As we conclude this book we see a bit of poetic movement in the text. Zeph 3:1 demonstrates a shift back from the judgment prophesied against the foreign nations to the judgment coming against Jerusalem. Zeph 3:2 gives the reason. God's people did not heed the warnings around them. Jerusalem's leaders, prophet's and priests were acting unrighteously (Zeph 3:3-4). The people followed suit.
God's actions of judgment against Jerusalem are righteous (Zeph 3:5). He had shown grace toward His people but they did not revere Him (Zeph 3:6-7). So, God's righteous action will be to exercise judgment (Zeph 3:8). Following the judgment, those who trust in the Lord will return. Through God's act of discipline, many will be saved and will gather again to God's city to worship Him (Zeph 3:9-11).
Where were these people? As has always been the case when God brings judgment...there was a remnant who were faithful to God (Zeph 3:12-13). God's judgment is not indiscriminate. He is righteous in every action. He does not punish unjustly.
The final "movement" in this prophesy is the oracle/prophesy of Salvation which looks forward to the time of rest and blessing that follows God's righteous judgment (Zeph 3:14-20). In that time...there is peace and honest worship among God's people. There is also a restoration of the Name of God's people across the land (Zeph 3:20).
What can one take away from this prophesy? Over the last 3 days we have seen that God acts righteously in every action. It is His nature. His nature "informs/directs" how He will act in every case. It is what makes Him reliable and constant. God is not "good" because His actions are good; rather, God's actions are good because by nature He is "good." (Don't gloss over this...it is fundamental to a proper understanding of who God is and how to know the will of God.)
Toward those who are unrighteous, judgment awaits. To the remnant of the faithful, God cares for them even in the midst of judgment and deliveres them back to the place of blessing. I am certain that there was difficulty in their lives due to the actions against the unrighteous ones experiencing God's judgment. Yet, God protected the remnant. He did not promise a comfortable life of prosperity for those here on earth. He promised to be faithful. WE MUST learn to see God's faithfulness in this way...not in how comfortable He makes us.
Finally, we need to see the signs of the times around us. As the world slips further away from God into the present day wrath of God (Romans 1), we should take note and seek God all the more. Jerusalem missed this (Zeph 3:2). She continued the slide with those around her, rather than turning back toward God.
Proverbs 19:2 is the takeaway today. This proverbs speaks of the value of knowing God's will (which is wisdom) in a matter. He who proceeds without it suffers. Further, those who are quick to react in any given situation, often slip and suffer due to moving ahead of God. The key to success is to KNOW and DO the will of God.
Grace.
Showing posts with label Zephaniah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zephaniah. Show all posts
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Take Two: Zephaniah 2, Proverbs 18
Zeph 2:1-3 serve as a bridge between the judgment against Judah of chapter 1 and the judgment coming to the nations surrounding her. It is a momentary call to wake up...if you will. Gather yourself together. Time is drawing near. Before the judgment, humble yourself before God.
In these chapters on judgment, it is interesting to see that God gives testimony of a remnant (Zeph 2:3). Of course, not everyone was evil in Judah or in the nations. However, evil was the characteristic that dominated the majority. For me, this is a sobering reminder of God's justice...not just His judgment. He is not indiscriminately destroying...because He came to the end of His rope. He is fully aware of the condition of the people, both the majority and the remnant. A God of justice brings judgment against the wicked...but also delivers the remnant through His mercy.
Zeph 2:4-15 is the judgment against the nations around Judah. God is not only bringing judgment against those who were connected to Him as Jews, He is also Lord over those who do not see themselves as connected to Him at all.
Catch that.
Many people today CHOOSE to not explore things of God, having convinced themselves that they will not be subject to His justice if they are not His. One does not get a "pass" on God's justice simply because they choose not to experience His Salvation. All of us are in the same boat. We are (in the beginning) by nature children of wrath (Eph 2:3). Everyone begins in the same place: separated by our own sin from God. To not know the specifics of the sin does not change the fact that we are still sinners. Whether we have heard "do not murder" or not...doesn't change the fact that killing a person "feels wrong" to everyone initially.
The nations listed in this prophesy are really representative of all nations but specifically include Palestine and its cities, Moab, Ethiopia, Assyria, and the nations to the North. From the coastal cities to the West, to the North, South , and East...God will judge all peoples in the Day of the Lord.
Notice again, this judgment of God is not a struggle of ability. There is no indication of even a resonable resistance to His justice. He is the awesome God and will utterly bring to bear His will in this Day.
As I read this...many faces of people I know around the country, across this community, and even around the world come to mind. Several of these faces do not recognize my God. Some reject my God. Others fear Him. A Day is coming when all of these will face Him. It is my privilege and high calling to help them know Him today as the God of abundant mercy and grace. Time is nearing when they may not be able to respond. For their sake and for His glory, I must help them understand. Can YOU see their faces?
Proverbs 18:8,17 are the takeaways today. They just fit together in my mind pretty well. A "whisperer" is another way of speaking of a "gossip." They are people who speak things they should not.
Someone told me this week that he had "defended" me on two occasions this past week where individuals told him things that did not sound true of me. Turns out, the ones speaking to my friend had "heard from someone" these dainty, tasty morsels of information. Neither of the "charges" were even close to being true...and my friend recognized them immediately...since he knew where my "heart" was on the matter.
Why would someone believe a "morsel" of whisper? Often times, because it seems "sweet" to know something first. As verse 17 reminds us, the "whisper" tends to sound true because we heard it first. After all, why would someone tell us wrong? The rest of verse 17 tells us how to know. Find the subect of the discussion and seek to know first person what you "heard." The "charges" caused me (and my friend) to shake our heads. They were as far from true as anything that anyone could have ever said. This is why God tells us to reject gossip and to rebuke the gossiper. They do great damage to themselves, to the people they "whisper" to, and to the Kingdom of God. Moral to the story: If you can't or won't share your juicy nugget with the person it is about...don't share it at all. If your audience has no involvement in the story...don't speak about it to them at all.
Grace.
In these chapters on judgment, it is interesting to see that God gives testimony of a remnant (Zeph 2:3). Of course, not everyone was evil in Judah or in the nations. However, evil was the characteristic that dominated the majority. For me, this is a sobering reminder of God's justice...not just His judgment. He is not indiscriminately destroying...because He came to the end of His rope. He is fully aware of the condition of the people, both the majority and the remnant. A God of justice brings judgment against the wicked...but also delivers the remnant through His mercy.
Zeph 2:4-15 is the judgment against the nations around Judah. God is not only bringing judgment against those who were connected to Him as Jews, He is also Lord over those who do not see themselves as connected to Him at all.
Catch that.
Many people today CHOOSE to not explore things of God, having convinced themselves that they will not be subject to His justice if they are not His. One does not get a "pass" on God's justice simply because they choose not to experience His Salvation. All of us are in the same boat. We are (in the beginning) by nature children of wrath (Eph 2:3). Everyone begins in the same place: separated by our own sin from God. To not know the specifics of the sin does not change the fact that we are still sinners. Whether we have heard "do not murder" or not...doesn't change the fact that killing a person "feels wrong" to everyone initially.
The nations listed in this prophesy are really representative of all nations but specifically include Palestine and its cities, Moab, Ethiopia, Assyria, and the nations to the North. From the coastal cities to the West, to the North, South , and East...God will judge all peoples in the Day of the Lord.
Notice again, this judgment of God is not a struggle of ability. There is no indication of even a resonable resistance to His justice. He is the awesome God and will utterly bring to bear His will in this Day.
As I read this...many faces of people I know around the country, across this community, and even around the world come to mind. Several of these faces do not recognize my God. Some reject my God. Others fear Him. A Day is coming when all of these will face Him. It is my privilege and high calling to help them know Him today as the God of abundant mercy and grace. Time is nearing when they may not be able to respond. For their sake and for His glory, I must help them understand. Can YOU see their faces?
Proverbs 18:8,17 are the takeaways today. They just fit together in my mind pretty well. A "whisperer" is another way of speaking of a "gossip." They are people who speak things they should not.
Someone told me this week that he had "defended" me on two occasions this past week where individuals told him things that did not sound true of me. Turns out, the ones speaking to my friend had "heard from someone" these dainty, tasty morsels of information. Neither of the "charges" were even close to being true...and my friend recognized them immediately...since he knew where my "heart" was on the matter.
Why would someone believe a "morsel" of whisper? Often times, because it seems "sweet" to know something first. As verse 17 reminds us, the "whisper" tends to sound true because we heard it first. After all, why would someone tell us wrong? The rest of verse 17 tells us how to know. Find the subect of the discussion and seek to know first person what you "heard." The "charges" caused me (and my friend) to shake our heads. They were as far from true as anything that anyone could have ever said. This is why God tells us to reject gossip and to rebuke the gossiper. They do great damage to themselves, to the people they "whisper" to, and to the Kingdom of God. Moral to the story: If you can't or won't share your juicy nugget with the person it is about...don't share it at all. If your audience has no involvement in the story...don't speak about it to them at all.
Grace.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Take Two: Zephaniah 1, Proverbs 17
Zephaniah is a pivotal book among the minor prophets. Zephaniah ministered during the reign of Josiah, king of Judah (639-609BC) (Zeph 1:1). The setting of the book cannot be determined from its own evidence as to a more precise period within Josiah's reign. Because of the focus on the judgment of the Day of the Lord, most commentators believe that the book centered on a period prior to the reforms of 621BC.
To keep it in context with what we have studied, this book follows the other minor prophets and the prohesies during the ministries of Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, etc.
The writing style of the prophet is very poetic. He uses colorful language consistent with this style. Not every image, therefore, needs to be taken literally. The "point" needs to be taken literally...but how the author makes it must be understood in context.
At center stage as the book opens is the judgment of God. Some speculate that since the picture seems to be universal, widespread destruction...the focus is on the end times. Others say that since there is a focus on the nearness of the judgment, the focus in on the Babylonian conquest (587 BC). Both are likely true. In prophesy...it is common for their to be a twofold fulfillment. Jerusalem would fall soon, and there would be an ultimate universal destruction at the coming of the Day of the Lord. We (in our Western mindsets) don't like the ambiguity here...but we have to learn to read this as the original audience would have understood it.
In Zeph 1:2-3 the picture is of ultimate destruction. The destruction is a reverse order of Creation...part of the poetic structure of the book. The highpoint of creation, man, is the first to be judged and wiped out. Many of those listening to the prophet would have listened as many in churches today: "Yes, judgment is coming against the whole earth," while thinking that they personally would be exempted somehow.
Zeph 1:4 is the statement of judgment against Judah and even Jerusalem. This would be scandalous to the ears of the hearers in the day. It is akin to me saying, "God will judge Pensacola and it will begin in our congregation on Pine Forest Road." Not a very "seeker-friendly" sermon that day. Why the judgment? The reason is implied but not explicitly declared. Since God had already set the standard of conduct for His people...He owes no declaration of justification for His actions. He is God and acts righteously. It is not open for debate.
Zeph 1:4 notes the baal worship and the priests who lead in it as being destroyed. Zeph 1:5 notes those who worship creation (the stars in the heavens...astrology anyone...) will be destroyed. Also those who say they worship God and also false gods at the same time. Zeph 1:6 points to those who have turned back from their commitment to follow God as well as those who have not sought Him or inquired about Him. ( Don't miss this. This is an essential element of Theology. There is a "homing beacon" in the heart of every person to know and worship someone. General revelation of Creation testifies to the presence of a Creator God {Rom 1}. Those who ignore the homing beacon are akin to children who run through the house away from a parent with fingers in their ears screaming "I can't hear you." They too will be judged for ignoring the homing beacon within....and pursuing self sufficiency over God dependency.)
God's destruction/judgment will be universal (Zeph 1:7-13). He will even search out house to house those who are "stagnant" in spirit and those who believe God is not coming soon (Zeph 1:12). Nothing wil protect people from the coming judgment of God...especially those things they have come to trust in (Zeph 1:18).
Now some in the church today would be uncomfortable with a God who is so decisive and unrelenting. They would find this God objectionable. They would say that He is hard for them to "get close to relationally." This is understandable on a human level...but God is not like us. There is another aspect of God's nature. God is absolutely Holy. As such, His Holiness will not tolerate even the smallest sin. In fact, were it not for a relationship with Christ...all of us would face exactly what is in view in chapter 1 of this book.
Proverbs 17:27 is the takeaway. Knowledge and understanding are seen in the man who remains cool and restrains his words...he who master's his own tongue.
Grace,
To keep it in context with what we have studied, this book follows the other minor prophets and the prohesies during the ministries of Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, etc.
The writing style of the prophet is very poetic. He uses colorful language consistent with this style. Not every image, therefore, needs to be taken literally. The "point" needs to be taken literally...but how the author makes it must be understood in context.
At center stage as the book opens is the judgment of God. Some speculate that since the picture seems to be universal, widespread destruction...the focus is on the end times. Others say that since there is a focus on the nearness of the judgment, the focus in on the Babylonian conquest (587 BC). Both are likely true. In prophesy...it is common for their to be a twofold fulfillment. Jerusalem would fall soon, and there would be an ultimate universal destruction at the coming of the Day of the Lord. We (in our Western mindsets) don't like the ambiguity here...but we have to learn to read this as the original audience would have understood it.
In Zeph 1:2-3 the picture is of ultimate destruction. The destruction is a reverse order of Creation...part of the poetic structure of the book. The highpoint of creation, man, is the first to be judged and wiped out. Many of those listening to the prophet would have listened as many in churches today: "Yes, judgment is coming against the whole earth," while thinking that they personally would be exempted somehow.
Zeph 1:4 is the statement of judgment against Judah and even Jerusalem. This would be scandalous to the ears of the hearers in the day. It is akin to me saying, "God will judge Pensacola and it will begin in our congregation on Pine Forest Road." Not a very "seeker-friendly" sermon that day. Why the judgment? The reason is implied but not explicitly declared. Since God had already set the standard of conduct for His people...He owes no declaration of justification for His actions. He is God and acts righteously. It is not open for debate.
Zeph 1:4 notes the baal worship and the priests who lead in it as being destroyed. Zeph 1:5 notes those who worship creation (the stars in the heavens...astrology anyone...) will be destroyed. Also those who say they worship God and also false gods at the same time. Zeph 1:6 points to those who have turned back from their commitment to follow God as well as those who have not sought Him or inquired about Him. ( Don't miss this. This is an essential element of Theology. There is a "homing beacon" in the heart of every person to know and worship someone. General revelation of Creation testifies to the presence of a Creator God {Rom 1}. Those who ignore the homing beacon are akin to children who run through the house away from a parent with fingers in their ears screaming "I can't hear you." They too will be judged for ignoring the homing beacon within....and pursuing self sufficiency over God dependency.)
God's destruction/judgment will be universal (Zeph 1:7-13). He will even search out house to house those who are "stagnant" in spirit and those who believe God is not coming soon (Zeph 1:12). Nothing wil protect people from the coming judgment of God...especially those things they have come to trust in (Zeph 1:18).
Now some in the church today would be uncomfortable with a God who is so decisive and unrelenting. They would find this God objectionable. They would say that He is hard for them to "get close to relationally." This is understandable on a human level...but God is not like us. There is another aspect of God's nature. God is absolutely Holy. As such, His Holiness will not tolerate even the smallest sin. In fact, were it not for a relationship with Christ...all of us would face exactly what is in view in chapter 1 of this book.
Proverbs 17:27 is the takeaway. Knowledge and understanding are seen in the man who remains cool and restrains his words...he who master's his own tongue.
Grace,
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