"When Silence is Golden"

And He Praised God

Today I would like for us to think about the times when we were going through an experience that had no control over. It involved us and we had prayed about it but it still had not changed! No matter what we did the situation either stayed like it was or got even worse.

I know that when it comes to my children, I always try to make sure everything goes right for them. I always watch what they do and I teach them from my research, knowledge and experience. But what about the times when we cannot get through and they want their independence! They will not trust or believe in what we tell them! They are going to act based on the limited knowledge that they have.

Some children even continue this into adulthood, never admitting that their parent had more insight or knowledge than they did, even when their way didn't work out. That is stubbornness that usually grows into bitterness and keeps a person from admitting they are wrong and accepting the help and guidance from someone with more experience and knowledge. They cut themselves short not only in their life but in the lives of all who depend on them for decisions and choices in the roles they fill throughout life.

As we look today at the passage I'd like to read in chapter one of Luke, we will be reading about a man that had a very important role as the priest in the days of Herod; also the husband of Elisabeth who was the daughter of Aaron (a man used greatly by God) and soon to become the mother of John, who would spend his life proclaiming the coming of the Messiah! What a responsibility this man, Zacharias had and he also had a tough time accepting what God had told him in this passage. Let's read,

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Luke 1:7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

This passage even says that he and his wife were walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless! That is saying allot about these people! They were the examples of the community when it came to righteous living! I believe it would have been an honor and a privilege to have been able to spend time with this couple on a personal basis, don't you? Well, then again, I may have felt a bit uncomfortable but the wisdom that they probably had would have been a wonderful resource. Everyone was probably emailing and texting Zacharias to get answers about things pertaining to things of God! Oh! That's right, they didn't have those things back then! Well, I bet they were doing everything they could to get close to this couple so that they could draw from their knowledge.

Then something unbelievable happened! An angel came to Zacharias while he was burning incense in the temple. Let's read this,

Luke 1:8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
Luke 1:9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
Luke 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
Luke 1:11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Luke 1:12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
Why do you think he was afraid? Was it reverence or maybe it surprised him because this had never happened before? I think it was a little of both.
Let's look at what happens next,
Luke 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Luke 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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.
Luke 1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

Wow! That was not only a huge surprise for Zacharias but it probably felt like a huge responsibility was just placed on his shoulders! Oh, but that's right, Zacharias had been used to living the righteous life and he was a priest in the temple so he could handle it just fine! Right? I would think that this would be the case, wouldn't you?

In verse eighteen when he says to the angel, "Whereby shall I know this?", what he is asking the angel for is some kind of sign because this is just impossible. The angel told him what was going to happen based on the knowledge sent by God concerning his soon to be son, John! Did you notice back in verse thirteen when the angel told Zacharias that his prayer had been heard? I think by the way that Zacharias responded to the angel, that it had been many years since he had prayed for a child! But the angel said that his prayer had been answered as if he had prayed for it that day! Isn't it awesome to know that God is listening to our prayers and will answer them in His timing and purpose?

Well, there is a problem now. The angel was questioned when he gave the news to Zacharias who should have been excited and rejoicing because of this unbelievable news that his son would change the world! What happened?

It's no different than when we give our children a message that will change their lives, BUT they just can't believe that it's possibly going to turn out the way we say that it will. They want proof of some type and all we can do is tell them to trust us!

Let's read on,

Luke 1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
Luke 1:20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believe not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
Luke 1:21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
Luke 1:22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

He had lost his ability to speak! Have we ever seen our children going through a time when it seemed like they had lost all ability to communicate or maybe even understand us? Could it be that they too are going through a time of learning that God alone must fulfill in their lives due to the lack of trust in us as their parents? Is it possible that there are grown children in the world today, that stayed stubborn and who lacked trust in the knowledge of the ones who were placed here to guide them through life; maybe even lacking trust in the guidance of God? Let's jump down to verse sixty-three to see how Zacharias got his speech back!

Luke 1:62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
Luke 1:63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
Luke 1:64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

His wife had told everyone that the baby's name would be John but they were fussing with her because there wasn't anyone in the family by that name and they thought it should be called Zacharias. Then Zacharias wrote the name on the table "His name is John" and they were surprised to see this choice by even the father. It was when he followed through with the naming of the child by the word of the angel that he found that his speech returned.

The next thing that happened is so important! It says that he spake, and praised God. Zacharias hadn't spoken for over nine months and had allot of time to have gotten angry and proven all the reasons why he hadn't deserved this time of suffering in his life. he could have complained within and felt very sorry for himself and his condition but what did he do? It says that he spoke and PRAISED God! The bondage of his spirit in speechlessness had been release!

Will we praise God regardless of what we have been through? Will our children find the understanding that God wants for their lives so that they too will be able to one day speak clearly and praise God also! We as parents must be an example to them. We must pray for our children each and every day and trust God just as Zacharias and Elisabeth learned to trust God also.

Let's pray,

Oh God, I come to you today asking for your guidance and longing to see the day when my children too will know that you are trustworthy and will praise you as adults. I ask you Lord for your will, your purpose to be done in my life today. I ask you to help me live day by day and trust you more no matter how impossible things may seem at times! I put my trust in you Lord!
In Jesus name, amen.

Philippians 4:13 I CAN do all things through Christ which strengthens me!