Zephaniah 3
COMMENTARY:
: 5 The just LORD is in the midst thereof; HE will not do iniquity: every morning does HE bring HIS judgment to light, HE fails not; but the unjust knows no shame. (1322 “shame” [bosheth] means confusion, ashamed, humiliation, ignominy, or embarrassment.)
DEVOTION: The LORD sends Zephaniah to describe what is happening in Jerusalem. This is the capital of the nation of Israel. This is the location of the Temple of the LORD. It is supposed to be the center of true justice. There are leaders both religious and political who are supposed to love the LORD.
This is not what is happening. The city is described as filthy and polluted. It is a city full of people who will not be obedient. It is a city full of people who will not accept correction from anyone including the LORD. They don’t even trust the LORD. She didn’t even want to be close to the LORD.
This all happened under the watch of their leaders and judges. Both groups were like wolves looking for people to devour with the sins. This not only included the political leaders but the religious leaders who were in control of the worship of the LORD.
On that note we find that the LORD is still in the midst of the city. HE is not a God who far away. HE is always close. HE never sins or causes anyone to sin. They sin on their own even with HIM right there watching. They don’t care.
Because HE is right there watching HE is handing out judgment on a morning by morning basis. Not a time period goes by that HE does not judge HIS people.
The problem is that the humiliation is not part of the makeup of those who are disobeying the LORD. They are not embarrassed by their actions. They are not ashamed of their actions.
We have to understand that we are related to these people. We are human with our own sin nature. We daily have to answer to the LORD for our actions. We need to ask ourselves if we are embarrassed by our actions. We have to ask if we are humble enough to ask the LORD’s forgiveness of our sins on a daily basis. We can’t get to the point in our life that we are following the example of our political leaders or religious leaders when they are disobedient to the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Know for a fact that the LORD is in our midst on a daily basis. Our disposition should be one of humility. If this is true we won’t be confused with what is happening in our life.
: 9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call on the name of the LORD, to serve HIM with one consent. (7926 “consent” [shakem] means both shoulders, pertaining to serving in a unified or unanimous manner, or shoulder to shoulder.)
DEVOTION: In the future there is going to be one language for all peoples. Everyone will understand each other. There will be no confusion because of language. This future time will be one that all may call upon the name of the LORD together.
What will be the need to call on the LORD if HE is reigning over this group? They we call on HIM to find out how they may serve HIM. All will be servants of the LORD.
This is not only concerned with a language but also what will happen when people speak that language. They will have pure lips which means that they will not say anything that is not pleasing to the LORD.
Today it is hard not to walk down the street without hearing things that are displeasing to the LORD. It is hard to watch television programs without hearing words that are not pleasing to the LORD. This is even happening in the homes of those who claim to be followers of the LORD. The language in some of these homes is very displeasing to the LORD because the parents are training their children to use this language. Also we find that there are some things said even in church that are displeasing to the LORD. Gossip is very displeasing to the LORD. The Bible says that HE hates gossip.
Today it is common to hear things that displease the LORD in all of these locations. It will not happen in the future.
CHALLENGE: How about practicing only saying things that are pleasing to the LORD today in your house, workplace and church.
: 17 The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over you with singing. (1368 “mighty” [gibbor] strong, valiant, brave, powerful, or upright.)
DEVOTION: Zephaniah expresses the fact that the long-suffering of the LORD has come to an end. Judgment is coming. All levels of leaders in the nation were corrupt. None were willing to change. None were willing to obey. None were willing to TRUST in the LORD. Every morning the LORD will bring judgment. HE alone is just. HE alone will never sin. HE alone will never fail.
All nations will be judged. However, there is a day coming when the LORD will change the language of all those living to a “pure language.” In this pure language all will call upon the name of the LORD. All will serve HIM. All will TRUST HIM. This group will not sin. They will not speak lies. They shall not be afraid. There will be singing. There will be gladness. The LORD will dwell in the midst of the people. HE will be their KING.
This verse has been turned into a song in recent years. It is a verse that gives us hope that the future is bright for Israel. There is going to be a future restoration of Israel after a time of judgment. This is not fully fulfilled yet. It is still future. The truth of this verse gives us something to rejoice over now. The LORD does not forget HIS people. HE may chasten and correct HIS people but HE never fails them.
We need to realize that we serve the same GOD that the Israelites served in the Old Testament. HE has not changed HIS attributes. HE is still powerful. HE can do anything. One day we will rejoice with HIM in heaven.
Now we can rejoice toward HIM on earth through our singing praises. We need to be singing praises every day of the week. We need the joy of the LORD in our hearts. We need to rest in HIS love.
CHALLENGE: One of the signs of the filling of the Spirit in our lives is the presence of singing. Are we singing to the LORD today? Can we sing in any circumstance? The answer is YES!! Praise the LORD. WE have HOPE!!!
: 19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict you; and I will save her that halts, and gather her that was driven out, and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. (6760 “halts” [tsala] means to limp, be lame, to walk imeded by some physical limitation or injury or walk in faltering manner.)
DEVOTION: Only one time when I was on visitation was I mocked. It was a group of young men in a trailer in the country who were smoking something they shouldn’t have been smoking. I was going door to door in the country. We had a bus route at that time and I was making sure the bus was full each Sunday.
I have never been oppressed like those in third world countries that are beaten, killed and burned out of their homes. I have read about those countries where they take everything a Christian possesses for themselves and forces them to leave with only the clothes on their back in the name of their religion. This is going on regularly around our world today.
Those who stand up for the LORD are weak and helpless in these countries. Their government doesn’t care about those who believe in Christ only in the other false god in their land. The police will not protect them.
This happened in the past to the children of Israel who were taken captive by other nations and abused. They were laughed at. They were stripped of their clothes and made to walk as captives to their new location.
As with all of the prophets there are verses of HOPE for those who are following the LORD. The future has a time period when those who experience these types of treatment are going to be gathered by the LORD and those who are oppressing them are going to be dealt with by the LORD.
We have to be faithful during our time of testing. There will be deliverance coming either now or in eternity for those who have suffered for their faith today.
CHALLENGE: Glory and fame are coming in the presence of the LORD to those who are faithful.
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