Daily Devotions
April 11th, 2012 by Pastor SolleyLuke 1:57-64
57 Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
Zacharias had good reason to praise God did he not? God had answered his prayers and the prayers of Elisabeth in giving them a son. But remember that Zacharias doubted the message of the angel and as a result was stricken dumb until the child was born. It is a wonderful thing when God chastens a person as He did Zacharias and that one praises God. Zacharias could have said any number of things when he was granted the ability to speak again but what he did was praise God. This shows how Zacharias grew during his chastening, how he learned to obey God and trust God. That cannot be said in many cases today. God still chastens but few react in the manner of Zacharias. Many become bitter and angry at God, many turn even more away from God, doubts increase and fears often abound. Many even question the goodness and love of God. But why does God chasten us and why did God chasten Zacharias? That man had to learn the importance of trusting and obeying God. Think of the child that was born to him and Elisabeth. John would have to be trained in the Lord and given to the Lord. Not to serve in the priesthood as his father and that would have been what was expected of him, but to be given completely to the Lord in order to be a prophet going before the face of Jesus. In order for that to take place Zacharias would have to trust in God, hove to obey God, in turning John away from the priesthood and pointing him in the direction of the will of God. Zacharias learned from his time of chastening to trust and obey God. What do we learn?