"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace." --Luke 1:76-79
There are 400 years of silence between the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, until the New Testament begins with the birth of John the Baptist. Malachi prophesied around 400 BC, at the tail end of Nehemiah's leadership. The temple had been built, the people had been allowed to return to their land and were comfortable under Persian rule. Life was starting again and for the most part it was good.
This is when God places Malachi on the scene. Malachi's name means messenger. The message he had for the Jewish nation was that their hearts were no longer in their worship. It was once again outward and not inward sincerity of the heart. God wants a real relationship with us. He wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. While preaching this message, however, Malachi also spoke of John the Baptist and the coming of the Messiah.
"Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts. --Malachi 3:1
In Chapter 4 verses 1 and 2 he warns of a day that is coming when God's wrath will burn like an oven and all the proud and those who do wickedly will be stubble...they will be burned up. But to those who love, obey Him and fear His name...He will be as the warmth of the Sun and arise with healing on His wings. The last few verses of the Old Testament are filled with such hope. No matter how dark things look, God is in control and He will perfect all those things that concern us. He who is faithful will do it! Hope is ours in Him when we believe!
Malachi, Chapter 4 describes Jesus as the Sun of Righteousness who comes with healing for those who walk in belief. In the Gospel of Luke, Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, prophesies the coming of the Messiah as well as predicting that his son, John the Baptist, would prepare His way. All the Old Testament prophecies were coming true!!! I am pretty sure Zachariah was doing a "happy dance" here. The Messiah was coming in his lifetime and his son...the son of his old age...would prepare His way! Zacharias calls Jesus the "Dayspring from on High". Dayspring in Greek literally means dawn. The dawn was coming for those in darkness. THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL! The coming of Jesus was like a sunrise...which speaks of beauty, hope and the promise of a new day. The night was over...the day was dawning.
