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Bible Notes - Tabernacle Commentaries
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Luke 1:64
Comments
Zacharias had repented of his unbelief. Nevertheless he had had to live out the period of his discipline in a state of dumbness and probably also deafness. But now by his willing confirmation of name given to the child by Gabriel, he shows his recognition of the truth of all that had been told him, and God lifts the punishment from him and opens his mouth. The word ‘immediately’ clearly links the two things together. It would have been much better if he had believed from the start, for then he would have praised God, as Mary did, before John was born. But God does not permanently take away from his servant the opportunity to praise him and to give this wonderful prophetic song. The Lord uses this delay and the subsequent miraculous restoration of his speech, to add to the impact of Zacharias’ words. His tongue is loosened and the first thing he uses it for is the praise of God. His faith has been supernaturally removed, and now it has been supernaturally restored: both of these add to his faith when he reflects upon what god has done.
Application
Here is the best use of our tongues: to offer heartfelt praise and thanks to God. The worst thing he could have done was to be resentful about his punishment. His praise is a further way of acknowledging that he had been rightfully handled by God and had profited from it. All things work for the good of the believer, including their disciplines. Unbelief robs us of the power to praise God, and faith restores it by letting into our souls the glory of God. We are created to think carefully about all the wonderful works of God, and to respond in sincere worship.
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