Commentaries:
This parallels the description of John in Mark 1:1-8, but it indicates an additional thing, and that is, despite John's greatness, God kept him a poor man. He was not wealthy like Abraham, David, Solomon, and many other biblical heroes. This man, who was possibly the greatest of all men who have ever lived (other than Jesus Christ), was kept poor by God. People who live their entire lives in the desert do not become rich. His home, though undoubtedly not a hovel, was certainly nowhere near to what we are accustomed in the rich nations of modern Israel.
God does not owe us what our emotions tell us we would like to have, but He will always provide us with what we need to serve His purpose for us. A big difference lies between the two. Sometimes, we have to repent, adjust our expectations, and try to understand what God is working out in through us. John's diet would be unusual for us, but it was fairly common for the poor of his time.
We can be assured that, since he had God's Spirit from birth (Luke 1:15), he was in no way the wild man depicted in movies—running around, ranting and raving, hair askew, and generally seeming like a fool to whom nobody would pay any attention. When he spoke, people listened, considering deeply and carefully what he said. This does not happen to wild men and fools. Being filled with the Holy Spirit, he had a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7).
John W. Ritenbaugh
Prophets and Prophecy (Part Two)
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Luke 1:80:
Mark 1:1-8