Zephaniah chapter 3

Oh, wow, there is just so much in this chapter, it is jam packed with goodness!

Firstly, Zephaniah talks about Jerusalem, who's sin is so deep, the wound so incurable, that there is no hope. The city, the people, are so engrossed in their sin, it is such a way of life, second nature, that they can not, will not, heed Zephaniah's calls to repent, even though catastrophe is promised. Isn't that just like today's modern, politically correct, society? Where people are so full of the things they want, the things they need, that God doesn't even get a look in? Take a look at the governments in the western world, where spin has become such a way of life that they couldn't tell the truth if they wanted to. It is easier to gloss over things, put the best possible light on them, bury bad news on a day when something else happens that takes the front page headlines. And if the government behaves this way, setting an example for the nation, just how do you think the people react? If lying has become second nature for the government, then it most surely will trickle down to the people, so that they too start to behave the same way.

Leading a nation, a people, is an awesome responsibility, and not one to be undertaken lightly. God is watching to make sure that you do not lead his people astray, and how many politicians these days can say they are honest and above board, doing things for the people, setting a good example, obeying the will of God? We in the west have followed the examples of our leaders, and thrown God out of the schools, the businesses, the government, and are now reaping the consequences.

Whilst there is a very strong push here in the UK to bring God back, with the police going into the churches to ask for help, for prayer, the enemy now has a very strong foothold, and is tightening his grasp. There is such a sense of rejection and abandonment amongst the youth, that they feel there is no hope, no future. It is heartbreaking.

We need a return to God, a return to prayer, 24/7, not just a hurried few minutes here and there but a prolonged crying out to God for our nation, for the youth, for a healing for the land. Because God is getting ready to stand up, to testify against us, and we need desperately to cry out for his mercy, for his forgiveness for all the things that we have done that grieve Him, and to repent earnestly for our sins, to turn our hearts, our nation, back to God, to give our children a hope, a future, and to stop killing all these babies in the womb before they even see the light of day in the name of choice, of freedom. What freedom is it when it results in the deaths of the innocent? How God must be grieving, no wonder He is getting ready to come and testify against us.

And yet there is such promise in these verses too. The Lord is still there in the nation, in the land, with the people, even though many have turned their backs on him. He is righteous and does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail. The words are filled with such hope, such promise. It is not a case of being here one day, and then maybe turning up in three years time again. No, He is here all the time, whether we believe in Him or not, He is all around us, seeing everything, watching everything, knowing everything, even our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing is hidden from God, and morning by morning, He is with is.
To think that one day we will all worship the Lord together. People from all nations, all colours, all denominations. Whilst the evildoers will be punished for the evil they have done, the righteous will be blessed and we will speak with one tongue, one voice, to worship God. The Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live amongst us and our troubles will be over, never again will we fear disaster. The Lord our God will be with us, he is a mighty saviour, and he will take delight in us with gladness, and rejoice over us with songs. Just imagine that! How awesome will that be! To think that God will take great delight in you, me, we will be able to feel his presence, his love, and hear his singing! He will gather us up and bring us home - this is the message that the church needs to hear today, that the nations need to hear. To know that God is with us, that he is ever merciful, slow to anger, quick to love, and that his mercies endure for ever. He is crying out to us to repent, to turn from our sins, to turn back to God. Not just an outward profession of faith, but one from the heart, where the change in us can be seen by others, for he wants to bring us home, to gather us close and to take delight in us.