Comment: While Zacharias the priest was performing his duties in the temple, an angel appeared to him telling him that his prayers had been heard and informing him that his wife, Elizabeth would bear him a son. Using human considerations to judge the word of the angel, Zacharias doubted the promise given to him, since “they both were now well stricken in years” – Luke 1:7.
For his doubts, the angel told him that he would not be able to speak for a while until the child was born. True to the words of the angel, Elizabeth conceived and later gave birth to a son. This miracle brought great rejoicing to her neighbours and her cousins and they glorified God Who had shewed great mercy upon her. His name was called John and while they wondered in amazement, “his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God”. – Luke 1:58-65.
The word of God should always be believed without our looking for signs and wonders. True worshippers of God “walk by faith, and not by sight”. (2 Corinthians 5:7) What happened to Zecharias the priest is a warning to worshippers of God not to doubt the word of God. The Bible says, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” – Proverbs 30:5.