Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 3, 2010

“And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.”

Yesterday’s devotion covers Luke 1:5-17 which covers the prophecy of the birth and life of John the Baptist.  We will focus on verses 13 through 17. 
 
“13  But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
                                       

 14  “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

 15  “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.

 16  “And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.

 17  “It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  Luke 1:13-17.  (Emphasis added.) 

 

When I read this Scripture, I thought how great it was that John the Baptist turned many back to the Lord their God.  

As we lament how many have drifted away from the truth, particularly the truth of Reformed doctrine, wouldn’t it be great if we could turn many back to the Lord their God?!    

I wondered about the spiritual condition of Israel before John the Baptist did his work.

I read again the last book of the Old Testament which is the Book of Malachi, and it detailed the spiritual condition of Israel before John the Baptist did his work.  The Book of Malachi also concludes with the prophecy of the birth and life of John the Baptist which is quoted in our Scripture for today.  “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.  “He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”  Malachi 4:5-6. 

The Book of Malachi contains some very specific and interesting details of the spiritual condition of Israel before John the Baptist did his work.  What was the spiritual condition of Israel at that time?  We will look at five details. 

Worship was not revered and conducted as it should have been.  “You are presenting defiled food upon My altar.  …”  Malachi 1:7.

Teaching and instruction by the priests was not conducted as it should have been.  “… you have caused many to stumble by the instruction;  you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of hosts.  … just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.”  Malachi 2:8-9.

The people were not faithful to their spouse.  “…against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.  “But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit.  And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly offspring?  Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth.  “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong,” says the LORD of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”  Malachi 2:14-16.

The people did not tithe and give offerings as they should.  “Will a man rob God?  Yet you are robbing Me!  But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’  In tithes and offerings.”  Malachi 3:8.      

The people did not discipline the guilty nor encourage each other about the rewards of faithfully serving the LORD.  “Your words have been arrogant against Me,” says the LORD.  “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’  “You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the LORD of hosts?  ‘So now we call the arrogant blessed;  not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and escape.'”  Malachi 3:13-15. 

In conclusion, these sins in Malachi are not only relevant to Israel.  They are relevant examples for us today.  These sins were written for our instruction so that we would take heed and not likewise fall.  We know that these sins are relevant to us today by the following Scripture.  We also know that these sins are relevant to us today by what we observe all around us.   

 
Therefore, let us take heed to 1 Corinthians 10:5-13, which although it directly applies to the sins of Israel during the 40 years after their exodus from Egypt and during their wanderings in the wilderness, yet such Scripture in Malachi, referring to the sins of Israel much later, still apply to us today.
 
“Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.  Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.  Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.”  Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.  Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.  Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.  Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.  No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”  1 Corinthians 10:5-13.  (Emphasis added.) 

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