Zacharias had not spoken one word, not one word, for over nine months.  The first words from his lips were to “speak in praise of God.”  (See Luke 1:64)

  It was God Who filled this man with His Holy Spirit to prophesy of the coming Messiah (Jesus was yet to be born).
Zacharias then speaks of his newborn son of eight days – he foretells of John’s mission and ministry in the days of John’s adulthood.

What words did Zacharias speak concerning his son’s future ministry?
(NASB) Luke 1:76-79 “And you child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;
77 to give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.’”

How does this prophecy have any meaning for us today?
Question: How do you react/respond in situations where you are not listened to, as if you were without voice or tongue?
Do you think of God or do you wallow in the pigsty of self-pity?

For Zacharias to immediately praise God would probably mean he had been doing just that during his enforced silence – praising God!
Praising God when we are happy is easy to do; it is when we are unhappy that it is hard.

(NASB) Philippians 4:8 “Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

(NASB) Hebrews 13:15 “Through Him (Jesus Christ) then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.”

(NASB) Revelation 19:5 “And a voice came from the throne, saying,
‘Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.’”

 

~ A heart which expresses warm approval and admiration for God ~

A Heart Filled With Praise ~ is this a way you could be described?