Zephaniah

ScriptureZephaniah 1:14-15The great day of the Lord is near— near and coming quickly. The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry. That day will be a day of wrath.Zephaniah 3:17The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”Observation

Zephaniah prophecies about the coming Day of the Lord and pronounces judgement upon the nations; the enemies of Israel (Philistia, Moab and Ammon; Cush, and Assyria); even the whole earth. Judah and Jerusalem herself are not immune to God’s wrath because of her oppression, corruption, harlotry and rebellion. Yet, as always with God, He offers salvation and deliverance to any remnant who will not bow down to worship idols. Those who remain faithful and repentant will be gathered unto the Lord; freed from fear and unburdened; purified and restored. God will take great delight in them and He will give them honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth.

Understanding

The “Might Warrior” is mentioned twice in Zephaniah’s prophecy and comes to bring either wrath or deliverance. All the people of the Earth will encounter him on that great and terrible Day of Lord and they will be either cursed or blessed depending solely upon their faithfulness to the Lord God. This separating of the chaff from the wheat begins with Israel (Romans 2:9-10) and reminds me of two truths. Not all who are of the nation of Israel are members of the true Israel – those children of Abraham not by parentage but by faith who will participate in God’s in-gathering and restoration (Matthew 3:9); and that God is and will be faithful to His promise to Abraham and to His chosen people (Romans 11).

Life Application

We dare not rely on our parent’s faith, our church membership, record of attendance, service in ministry, generous giving, bible knowledge, or any works, for that matter, as the means to earn God’s favor, experience His blessing and enter His kingdom. I must allow the truth that all of these things cannot be earned but are only received as the free gift of God by faith and grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) to inspire me to respond to God’s election, unconditional and unmerited love with devotion, surrender and obedience as my highest act of worship; motivated by love and gratitude.   

 

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