The Word
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
–Luke 1:67-75 (ESV)
1 Lord , my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. 2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, hope in the Lord From this time forth and forever.
–Psalm 131:1-3 (NKJV)
Aisha’s Analysis
Today’s verses touch on Zechariah’s first words after several months of silence. Earlier in this chapter of Luke, when the angel Gabriel told him about his future son, Zechariah asked for a sign, and the angel struck him silent until the promise was fulfilled.
Here, Zechariah breaks his silence and sings God’s praises by prophesying promises fulfilled and praising God’s faithfulness. What an amazing display of how God moved on Zechariah’s heart during his season of silence.
On first hearing Gabriel’s message, Zechariah expressed his doubt and disbelief. He wanted some kind of reassurance that what the angel said would come to pass–something even more than the words of God delivered to him through a supernatural visitation with an angel. In response, he received the gift of silence.
It may not have seemed like a gift at the time, but it proved to be exactly what Zechariah needed to build faith and support his wife as they were both preparing to be parents of John the Baptist. Just imagine how many more questions Zechariah must have had following his encounter at the temple.
His silence provided a birthing place for him too–not just his wife, Elizabeth. In silence, he could meditate on God’s promises and cultivate a sense of God’s faithfulness. Every moment he tried to speak and couldn’t was a reminder of God’s message delivered at the temple.
It is quite encouraging to see that instead of frustration or fear coming out of Zechariah’s mouth following the miraculous birth of his son, he speaks of God’s faithfulness. When he could finally speak, Zechariah chose to speak his faith, not his fears.
Application
In what ways could God be trying to quiet your soul in the midst of a seemingly impossible situation? Rather than voice your fears or disbelief in God’s promises, try to calm those fears by reflecting on God’s faithfulness in silence. Let your quiet trust grow until it erupts in praise–just like it did with Zechariah.
Today’s verses give us hope that even when you aren’t ready to believe, God will fulfill His promises in your life. God’s peace is perfectly enough. Faith blossoms in the quiet day-by-day trusting in who God is. Rather than worry through your prayers and exhaust yourself in an endless line of questioning towards God on a particular point of frustration in your life, allow God to move in your stillness. Focus on His Presence in the silence.
Prayer
Father God, I thank You for filling me with Your Spirit rather than the spirit of fear. I am unshackled from sin because of Your faithfulness. How fortunate I am to experience Your grace. Just like You did with Zechariah, may I sing Your praises when it’s time for me to speak. In Jesus’ name, amen.
City Life Starter 
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