The Youth of John the Baptist
Dr. Belfrage. Luke 1:80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing to Israel. I. INQUIRE INTO THE REASONS WHY THE YOUTH OF JOHN WAS SPENT IN OBSCURITY. 1. Purity of his mind shrank from a society so devoid of true religion 2. Privations fitted him for the self-denial with which he afterwards attracted the people. 3. Arrangements also well adapted to prevent any such intimacy with Christ in His youth, as might have excited suspicion of a collusion betwixt them. 4. In such retirement John enjoyed, undisturbed, that communion with the Deity so delightful to eminent piety like his. II. CONSIDER THE INSTRUCTIONS WHICH THIS ACCOUNT OF JOHN'S YOUTH HOLDS OUT TO THOSE WHOSE VIEWS ARE POINTED TO THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. Entire seclusion not required of them, but let them retire as often as they can, and prefer the calm of solitude to the bustle of dissipation. III. CONSIDER THE LESSONS HELD FORTH BY THE YOUTH OF JOHN TO THE YOUNG IN GENERAL. The wisdom and advantage of frequent retirement. 1. What opportunities of improvement solitude will present to you. 2. From what temptations it will detach you. 3. To what solidity of character it will form you. 4. How it will prepare you for the seclusion of days of darkness. (Dr. Belfrage.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. WEB: The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.