SPEECHLESS

“‘How can I know this?’ Zechariah asked the angel. ‘For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.’

The angel answered him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.

Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.’

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless.” (Luke 1:18-22 HCSB)

It was almost sixteen years ago, that my wife went to the doctor. She had some problems that concerned her, and thought something serious might be wrong, so she asked me to go along with her for support. Well, she was going to need it. We both were, when we found out the reasons for her symptoms. Marilyn was forty—and unexpectedly pregnant! We were both speechless—and for me, that is an unusual phenomenon. I even talk in my sleep! When Marilyn found her voice, she told the doctor, “I can’t be!” His response was, “Apparently, you can.”

This must have been a similar reaction to that experienced by the main characters in the first couple of chapters in Luke’s Gospel. The first chapter of Luke records the remarkable series of events leading to the birth of Jesus Christ as documented in chapter two. Mary received the most incredible announcement of all time when the angel Gabriel told her that she was going to give birth to the Son of God though she was a virgin. But the announcement given to old Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth was pretty amazing too. You see, they were old and their biological clock had wound down. They had resigned themselves to never having children. But here comes Gabriel, six months before he will make the journey from heaven to Nazareth to shock Mary, coming into the temple and dropping a bomb on Zechariah—“You’re going to be a Daddy!” He couldn’t believe it. Usually older folks don’t have babies. God designed it that way. We’d lay them down and forget where we put them!

Have you ever been so surprised as to be rendered speechless? Here are some lessons for all of us to apply in this shocking story.

SPEECHLESS: THE SILENCE OF CORRECTION.

When Gabriel was dispatched from heaven with a message for Zechariah that was the first direct communication from heaven in four centuries! They had the Word of God from the Old Covenant—and that was good. But since the preaching of Malachi until this time, there had been no additional prophetic voice, no further revelation. Heaven had been silent.

Why?

I’ll answer that question with another question: why should God speak when people aren’t willing to listen? That is the story of Jewish history. Over and again—through Noah’s warning, David’s singing, Solomon’s musing, Isaiah’s preaching, via dreams, visions, signs and symbols—a host of ways—God sought to get through to His people.

They plugged their ears in disobedience and disbelief. So, heaven became silent. It was to have the spiritual effect that hunger and thirst create in us physically. When God was speechless, those who had a longing for Him would begin to cry out to Him. The godly remnant would seek Him wholeheartedly—and that is where we come in the first act of the Divine drama documented in these early chapters of Luke.

There is a hunger inside an old couple, who are serving God, and a young virgin consecrated to God, plus those worshippers gathered outside the temple, seeking God. Then God speaks!

Have you heard from Him lately?

If not, then I have some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that it might be your Bible is a locked Book to you because you have refused to heed its message. The good news is you can repent! The very silence of heaven is to stir a hunger to once more encounter God in His Word.

This is the promise:

“‘For I know the plans I have for you’--[this is] the Lord's declaration—‘plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.’” (Jer.29:11-13)

SPEECHLESS: THE SILENCE OF CONFUSION.

When Gabriel announces that Zechariah is going to be a father, the old fellow is dumbfounded.

“‘How can I know this?’ Zechariah asked the angel. ‘For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.’" (Luke 1:18)

It is a confusion that is grounded in unbelief. Zechariah needs to learn a lesson about trusting in God and not in himself, and so his figurative speechlessness will cause his voice to literally become muted.

“‘Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.’" (Luke 1:20)

That is exactly what happened, and until Zechariah signifies that his baby boy is to be named John, he will watch the events unfold without being able to comment on them. Did he ever have a story to tell! It was a story of good news, “The angel answered him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.’” (Luke 1:19) But, his unbelief sealed his lips.

We have good news—that’s what the word, “gospel” means. But, if like Zechariah, we trust ourselves instead of trusting God, we may be silent when we ought to be sharing. Fear paralyzes our vocal chords. Faith will embolden us to speak out. The world needs to hear the life-changing message we have.

SPEECHLESS: THE SILENCE OF CONTEMPLATION.

Mary had much to ponder.

“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And [the angel] came to her and said, ‘Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.’ But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.” (Luke 1:26-29)

A virgin was told that she was to have a baby without the aid of a man. It would be a miracle that would enable her to birth the Savior. God would be made flesh in her womb! Now, that would make anybody speechless.

She would later find her voice and burst into song. But, then the songs would one day give way to sighs, as she neared the moment of giving birth and mounted a donkey to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The sighs would build to a crescendo of screams as the pain of childbirth would usher the Savior into the world.

The shepherds would come to the stable with shouts of worship and stories of angels.

Mary was speechless as she contemplated these events.

“After seeing [them], they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.” (Luke 2:17-19)

A week later, she would travel with her beloved Joseph, to take Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to be circumcised and dedicated to the Lord. It was then that an old man named Simeon and an aged woman named Anna would say some amazing things about this special Child. What was her response? No words were recorded, but we know she was reflecting thoughtfully on what was said.

As this young Lad grew, His mother had much to consider—there was such a quality about Him. Then, there came that amazing episode when he was taken to the Temple at the age of twelve—and He is left behind, engrossed in theological discussions with the scholars there. Returning in a panic, to find Him, Mary speaks, “When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.’" (Luke 2:48).

But, His answer silences her again, “’Why were you searching for Me?’ He asked them. ‘Didn't you know that I had to be in My Father's house?’” (Luke 2:49) So much to contemplate, and so we read, “Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:51)

How deeply do we think? Especially, how thoughtful are we when it comes to the things of God? There is a lot of noise in this world that we must filter out. Concentration, contemplation and comprehension come to those who will stop talking long enough to listen.

Have you heard His voice today?