6/20/09

Keep silent!

The face can communicate a lot of things; happiness, sorrow, joy, contentment, anger and so forth. I like this video because it does just that: communicate. Exactly what, well, in this case I don't think its very important, as the object is to get you to pay attention and at the end is a little advertisement. There is an incident like this in the New Testament book of Luke, read on, you might find these passages interesting.

Luke 1:1-22 1 Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.6 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.8 Now it happened, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his division,9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.10 The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.13 But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.14 You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."18 Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.20 Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn't believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.22 When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.WEB

Luke 1:57-64
57 Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.
58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.
60 His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called John."
61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."
62 They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
63 He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." They all marveled.
64 His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.WEB

I find it marvelous that Zacharias was silent! His silence did more to convey the news about his son more than a hundred sermons. Indeed, God does work in unusual ways. I just hope he doesn't tell me to be quiet, I don't know how I could keep silent as long as Zacharias did.