Silence Is Golden

SILENCE IS GOLDEN (LUKE 1:5-25)

The gospel of Luke opened with a dark cloud, a deep sigh, and a mood of resignation, the drama increased by the absence of recorded prophetic utterances for about 400 years between the Old and New Testament. God’s presence, power and purpose, however, were evident for all who had eyes of faith. God’s 400 years of silence between the two testaments was broken by a loud announcement but it was greeted with strong skepticism and outright disbelief by one of his most faithful servants.

What is middle-age faith? When did the midlife crisis in faith strike? How can believers become young at heart and fresh in faith again?

1. God Deserves Our Best (Luke 1:5-7)

Zechariah was a trustworthy, devout and active priest. His ancestor was Abijah (v 5), whose forefather Eleazar was the son of Aaron, Israel’s first high priest (Num 3:32). His wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Not one but both were righteous and pious before God. Zechariah was a devout man of his own choosing, and Elizabeth was a devout woman of her own cognizance. Since the couple did not have kids, they gave the best of their time, talents and treasures to serve God.

Zechariah did not need prodding from his wife to attend to his temple duties, to be on his best priestly behavior, and to live up to his priestly vocation. No public scandal or troublesome past tailed him, no destructive habits or moral vice gripped him, and no petty dispute or ill gossip entangled him. He was as goody two-shoes, as sweet as pie, and as prim and proper as one can find or get.

2. God Demands the Best (Luke 1:8-19)

Zechariah was the talk of the town, the envy of the priests, and the celebrity of the week when his name was chosen by lot out of all the priests in his division to go into the temple and burn incense (v 9). To add the topping to the cake, God sent an angel to announce the good news and congratulate him personally. This is the first time the Greek word “evangelize” is used in the Bible (v 19). The first evangelist poured out his heart, but the news did not hit Zechariah hard. Zechariah’s attitude left much to be desired with and was unappetizing to an angel’s stomach.

The angel was jumping with joy but Zechariah did not even break into a sweat.

The angel assured Zechariah that his prayer was remembered and answered (v 13) but Zechariah was unmoved, unimpressed, and uninspired. The announcement of a boy by name instead of a girl (v 13) still did not make him curious. The angel’s stress of joy, delight/gladness, and rejoicing in verse 14 did nothing to wake him from his listlessness or indifference.

3. God Delivers His Best (Luke 1:24-25)

God’s intention from the start was to reward and not to rebuke Zechariah and Elizabeth, to bless and not to break the two, and to congratulate and not to condemn the faithful couple. Zechariah’s attitude, nevertheless, was reservation and not rejection, doubt and not desertion, and unfortunate but not unforgivable. The priest had always had a flawless record of unsparing and outstanding service.

Further, Zechariah’s cold shoulder was not Elizabeth’s fault. The best gift God had given the priest was his wise and godly wife, Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s attitude was just the opposite of her husband’s. Unlike her husband who had to say something, she hid herself for five months (v 24) to pause, to ponder and to praise (v 58).

Zechariah came around much later (v 64). God’s ultimate purpose was for him to be stricken and not silenced, not to be a mute but to be a messenger, not to be dumb but to be delivered.

Conclusion: God is not satisfied with half-hearted, wishy-washy, and sweet nothing believers. Are you trapped in disbelief, ensnared by disillusionment, and hobbled by disobedience? Have you stopped growing, serving or reflecting? God is not finished with you yet. Ask God to help you see what new opportunities, fresh challenges, and unfinished tasks you need to work on.