400 Silent Years

   You don't know how I struggled with that title. I don't believe that God has ever been silent. Yet this is the common name for the apparent fact there were no prophets [recorded] after 400 BC. My stubbornness about this led me to a [very] little research about when the Old Testament books were written, which did yield some interesting "facts". [I'm trying not to be a skeptic, but it's not worth the effort... you guys get it.....]
   Six books were written between 450 and 400 BC. It's an interesting list: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, 1&2 Chronicles, and Malachi. Interesting because [some] traditions say that Ezra wrote Ezra, Esther, and 1&2 Chronicles. Nehemiah, Ezra's successor, probably wrote Nehemiah, but some believe Ezra and Nehemiah were one book, written by.....you guessed it, Ezra. Malachi, a prophet, surely wrote his own book, but it was at the same time period as Ezra. You remember Ezra and Nehemiah [and Zerrubbabel] were the leaders of the long effort to rebuild Jerusalem, it's walls and temple after the exile. So my research turned up a surge of information recorded over a 50 year period before 400 BC, and then..... nothing. The birth of Christ, which we all know was in 0.... and viola, 400 silent years.
     This info turned my thoughts two different directions. One turn was towards Hebrews 1:1 and 2: "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made made the universe." The book of Hebrews which I dearly love, goes into great detail about how utterly different and amazing this complete revelation, Jesus, is than every partial revelation before him.    
   The other, and more relevant direction my mind went, and the reason I was digging around to begin with, was to think about how stunning the angelic announcements in Luke 1and 2 would have been to those who heard them. No prophets. No writings. No official words from God to the nation of Israel...[that's as far as I'm able to take my definition of silent] for 400 years. Who would still be listening?
     Amazingly, some were. Granted, Zechariah was surprised, mostly that he and his wife's old bodies would have a part to play in this new revelation. Yet after Mary's visit and 9 months to think and study about it, Zechariah shows amazing understanding of the situation. The second his voice returns he sings, "He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David". He knew this son of his, who would "go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him" was the forerunner of the Christ.
    Remember how adamant John was in Matthew and John when he was asked who he was? Not the Christ, not the Prophet, nor Elijah. "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord." I think his father had drilled those prophecies from Isaiah and Malachi into this precious son, who would "be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth."
     So Malachi 3 and 4, the last two chapters in the Old Testament, actually turn out to be pretty interesting. 3:1 says, "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple...." directly tying the coming of a messenger to the "sudden" appearance of the Lord himself.
    That really sets the scene for the book of Luke. Just think of the stir among the priesthood caused by the angels appearance to Zechariah; all of them waiting and waiting for him to emerge after offering the incense. Was he dead? Would he come out at all?  Then he came out but was silent! Surely he's seen a vision! And he remained there in the temple until his term of service was done. Think of the questions, the pointing fingers, the late night discussions.
    Zechariah was chosen by God to break the 400 years of silence. And after all that silence, Simeon and Anna were in the temple listening. Of all the amazing things recorded in the Bible, the events Luke records in chapters 1 and 2 of his narrative may be the most amazing of all.
    God, who spoke to the forefathers in various partial, hazy and often impossible to understand ways spread over thousands of years, spoke a final time. He spoke the Word.