The following is an excerpt from a free advent devotional guide put together by myself and several close friends. To download this guide, see here.
Day 4: The Intertestamental Period
by meridith matson
Within one blank page in our Bibles, much happens in the story of the nation of Israel and within the scope of world history as well. This page between the Old and New Testaments represents a 400 year period of time known as the the Intertestamental Period. This era is known as a time of silence, where God does not speak through a prophet. This time of silence, however, was not an uneventful period in history, or an idle time in which God was not actively present in the world. There were many changes in the region of Israel that also directly impacted the people of Israel during this time.
The rise of Alexander the Great, and his conquests within this region of the world, significantly impacted culture. His ideals, as taught to him by the philosopher and his teacher, Aristotle, gave him a vision for unity. During this drive for unity the Greek language, culture, and ideals were violently forced upon the world in a process known as Hellenization. After the death of Alexander the Great, the areas he conquered were divided into four sections ruled by four generals.
Another significant period was the Maccabean Era (165-63 BC). During this time, an elderly priest named Mattathias rebelled against Syrian officials who were trying to force the Jewish people to participate in heathen activities. As a result, a large group of faithful Jews followed him and later led the “Maccabean Revolt.” These Jews were responsible for eventually cleansing the Temple and restoring devout Jewish worship. In their persistence, they created the culture and norms present when Jesus shows upon the pages of the New Testament.
Upon further study, we see that though it was a time of silence God was anything but removed from His people. In the fullness of time, when everything was culturally, politically, and religiously the way God intended them to be, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be born of a young Jewish girl. And through this baby, change arrived: not just for those of Jewish descent, but for the entire world.
Can you think of some “blank pages” in your life, times when you felt God was silent or that you had removed yourself from God’s presence? What unexpected revelations came out of that time?