Like A Fire & Like A Hammer
(6) John the Baptist, the Forerunner - Luke 1:57-80
“Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? - Jeremiah 23:29
Dear Reader,
May “The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’” (Numbers 6:24-26).
John the Baptist (Luke 1:57-80)
He arrived like a storm in the night, unexpected yet not surprising, having been prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah hundreds of years beforehand as a voice in the desert (Isaiah 40:3-5). The angel Gabriel gave an oracle to his father, Zechariah, at the Altar of Incense, which stood for the saints' prayers, explaining the reason behind his miraculous birth to elderly saints (Luke 1:5-25). His likeness to the Prophet Elijah (Malachi 4:5, Matthew 11:14) would be evident (Mark 1:4-6), when he would be distinguished by his appearance and message. He was in a place of spiritual darkness, but he shone brightly like a fire (Luke 1:79). And he was like a tool – a hammer, to be precise – that might be used strategically, works prepared specifically for him (Ephesians 2:10). He awakened a nation urging them to go in the path of righteousness (Matthew 21:32). Raised in the desert (Luke 1:80), he learned dependence at an early age, and called for national renewal, he knew his position and place before the Savior, “He must increase, but I must decrease” – John 3:30. John the Baptist arrived on the scene like a fire, like a hammer.
Like a Fire
God employs a multitude of metaphors to explain His Word. According to the prophet Jeremiah, His Word is "like a fire and like a hammer" (Jeremiah 23:29).
What comes to mind when you think of a fire in general? For me, the beauty of a bonfire illuminating a space at night comes to mind. In addition to providing warmth and a nice ambiance for social occasions, my two cats are drawn to the warmth of the fireplace in my first house in South Carolina, where I currently reside.
In the Scriptures, fire is associated with anger (Jeremiah 15:14), comfort (Mark 14:54), conviction (Luke 24:32), destruction (Luke 17:29, James 3:5-6), Holiness (Exodus 3:2, Revelation 1:14), the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4), Illumination (Psalm 78:14, Psalm 105:39), jealousy (Psalm 79:5), judgement (Genesis 19:24, Psalm 11:6), ministry (Psalm 104:4), repentance (Matthew 3:11), revival, sacrifice (Genesis 22:6-7), and wrath (Psalm 89:46).
The word fire is repeated five hundred fifteen times (515) in the New King James Translation. The word is repeated most in the books of the bible, Leviticus (71), Jeremiah (41), Ezekiel (40), Numbers (37), Psalms (28) and Revelation (25).
Like a Hammer
A hammer seems like an odd description as a metaphor, what comes to your mind? For me I think of a tool. How many tools did your Dad have? How did he display them? My Stepdad had his tools hung up in the garage above a work bench all categorized, a section for blades, hammers, levels, pliers, screwdrivers, tape measures, etc. The scriptures state, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” – Ephesians 2:10. What type of good works has God called you and me to walk in? We are all gifted differently, if you see someone gifted in a certain area in the body of Christ let them know. The Apostle wrote about how God distributes spiritual gifts in the church (1st Corinthians 12:1-31)
For John the Baptist, he was gifted as a Prophet to awaken dead hearts and national renewal of faith in a spiritually dark land. John the Baptist met martyrdom for his testimony (Matthew 14:1-12), but was highly regarded by Christ for his boldness and witness (Matthew 11:11).
John the Baptist is Born.
57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. 59 And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. 60 But his mother answered and said, “No; indeed, but he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished. 64 And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. 65 Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.
Zacharias’s Prophecy
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant—
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—
71 Salvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us;
72 To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;
77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
79 To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.” 80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel. - Luke 1:57-80
Interesting facts about John the Baptist.
Prophetic voice, whose birth was announced hundreds of years before his arrival. “A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.” - Isaiah 40:3
Repentance and Renewal was His Ministry. Raised and lived in the desert wilderness of Judea. He cried out in the wilderness of the desert calling a nation to repentance and renewal. - Luke 1:80
Humble leadership. “30 He (Christ) must increase, but I (John the Baptist) must decrease.” - John 3:30
Amen!
Lots of drama around John his whole life, because he was a fire and a hammer! Makes me wonder, though, what kind of fire and hammer is he calling me to be?! Love your Luke posts!