T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S wilderness as a voice crying in trumpet tones, “ Prepare ye the way of the Lord.’’ He conducted the greatest revival in Israel since the days of Ezra and Nehe- miah. The great are always humble. John’s greatness is seen in his humility. When the priests and Levites were sent by the Jews to inquire who he was and what his credentials were, he did not say, “ I am Malachi’s successor, miracu lously born and wonderfully endowed.” He said, “ I am only a voice crying in the wilderness.” His courage was equal to his humility. His rebuke of Herod’s wickedness led to his death. He dared to cry aloud and spare not, to show the people their sins. He was great in un selfishness. When his followers be came concerned on account of the Saviour’s popularity, John rebuked their narrow spirit, rejoicing that the Master should be exalted, though his own popu larity waned. John 3:25-30. “ He must increase, I must decrease.” This is the ideal motto for the Christian life. '“None of self and all of thee.” v. 6. Righteous before God. We are not to understand from what is said here that Zacharias and Elisabeth were absolutely sinless. (Cf. v. 20; Rom. 3:22, 23; 1 Jn. COMMENTS FROM 1 :8 .)— T o r r e y . MANY SOURCES U n d e r the old Keith L. Brooks economy a m a n was called right eous because he walked in the com mandments blameless" (Rom. 10:5; Phil. 3 :6). He was not sinless (Ecc. 7:20), but for his sins he offered in faith the required sacrifices (Lev. 4:27- 35).—Miller. v. 11. Appeared unto him an angel. From Malachi to Matthew— four hun dred years— not a prophet’s voice had been heard. The silenee was broken by the prophecy of Gabriel to Zacharias, declaring the fulfillment of Isa. 40:3-5. — Gurney. v. 12. Zacharias. The name means “ when Jehovah remembered.”— Sel. v. 13. Angel said, Fear not. There are seven of these “ Fear nots” in Luke 1:30; 2:10; 5:10; 8:50; 12:7, 32.—
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Garry. Shall bear thee a son. What other house in Israel could have been the training ground of the prophet? What more fitting nursery for a personal force inspired by and steeped in the Scriptures? The prophet did not owe all his unique moral force to himself. His character owed its primary devel opment to the home of a devout man living, in the light of a recognized divine purpose.— Vallings. Call his name John. The son was to be named John, which means, “ to whom Jehovah is gracious,” or “ whom Jehovah hath graciously given.”—Torrey. v. 15. He shall be great in the sight of the Lord. Truly great, then, for ju st what a man is in God’s sight, that he is indeed. A silent hint, also, that no earthly greatness is to be expected, for that which is highly esteemed before man is an abomination in the Slight of the Lord.— Lange. Filled with the Holy Ghost. Notice the close connec tion between his not drinking wine or strong drink and his being filled with the Holy Ghost (Eph. 5:18). To be filled with the Holy Spirit means to have the whole personality, mind, feel ing and will taken possession of by the Spirit of God. It is the privilege and bounden duty of every believer to be thus filled (Acts. 2:38, 39; 4:31).— Torrey. v. 16. Turn to the Lord their God. Note that the Person to whom John was to turn the children of Israel is here called “ the Lord their God” .— T)avies. v. 17. He shall go before Him. That is, before the Lord their God (v. 16) manifest in the flesh— a very clear tes timony to the Deity of Christ. John is declared to be the standard-bearer of the eternal God.^Calvin. Spirit and power of Elijah. From the last words of Malachi (Mai. 4:4-6). It required the explanation of the Lord to open the eyes of the apostles on this subject: “ This is Elias which was to come” (Matt. 11:14). “ Elias truly shall first come. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist” (Matt. 17:10-14). The re semblance was partly in external aspect (2 Kings 1:8; Matt. 3:4) and partly in his mission of stern rebuke and invita tion t o ' repentance (1 Kings 18:21; 21:20).— Farrar. - v. 18. Whereby shall I know this? Note. the difference in the cases of Abraham (Gen. 15:8) and Zacharias as
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