Luke 1:20

DUMB, BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF

‘And, behold, thou shalt be dumb … because thou believest not my words.’

Luke 1:20

The threatened dumbness was to be a sign and a rebuke. God prevented Zacharias from speaking about that which, when presented to him, he had not believed. And this effect is common, although produced by different means. The fruit of unbelief is:—

I. Dumbness in prayer.—Not believing God’s words about prayer, we cease from it, or restrain it. If we believe God’s words we can pray. If we believe them cordially we can pray earnestly. If we believe them but feebly we pray faintly. If we do not believe them at all we cease from prayer. As faith declines, dumbness in prayer creeps over us.

II. Dumbness in praise.—Not believing God’s words we are dumb as to praise. Perplexity relaxes, loosens, and entangles the strings of our harp. Faith sets them free, tightens them, and tunes them, and faith brings forth triumphant music.

III. Dumb in testimony.—Not believing God’s words we are dumb as to our testimony to the truth. When a man speaks of that which he believes, an influence goes forth from himself which does not proceed from him when he gives a tract or a book, even though it be the Holy Book. We believe, and speak; we lose our faith, and are silent.

IV. Dumb in Christian intercourse.—Not believing God’s words we become dumb as to Christian intercourse and fellowship. ‘Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another.’

If spiritual dumbness is produced by unbelief, it can be prevented and overcome by faith only.