.

Gabriel stood and faced Jeremy, and looked him over, head to foot and back up again. He reached out and took Jeremy’s hand in his own.

“I am honored,” Gabriel said then pulled him close for a hug.

Gabriel glanced at Michael and smiled, then looking Jeremy directly in the eye he said, “I hope you aren’t picking up any bad habits from my old friend here. He has so many he doesn’t even know what they are anymore.”

“I hope not sir,” he replied.

“He’s one to talk,” Michael said. “Who do you think taught them all to me?”

Rachel tugged a few times on Gabriel’s left wing.

“Carry me Gabriel,” she cried while hopping up and down her face pleading with him.

“Do you remember Michael?” Gabriel asked her.

“Sort of. He doesn’t spend much time here at the temple does he?”

“No. He is the guardian angel over the nation of Israel. That keeps him pretty busy.”

“Why is he here?” she asked.

“The Father summoned me Rachel,” Michael replied.

“C’mon Gabriel, let’s go to the inner court.”

Gabriel picked her up and the four of them headed for the inner court.

* * *

The crowd grew dense as they approached the door of the inner court. Gabriel listened to the multitude of conversations surrounding them as they moved closer. It had been many earth years since there had been such a gathering. Everyone felt the time must be getting close for the Messiah to emerge and save Israel from her oppressors. Anticipation gripped the souls of those already home and the angels alike.

The crowd parted as Gabriel, Michael and Jeremy approached the temple doors. A silent awe enveloped everyone as they passed. Each bowed in honor of these two giants of service unto the Lord.

“What are they doing Gabriel?” Rachel whispered into his ear. Looking around she saw the smiles of many as they glanced up at Gabriel.

“They think Michael is some kind of hero or something,” he said smiling at his friend.

“Your sarcasm becomes you,” Michael replied.

“You bring out the best in me,” Gabriel answered.

Jeremy eyed the two old warriors as they ribbed each other. He too felt the awe that had captured the crowd. He had seen Michael in action and fully understood his valor and honor. He had watched demons cower before him and even Satan himself flee after attempting to overcome him. He might be Michael’s protégé, but he would never be his equal.

The Father’s presence grew stronger as they entered the inner court. He had only been here a few times before. Once he had experienced the father’s presence though, there was no mistaking it after that. His heart yearned to just stay here. But one look at Michael and he knew that until the war with Satan and his fallen angels was over, he could never even entertain the thought. He simply must fight. Every part of his being demanded it of him.

Faint singing drifting out from the Holy of Holies tugged at his heart. I get to worship with all the saints and angels in His very presence today. His heart filled with indescribable feelings at the thought. Joy, love, excitement, reverence. Today he would stand before the throne of the Eternal One, who was and is and is to come.

“Jeremy,” Michael called out to him. “Come, come. It is almost time.”

Jeremy hadn’t realized he had stopped dead in his tracks. He only knew his heart was already on it’s knees in worship. Rising above the inner court he quickly caught up with his companions. The very atmosphere around them seemed to vibrate with love. His heart resonated with ease. It called forth a reverence unlike any he had ever felt.

“Michael, Michael,” he whispered to his friend. “I can’t. It’s so ― it’s too much, His presence, it’s just too wonderful.” He stared at his mentor through tear filled eyes.

“Gabriel, I’ll see you and your young friend inside.”

Gabriel smiled and watched his friend slip his arm around Jeremy’s shoulders. Wing to wing they walked passed the saints waiting for them to pass and enter the most sacred place known to creation. They slowly made their way through the sea of souls towards the throne room of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

Entering into the light of the Holy of Holies Jeremy was perplexed at how loud and how silent everything was at the same time. A thunderous hush that defied explanation. He could feel the incense drifting up from under his feet. It caressed his legs like a velvet hand, ever so slightly but ever so real. The hairs on his arms began to stand straight up. The prayers of the saints. He felt them more than heard them. The anguish, the joy, the fear and pain. Prayers rooted in an old faith, the prayers of those hanging on by a thread and the prayers of those longing for the promised one. All crying out to the One who held the power of life and death in his bosom.

A hush slowly settled in as one lone voice breathed forth a note, one solitary note. Jeremy felt his whole body resonate with it. Then it quietly died away. Then in the silence a second note emerged slightly louder than the first.

“Hooooooooooooo.”

The room seemed to brighten just a little bit as the note reverberated outward.

Then a third voice and anther note.

“Hooooooooooooo.”

Then the first again and just before it ended the second again, overlapping ever so slightly. Then as it died, the third note did the same. Then the first, the second, the third, the first. Each round the notes overlapped slightly more until the three became one in harmony and unison together. How can this be Jeremy asked himself. Three notes, each distinct, yet each in unison.

Then the silence again. Jeremy felt the room slowly suck in a breath together as four creatures began to arise before the Throne. The Throne. His eyes caught the Throne right in front of them.

And One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones Jeremy saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

Then the creatures with one voice sang out, “Hoooollleeee.”

Jeremy felt his heart skip a beat and his knees buckled together. They worship Him. Ohhhh, how they WORSHIP Him.

The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.

Then, with one voice and in complete harmony with one another the creatures sang unto everyone present.

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

When the living creatures gave glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fell down before Him who sits on the throne and worshiped Him and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

Then the entire assembly began to sing with the four creatures, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

Jeremy felt himself instinctively begin to rise above the assembly. Looking around he saw that every angel had done the same. The he beat his wings once and rose together with some of the others then let himself drift back down. Then another group of angels did the same.  Then another. Jeremy couldn’t resist the impulse to dance in the air, a dance he knew so well but had never learned and had never danced before.

Then he saw Michael, Gabriel, Marion and a host of the other archangels rise and begin moving together. First to the left, then the right, then forward and down in an arc and then back up in the same arc.

And still, everyone was singing with the four creatures, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

It seemed to go on forever. The angels slowly, one by one stopped dancing. Finally the singing slowly abated until it was just the four creatures. How beautiful they sounded together, still in harmony and unison at the same time. It was as if each had three voices they sang with.

Then all was quiet. In one swift moment every knee bowed and every tongue confessed, “He is Lord.”

* * *

Jeremy felt his heart filled with the greatest sense of peace he had ever known. Everything about life felt perfect. Everyone rose and stood before the Lord in silent awe. Michael tapped a wing against one of Jeremy’s and smiled at him.

The voice of the Lord began to move through everyone, expressing gratitude for their worship. It shared a joy inexpressible. Then it spoke a single name.

“Gabriel.”

Gabriel slowly rose above the assembly and quickly approached the Throne. He descended then kneeled before it and bowed his head.

“My Lord.”

“Gabriel, it is time to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. I am sending you to the priest Zechariah of the division of Abijah. Go and say to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zachariah, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’”

“As you wish my Lord.”

The four creatures began to sing again, very quietly.

Jeremy felt the Lord’s voice speak another name.

“Jeremy.”

He felt his whole body tremble uncontrollably. Michael looked at him and nodded his head towards the Throne. Jeremy slowly rose above the assembly and moved towards the Throne. He descended next to Gabriel. Kneeling, he bowed his head before the Lord.

“Jeremy. You have served my archangel Michael well. You have been faithful in all your ways. You have stood your ground in the battle for the welfare of My people. Now, I am sending you with Gabriel. There will be much opposition to this task. Satan knows my Word and who is coming. He also knows who is to follow. And he both knows and trembles at your name. Be filled.”

Jeremy felt like a lightening bolt struck him. Power surged through his whole being. He felt his stature increase, his wings doubled in size, his mind became clearer than it had ever been. And his resolve to assist Gabriel, no matter what the cost, increased a hundredfold. He felt defeat was not even possible.

“Gabriel, Jeremy, arise. Gabriel, gather as many of the Lord’s servants as you deem necessary to fight with you. Go now in the Name of the Lord.”

The four creatures suddenly began singing without restraint, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

Gabriel and Jeremy, side by side, shot forth from the assembly quick as lightening.

© 2011 John Pearson All Rights Reserved.