Day #252
Scripture Reading: Zephaniah 1 - 3 …
Questions: Should God's Word here in
Zephaniah and in some of the other prophets be interpreted literally or
figuratively? Is Zephaniah predicting what is actually going to happen,
or is this all an allegory, symbolizing God's anger and judgment? Is the
prophet speaking about literal Jerusalem, or about God's people in general?
Is this "just" Hebrew poetry or is it quite literally a
prophecy of the future? Was it already fulfilled in God's judgment on
Judah by Babylon or is Zephaniah pointing to a future "day of the
LORD"? And what does ANY of this have to do with YOU??
While the world and much of the visible church
today ignores Zephaniah and passages like this in some of the other prophets,
the questions remain. If this is the very Word of God, as I and many
others believe, then when God says, "I will sweep away everything from
the face of the earth" and " … when I cut off man
from the face of the earth," (1:2-3), we take note and compare what
Zephaniah says with what God says elsewhere in His Word. Doing so
confirms that there will be a future day when these prophecies concerning
Jerusalem, Israel and the surrounding nations, indeed, the whole world, are
fulfilled … LITERALLY … just as God predicted.
Zephaniah issues a warning and calls out to the "remnant" to
stand firm, in spite of the destruction they will see all around them. He points to a time when God will "restore
your fortunes before your very eyes" (3:20 - speaking to
Jerusalem and His people).
It is significant that Zephaniah points out "Gaza …
the land of the Philistines" (2:4-5). God says, "I will
destroy you, and none will be left" (2:5). And as he speaks
against other enemies in the area, Jordan, Syria … and in other places, Lebanon
and the nations of the north, God says through Zephaniah, “The remnant of my people will
plunder them; the survivors of my nation will inherit their land … This is
what they will get in return for their pride, for insulting and mocking the
people of the LORD Almighty" (2:9-10).
This future "day of the LORD" will
be preceded by a moment of silence: "Be silent before the
Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near" (1:7). As God's
wrath is about to be poured out as the seventh seal is opened in Revelation
8:1, we read: "When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence
in heaven for about half an hour." Then the angels sound the
trumpets and the wrath of God begins to be poured out on the inhabitants of the
earth. Zephaniah continues writing as
God says, "I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the
kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them - all my fierce anger. The
whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger" (3:8;
see Revelation 16:16 and following).
Many people have an inaccurate view of God. "God
is LOVE!" they say … and He IS! But the amazing nature of
His love in sending His Son Jesus Christ is in the context of His holiness,
judgment and wrath upon sinful mankind. The nation/state of Israel is not now,
nor ever has been, made up only of those who believe in the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob. BUT, there is a "remnant," those
known to God and chosen by Him. For the sake of His glory, God will again
deal specifically with the physical descendants of Jacob and they will worship
the Lord in Jerusalem when He returns, along with those who are part of the
true Church, those who believe in Jesus.
"The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they
will speak no lies, nor will deceit be found in their mouths. They will
eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid" (3:13).
"The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you
fear any harm. … The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to
save!" (3:15,17). "At that time I will gather you; at
that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among
all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very
eyes" (3:20). So says the Lord, our God, and He will do it!!
What that means for us today is that we are living
in the time of the fulfillment of all these things. Our world and all the
people in it are headed towards the coming "day of the Lord."
While many claim we cannot know when this time will come upon us, Paul writes to
the Thessalonians, "Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need
to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like
a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,'
destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and
they will not escape" (I Thessalonians 5:1-3) … "BUT YOU,
brothers, are NOT in the darkness so that THIS DAY should surprise YOU like a
thief!!" (5:4).
His advice: "So then, let us not be
like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. …
But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and
love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet … for God did
not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may
live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build
each other up, just as in fact you are doing" (I Thessalonians
5:6,8-11).
That is the life God calls all who believe in Jesus
to live. Read and study His Word, know what He says is coming on the
world, watch the signs, be ready by serving the Master until He comes and warn
others of His coming judgment, for He may yet spare them by drawing them to
Himself. God will do what He says He will do, and those who trust in the
Lord, our God, the Holy One of Israel, the great "I AM," do
not need to fear, for HE is with us!!
"O LORD my God, I thank You, Father, for
revealing the way of salvation through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ, and I
believe that You have delivered me and all who believe from Your coming
judgment and wrath upon the earth and all mankind. My hope is in You
alone and I live today with the knowledge and joy of Your salvation! Give
me wisdom and grace to live in Your presence and to walk by faith as I testify
to the truth of Your Word, warning those who hear to flee to the cross for
forgiveness and life. To You, the only true God, be praise and glory,
forever and ever. In Jesus' name, Amen"
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