When the prophet Malachi stepped off the earthly stage around 450 B.C., no genuine prophetic voice was heard again for about 500 years.
Let’s hear this in the book of Judges 21:25 says: In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
This is exact event that played out in Israel after the exit of prophet MALACHI, the whole land were given to all manner of idol worship.
No wonder, when Apostle Paul visited a city called ATHENS and observed this “For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god.
So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship–and this is what I am going to proclaim to you”.(Acts 17:23 NIV)
We know this period as the inter testamental period—the gap between dispensations in the Old and New Testaments. Without a prophet, people in the land began to divide into parties and groups, each claiming the right to interpret the scriptures and lead the people. The true understanding of God diminished among these groups.
A long night of confusion followed, which ended when God sent a new prophet, John the Baptist, to begin a new dispensation. But even with John the Baptist and the Savior teaching the people, many were unable to overcome the traditions and beliefs that had developed and intensified during the intertestamental period. As we understand these 500 years and the confusion that accompanied them, we can understand more about the Savior’s ministry and renew our commitment to follow Him.
PRAYER
Our Father, we are constantly encouraged as we see the fact that our faith is grounded upon historic things; that it touches history on every side. It is integrally related to life. We pray that our own faith may grow strong and be powerful as we see the despair around us, the shaking of foundations, the changing of that which has long been taken to be permanent, the overthrowing of empires and the rising of others.
Lord, we are thankful that we may look to you and realize that you are the One who does not change. The One whose word is eternal. As the Lord Jesus himself said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall never pass away.” We pray in Christ’s name, Amen.
