Part 11 of 12 / The Silent Years: Between The Testaments
- Chris Houser
- Aug 30
- 4 min read
"The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will send a famine through the land, not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord." - (Amos 8:11)
Introduction
The Old Testament closes with the prophet Malachi, warning of judgment but also pointing to hope: a coming messenger who would prepare the way of the Lord.
After Malachi, there is silence. No new prophetic word is given for 400 years until the voice of John the Baptist cries out in the wilderness. These centuries are often called the "Silent Years".
But while heaven's voice seemed still, God's hand was actively shaping history. Political upheavals, cultural changes, and religious developments all worked together to prepare the world for the arrival of Jesus Christ.
The Silence Of Prophecy
Malachi was the last prophet of the Old Testament times. For 400 years, Israel will experience no new fresh revelations from anymore prophets. This "silence" fulfilled Amos 8:11 where there would be a famine of hearing God's Word.
The Lesson: God's silence is never an abandonment. In seasons of waiting, He is preparing His people for a greater revelation.
The Shifting Of World Powers
During these centuries, Israel passed through the control of several empires:
Persian Rule (539-331 BC)
During exile, it allowed Jewish worship to continue freely.
Greek Rule (331-167 BC)
Alexander the Great spread Hellenism (Greek language and cultures)
Seleucid Rule (167-164 BC)
Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the Temple by sacrificing pigs on the altar.
Maccabean Revolt (164 BC)
The Maccabees rose up, defeated their oppressors, and rededicated the Temple by commemorating it through Hanukkah.
Roman Rule (63 BC - Onward)
Rome's dominance provided roads, order, and a common language, setting the stage for the Gospel's spread.
The Lesson: Despite all the changes throughout Israel and the world, God's affairs are never affected by how the nations move. His plans are to accomplish exactly what He has promised according to His plans. Even ungodly empires, rulers, and nations, will serve His purposes when they least know about it.
Religious Developments In The Silent Years
The Synagogue System
With the Temple destroyed or inaccessible, local synagogues became the heart of Jewish worship and Scriptural studying.
Religious Parties
Pharisees: focused on strict law-keeping.
Sadducees: aristocratic leaders tied to the Temple.
Essenes: a separatist group awaiting God's intervention.
The Septuagint
The Hebrew Scriptures were then translated into Greek, making them accessible to the wider and broader world of culture.
The Lesson: God was shaping the religious and cultural world that Jesus would enter into. Why? It was because the world would be longing for truth and redemption because what they had in place was no longer feasible for those who learned them.
The Growing Messianic Hope
Centuries of oppression fueled Israel's expectation of a Deliverer. Many expected Him to be a political Messiah who would come to overthrow Rome and claim His rightful place on the Temple seat. Prophecies about Him in Isaiah, Daniel, and Malachi stirred anticipation of God's kingdom. By the time of Jesus' birth, Israel was eagerly awaiting the Messiah, though they were misunderstanding His true mission, to save His people from their sins.
The common language at that time was Greek.
The Roman Empire built roads that enabled travel and communication for the regions.
Synagogues provided ready-made centers for teaching of the Scriptures.
Spiritually, Israel was longing for God's intervention.
God was not silent on the matters of the world, but He was carefully preparing the perfect conditions for the arrival of His Son Jesus Christ.
Application
Take a moment to reflect on a moment in your life where it seemed like God was silent, yet did He show you that He was working on His trust in you? When you see how God prepared the world for Christ's coming, do you see how it points to Jesus even today? As Israel waited the Messiah, so too our world awaits His return now, is your heart prepared to meet Him?
Reflection Questions
Why do you think God allowed 400 years of prophetic silence before Jesus?
How does seeing God at work in history strengthen your faith in His plans?
What lessons can we learn from Israel's longing and waiting?
In what ways is our modern world being "prepared" for the Gospel and the Return of Christ today?
Closing Prayer
Father, in your silence You were still working. Thank You for preparing the world for Jesus, the Messiah. Help us to trust You in our waiting for your return, knowing that You are always faithful. Prepare our hearts, as You prepared history, for the return of Christ our King. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
SNEAK PEEK / Week 12
In our final week, Week 12, we will be closing the series by seeing how Jesus fulfills the story of Israel, bringing all of God's promises to completiong and opening salvation to the nations.
Join us for our final week of our study on Israel, Week 12: The Fulfillment: The Coming Of The Messiah.
Don't miss next week!
Until We Meet Again ~ Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesu
