Main Scripture: Luke
1:57-80
59 So it was, on the eighth day, that
they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name
of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he
shall be called John.” 61 But they said to her, “There is no
one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father—what
he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet,
and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and
his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. (Luke 1:59-64)
I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10 ESV)
There is nothing like quietness/stillness to sharpen our awareness of and
communication with God! In the wee hours of the morning, when everyone is
asleep and all you can hear is perhaps the barking of a dog way off in the
distance or a rooster crowing in your neighbor’s yard (strangely enough, those
noises seem to accentuate the stillness ….), that’s when God has a way of
allowing you to experience Him in a very intimate way. It’s hard to describe
those moments. The intensity and reality are such that tears come unbidden to
the eyes. You know without the shadow of a doubt that you are communicating
with GOD. Of course, one can communicate with Him at any time of the day or
night. It’s just that distractions often inhibit this. Phone-calls, visitors, interaction
with family-members/housemates/colleagues, TV, Radio, Internet, traffic noises,
work, play, etc., etc., all tend to get in the way of any meaningful, sustained
interaction with the Almighty.
So, what were the nine months Zacharias was deaf and mute like for him? I
can only imagine them being months of intense, silent, deep communication
between Him and God, with minimal distraction.
Once he got his hearing and voice back, being filled with the Holy Spirit,
he just burst out in praise to God and begins to prophecy. “All things did work
together for good for him”, even his discipline of not being able to speak (or
hear - His neighbors used some sort of sign language with him)
His “Benedictus”, like Mary’s “Magnificat” reveals ample knowledge of the
Old Testament Scriptures, including the promise of the coming of the Messiah.
Discipline is good for
us in more ways than one. Our attitude toward it, determines its outcome in our
lives, whether it will be beneficial or
not.
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”
But you would not, (Isaiah 30:15)
RE*J*oicita PROductions
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