“When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son. And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her. When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!” “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God. Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills.”
Luke 1:57-65 NLT
This is not a lesson on finding more tranquility in your marriage. Although over the 9 month period of time that Zechariah’s voice was muted, he and Elizabeth had a lot less to argue about.
But seriously, it is a very peculiar thing that an angel of God would take away someone's ability to speak in order to better prepare them for what they are called to walk through. We know from prior versus in the chapter, that Zechariah did not have a very encouraging response to the angel Gabriel's proclamation. Some might even say that he was even critical of God’s plan. But is this enough to warrant taking away his ability to speak? I would suggest yes. Your voice is the most powerful tool that you possess in moving forward in your faith walk.
Your autonomy to speak the beliefs of your heart into existence actually charts the course of your life. What we speak out loud shapes our intentions as we step into our future and call.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. - James 3:1-5
The words that come out of you reveal what you really believe about what God has called you to. If your words are influenced by a critical heart then your words might very well lead you to fight against God's will in your life. As was in Zechariah’s case, if you are struggling to say anything positive about what God is doing in your life, it may be better not to speak at all.
Now also understand that there is a difference between being honest and humbly sharing that you are struggling with your faith, and being critical and accusatory about the things you don’t understand. The first being a place of humility and a desire to learn and grow in God. The second being a place of pride and condemning what you don’t understand. My opinion is, after years of serving God in the temple as a community leader who seemingly did not have God’s blessing and favor for children, Zechariah's heart fell into a religious and critical rut. His question of how this will happen was more accusatory than it was curious. Even though he was standing in the presence of a mighty angel his disappointed heart was so critical that the best way forward for Zechariah was to say nothing at all until God fulfilled his purpose through his life. Finally, when Zechariah has learned his lesson and he yields to God's plan his voice is restored and the people are left in awe of what has just taken place in their village.
As it is with Zechariah, our voices have no real power or authority until we yield our voice to partner with what God has already spoken over our lives.
So what does this mean? We need to take ownership of the words we allow to pass through our lips.
I am not talking about embracing a “name-it and claim-it” theology, that leads to more disappointment when things don’t go exactly the way we “declared they would go”. I am simply saying that we need to examine our hearts and the words that flow from it. Am I speaking from a critical spirit that refuses to trust God’s plan for my life? Or am I speaking blessing and encouragement over myself as I daily learn to better trust Him and His plan? Am I taking ownership of what my tongue is saying? Am I training it to affirm where God has called me to go? Or am I allowing it to talk me out of continuing forward into God’s glorious plans for my life? Like Zechariah, am I criticizing the things that God is doing that I don’t understand? Or am I in humility coming before Him and saying, “Lord, although it doesn't always make sense, I affirm that your will be done in my life.”
Love,
Pastor John
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