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.
Showing posts with label Zephaniah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zephaniah. Show all posts
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Zephaniah chapter 2
Zephaniah is calling the people to repent to turn back to God before it is too late, as there was still time to avert the impending judgment. God does not want anyone to be punished, but like a loving parent, sometimes discipline has to be enforced. But if the child stops doing that which they are about to be punished for, e.g. calling their younger brother names and lashing out in anger at him, then the punishment does not take place. In the same way here, God was calling the people back, crying out to them to stop sinning, stop worshipping man made idols, false gods, because He is not willing that any should perish.
It's a chapter filled with impending doom, with prophesy of exactly what will befall the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Ethiopians and Assyrians as they receive the wages of their pride (NLT). Yet there is also such hope and promise in the first few verses, that maybe, just maybe, if we act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God, we too will be saved.
I expect that, just as would happen today, people ignored Zephaniah, telling themselves he was just another of those crazy prophets and of course God would never abandon them because after all, weren't they rich, didn't they have homes, flocks, crops? Today, we have wealth, prosperity, the country is powerful, a nation to be respected, yet God could just as easily have us overrun with invading armies, or terrorists throughout each city and large town causing havoc and mayhem. After all, what notice do people take of men walking around with "the end of the world is nigh" placards, or of street preachers standing on the corner foretelling doom and gloom? They have become a source of amusement, something to laugh about, as I am sure the Israelites did with Zephaniah and the other prophets.
People are even now going around with blinkers on their eyes. They are unaware of the spiritual battle going on all around us, of how Christians are being killed and persecuted in other countries for their faith, and as long as the country is doing all right, the economy is fine, there is nothing to worry about. I am always saying this, I know, but it is truly heartbreaking to know there are millions of people who do not know Jesus, who think that because they are a "good" person, they will get into heaven, or that Christianity is wrong and Islam, Buddhism, or whatever, is the one true faith. People are still searching, seeking God and looking for Him in the most unlikely of places - drink, drugs, sex, fame, work, witchcraft and spiritualism, but He is all around us, in the song of the birds in the dawn, in the rain clouds gathering in the sky, in the wind and the rain, the blossom of each flower, the hugs and smiles from my children, and we just need to open our eyes, to take a good look around, and stop believing the lies of the god of this world, satan, who has blinded the eyes of those who do not believe so that they do not see the light of the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It's a chapter filled with impending doom, with prophesy of exactly what will befall the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Ethiopians and Assyrians as they receive the wages of their pride (NLT). Yet there is also such hope and promise in the first few verses, that maybe, just maybe, if we act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God, we too will be saved.
I expect that, just as would happen today, people ignored Zephaniah, telling themselves he was just another of those crazy prophets and of course God would never abandon them because after all, weren't they rich, didn't they have homes, flocks, crops? Today, we have wealth, prosperity, the country is powerful, a nation to be respected, yet God could just as easily have us overrun with invading armies, or terrorists throughout each city and large town causing havoc and mayhem. After all, what notice do people take of men walking around with "the end of the world is nigh" placards, or of street preachers standing on the corner foretelling doom and gloom? They have become a source of amusement, something to laugh about, as I am sure the Israelites did with Zephaniah and the other prophets.
People are even now going around with blinkers on their eyes. They are unaware of the spiritual battle going on all around us, of how Christians are being killed and persecuted in other countries for their faith, and as long as the country is doing all right, the economy is fine, there is nothing to worry about. I am always saying this, I know, but it is truly heartbreaking to know there are millions of people who do not know Jesus, who think that because they are a "good" person, they will get into heaven, or that Christianity is wrong and Islam, Buddhism, or whatever, is the one true faith. People are still searching, seeking God and looking for Him in the most unlikely of places - drink, drugs, sex, fame, work, witchcraft and spiritualism, but He is all around us, in the song of the birds in the dawn, in the rain clouds gathering in the sky, in the wind and the rain, the blossom of each flower, the hugs and smiles from my children, and we just need to open our eyes, to take a good look around, and stop believing the lies of the god of this world, satan, who has blinded the eyes of those who do not believe so that they do not see the light of the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thursday, 17 July 2008
Zephaniah chapter 1
This is not just prophesying an end to Judah, the coming of the Babylonians, but is also a reference to the End Times, when there will be the Day of Judgement, worldwide destruction as foretold in Revelation 20: 12-15. All those who do not have their name written in the Lamb's book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire, just as the people of Israel and Judah were punished by being taken away in captivity by the Babylonians.
The thing here, though, is that it need not have happened. The Israelites were told by God when they entered the Promised Land to get rid of all the inhabitants, but they failed to do this, either because they couldn't be bothered, or because it was too dangerous and they did not trust God, or because they felt comfortable in their new homes, the towns and villages they built and did not want to move out of their "comfort zone." But just look at what happened. They saw what their neighbours did, worshipping Molech, Baal and other pagan gods, and eventually they did likewise. It wasn't something that happened overnight, it took time and was a gradual process, but it led them away from God until eventually they turned their backs on God. Although outwardly professing to believe in Him and worshipping in the Temple as always, in reality their hearts were no longer God's, they had turned their backs on him and no longer trusted him, believed in Him, and chose instead to worship lumps of metal, blocks of wood, man made items instead of God the Creator.
Isn't that just as true of us today? We are affected by those we mix with. After all, if all our friends take drugs, sleep around, swear, steal, then it won't be long before we start behaving in the same way. It might start off with the odd swear word here and there, then pretty soon, every other word is a profanity. Sleeping around becomes easy and is expected if everyone else is doing it, and as for taking drugs, you really stick out in your group of friends of you are the only one who has never tried them…. It is difficult to remain principled, to stay true to your beliefs if you mix with people who believe in totally the opposite things, or do not have any beliefs at all. And yet it can be so hard to give up your friends, to make new ones who believe the way you do.
The Israelites took the easy option, they did not get rid of all the pagan nations, and eventually, they ended up turning away from God and worshipping false idols, man made items, and giving them a power that they do not have. It can happen just as easily to us as we strive to get the promotion at work, get that new contract, have a bigger and better house/car/whatever, seek fame and fortune. But all the riches in the world, all the fame we may have, our job titles, our position in the community will not save us from the wrath of God on that day of Judgement, just as it did not save the Israelites from the Babylonian Empire, sent by God to punish them.
The thing here, though, is that it need not have happened. The Israelites were told by God when they entered the Promised Land to get rid of all the inhabitants, but they failed to do this, either because they couldn't be bothered, or because it was too dangerous and they did not trust God, or because they felt comfortable in their new homes, the towns and villages they built and did not want to move out of their "comfort zone." But just look at what happened. They saw what their neighbours did, worshipping Molech, Baal and other pagan gods, and eventually they did likewise. It wasn't something that happened overnight, it took time and was a gradual process, but it led them away from God until eventually they turned their backs on God. Although outwardly professing to believe in Him and worshipping in the Temple as always, in reality their hearts were no longer God's, they had turned their backs on him and no longer trusted him, believed in Him, and chose instead to worship lumps of metal, blocks of wood, man made items instead of God the Creator.
Isn't that just as true of us today? We are affected by those we mix with. After all, if all our friends take drugs, sleep around, swear, steal, then it won't be long before we start behaving in the same way. It might start off with the odd swear word here and there, then pretty soon, every other word is a profanity. Sleeping around becomes easy and is expected if everyone else is doing it, and as for taking drugs, you really stick out in your group of friends of you are the only one who has never tried them…. It is difficult to remain principled, to stay true to your beliefs if you mix with people who believe in totally the opposite things, or do not have any beliefs at all. And yet it can be so hard to give up your friends, to make new ones who believe the way you do.
The Israelites took the easy option, they did not get rid of all the pagan nations, and eventually, they ended up turning away from God and worshipping false idols, man made items, and giving them a power that they do not have. It can happen just as easily to us as we strive to get the promotion at work, get that new contract, have a bigger and better house/car/whatever, seek fame and fortune. But all the riches in the world, all the fame we may have, our job titles, our position in the community will not save us from the wrath of God on that day of Judgement, just as it did not save the Israelites from the Babylonian Empire, sent by God to punish them.
Zephaniah
So after the book of Habbakuk, it is on to Zephaniah, a prophet who probably influenced King Josiah in his godly reformation, which began in the 8th year of Josiah's reign in Judah. Zephaniah foretold the fall of Jerusalem perhaps 35 years before it took place and he warned of a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation. . . . because they have sinned against the Lord (1:15,17). He then appealed to the kingdom of Judah to repent and God assured them that He would, in His time, graciously restore the nation. Zephaniah also prophesied that Christ would come in power and glory. Known as the great day of the Lord (1:7,14), that end-time event is referred to 13 times in these three chapters.
Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Jeremiah prophesied at the same time. They were among the last prophets who spoke for God before the 70-year Babylonian captivity. They had some pretty strong words for the Israelites, words which are just as relevant to each one of us today, even though we may feel that they are of no consequence because they were written for a different people and a different time. But nothing is in the bible without reason. We just need to find the reasons.
Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Jeremiah prophesied at the same time. They were among the last prophets who spoke for God before the 70-year Babylonian captivity. They had some pretty strong words for the Israelites, words which are just as relevant to each one of us today, even though we may feel that they are of no consequence because they were written for a different people and a different time. But nothing is in the bible without reason. We just need to find the reasons.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
