What matters more – the words you say, or the way you say them?
What speaks louder – the dialogue or the delivery?
For the sake of brevity, I’ll summarize much of the passage, though it pains me to do so. There is so much goodness in each word, and I hate to cut it out. But to avoid this becoming a full on novel, I will. Just promise that you’ll spend some time with the word on your own.
Verses 5-7 introduce us to Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth, and we learn that they are both righteous in the sight of God. Yet, Elizabeth is unable to conceive a child. Having a child was more than just a desire for people in this time; it was a symbol of status and considered a reward. This couple had no child, but was still called righteous by God.
It is still possible to honor God when our desires go unmet. There’s no indication of Elizabeth having a holy hissy fit because she didn’t get what she wanted. But there’s every indication that this couple continued to honor the Lord, even in their longing.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but it doesn’t have to make the heart rebellious.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick.
But it doesn’t have to make the heart rebellious.
So it’s priest Zechariah’s turn to go to the temple to burn incense, and verse 10 tells us that all the worshipers were praying outside at this specific time. There is something about the gathering of saints, the act of corporate prayer that invites the presence of God. God shows up when and where He is wanted. Longing invites presence.
It’s at this point when an angel of God shows up and delivers the message that Elizabeth will give birth to a son who would grow up to be the man we know as John the Baptist, cousin of Jesus Christ.
Now, this birth announcement came with a lot of instructions as to the child’s name, purpose, and how he should be raised in order to fulfill that purpose. Because God doesn’t give a gift without also telling you what to do with it. He’s intentional – every good and perfect gift serves His purpose, even as it brings you joy.
God shows up when and where He is wanted.
Longing invites presence.
But it’s Zechariah’s reaction and the events that follow that have my attention today. Let’s take a look at Luke 1:18-20 in the NIV:
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
“How can I be sure of this?” Seems like a logical question to me, and honestly, it’s easy to view the angel’s response as a little bit dramatic. Unless there’s something Gabriel knew that we don’t.
It seems like Zechariah had trouble believing that this was a true statement – odd. Considering the fact that an actual angel stood in front of him. But less odd when you consider the fact that God had not spoken to His people – via angel or prophet or otherwise – in four hundred years.
God doesn’t give a gift without also telling you what to do with it.
It’s extremely understandable and relatable that there might be some doubt in Zechariah’s heart. Silent seasons can either build our expectation or build our doubt. And it seems that in Zechariah’s case, no amount of religious activity could keep the doubt at bay.
Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks, revealing what lies within. And so, the Lord shut Zechariah’s mouth for the remainder of his wife’s pregnancy. While often viewed as a punishment, I think this is actually God’s protection.
If the power of life and death is in the tongue, and if Zechariah had already spoken doubt over the word of the Lord, God had to do something to guard His work. And so, the earthly father of this miracle went silent.
But silence was broken when the child was born, and Zechariah came into agreement with what Gabriel spoke:
Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
Luke 1:62-64
Silent seasons can either build our expectation or build our doubt.
Our response to the silence is the determining factor.
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