“So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.” – Luke 1:8-10
For four hundred years, heaven seemed quiet. From the closing words of Malachi to the opening of Luke’s Gospel, there was no prophetic voice, no new revelation. This era, known as the intertestamental period, was marked by waiting and longing. During this time, empires rose and fell—Persia gave way to Greece, and eventually Rome ruled over Judea. The Jewish people endured hardship, cultural shifts, and political oppression, yet some continued to serve God faithfully, clinging to His promises. Luke tells us of Zacharias and Elizabeth, who though childless, “were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6). They were obedient even through the silence.
At the appointed time, Zacharias was chosen to offer incense before the Lord, the most sacred duty a priest could perform, and one that came only once in a lifetime. The lot fell on him, not by chance but by providence. As he entered the Holy Place, the people outside prayed in silence while the smoke of incense rose, symbolizing their prayers ascending to heaven. This was no ordinary day. After centuries of silence, God was about to speak again. In the midst of Zacharias’ faithful service, the angel Gabriel appeared, announcing the birth of John the Baptist—the forerunner of Christ. What seemed like routine obedience became the stage for extraordinary revelation, breaking the silence of the intertestamental period with the dawn of redemption.
We need to remain faithful in our own seasons of waiting. Just as Zacharias and Elizabeth trusted God through years of barrenness, we must trust Him when heaven feels quiet. The intertestamental period reminds us that silence does not mean absence—God was still working, preparing the world for His Son. In the same way, He is working in your life even when you cannot see it. Be faithful in prayer, steadfast in obedience, and ready for His timing. The moment you least expect may be the moment God speaks, and your ordinary faithfulness may become the stage for His extraordinary plan.
“The four centuries between Malachi and the birth of John the Baptist were not wasted years. Though prophecy was silent, God was still at work, preparing the way politically, culturally, and spiritually for the coming of Christ. The silence was broken in the temple, through Zacharias, showing that God’s purposes unfold in His time and never by chance.” – F.F. Bruce
surrendered devotions 