Zacharias, father of John the Baptist, is our “case study” this morning. He, of all people, was quite “silent” during the time leading up to the birth of his son.
In fact, God had stuck him “dumb!” Because of his “unbelief” regarding this amazing (though not yet conceived) infant God had promised! (Luke 1:5-23, gives the whole story.)
But his enforced silence, really chastisement from the Lord, may have had some good effects too!
Here’s what I mean …
“And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he SPAKE, and praised God.” Luke 1:59-64, read it all please.
His name will be JOHN, not Zacharias Junior!
Let us figure, calculate.
That’s at least nine months of silence! A little over that, I suspect.
Soon as the silent Zacharias got home from his priestly duties in Jerusalem … “And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived.”
Now both parents here were “well stricken in years,” according to the Physician Luke in his Book of history, specifically in Luke 1:7.
Folks … there are times in our lives, especially in so-called modern society … when a little “silence” might help us all to live better for Jesus.
“Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.” Zechariah 2:13
“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” (Quoting Psalm 4:4, where the Hebrew verb “be still” also means “to be silent.” Four times in the King James Bible it is translated that way!)
And even Solomon told us in Ecclesiastes 3:7 that there is “a time to keep silence.” Zacharias learned that the hard way!
This Christmas, some quiet time might be good for us. Time to think about the real Meaning of the way too commercialized Holiday. That being THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR! VIRGIN BIRTH!
Ponder that Truth a bit, off in a corner somewhere.
Be sure … Zacharias did.
Oh, this too.
The now-able-to-talk Zacharias soon bursts into a Psalm of Praise to his great God!
Read it ….
“And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child (the newborn baby, little John the Baptist), shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:67-79
Wow!
Did those months of silence, of godly meditating, yield this little Biblical Gem? I think so.
Silence, yes at times can really be “golden.”
Often indeed … “He that hath knowledge spareth his words.” Proverbs 17:27.
Maybe I have talked enough now.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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