LUKE i. 20.
“Thou shall be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that
these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my
words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.”

ZACHARIAS is a striking example of the ills a good man
may have to suffer as the result of his unbelief.
I. Consider his character and position. He was a
genuine believer. He was well instructed and greatly
enlightened. He held a high office as a priest. He had
been peculiarly favoured. Soothing comfort had just been
administered to him. This comfort had been given in
answer to his own petition. He staggered at a promise
which others implicitly believed.
II. What was the fault of Zacharias? His fault was
that he looked at the difficulty.
III. Consider his penalty. Mercy tempered judgment.
He was not struck dead, and the chastisement did not
invalidate the promise. Do not be satisfied with being
weak in faith. Let the utter unbeliever tremble. If a
good man was struck dumb for unbelief, what will become
of you who have no faith at all?
Charles H. Spurgeon