An enthusiastic but somewhat unscrupulous salesman was waiting to see the purchasing agent of the engineering firm where my husband worked. The salesman was there to submit his company’s bid, or price quote, for a particular job. He couldn’t help but notice, however, that … More
Submit
Zephaniah is no ordinary preacher. He is the great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah, one of Judah’s most famous rulers. He has royal blood in his veins, but more important, he has the message of God on his lips. Strange to say, Zephaniah preached during the reign of godly King Josiah, and it was a time of religious “revival” (II Kings 22-23). To all appearances, it was a time of religious concern and consecration.
There is a finality about the opening words of the prophecy (vv. 1-3) that suggests an ultimate and universal “day of the Lord” with justice triumphant and evil vanquished. But beginning with “Judah, and ... all the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (v. 4), Zephaniah warns of approaching individual judgment on rebellious nations. Judgment is coming and nothing will escape.
The warning is given at a time when the worship of Baal and other pagan practices are prevalent in Judah (vv. 4-6). For those who engage in such idolatry “the day of the Lord” (v. 7) will come as “the day of the Lord’s sacrifice” (v. 8) to which “he hath bid his guests” (v. 7). It was customary to summon people to a sacrifice (I Sam. 16:2-5). This time, however, they are gathered to learn their fate.
As judgment approaches, cries are heard from various parts of Jerusalem (vv. 9-10). None will escape of those who take the complacent, contemptuous attitude, “The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil” (vv. 11-12), that is, God is indifferent and will do nothing.
Application
An idol can be anything reverenced more that God. People trust in themselves, money, or power and not in God. But ultimately all idols will prove worthless, and the true God will prevail. I need to seek God first (Matt. 6:33) and have not other gods before Him (Ex. 20:3).
Zephaniah 1:1-18 (English Standard Version)
Warning: MagpieRSS: Failed to parse RSS file. (Space required at line 39, column 24) in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/magpie6-1/rss_fetch.inc on line 230
Warning: array_slice() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/rss/esvLookup.php on line 15
Exhortation to Submit
Zephaniah 1:1–18
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
An enthusiastic but somewhat unscrupulous salesman was waiting to see the purchasing agent of the engineering firm where my husband worked. The salesman was there to submit his company’s bid, or price quote, for a particular job. He couldn’t help but notice, however, that … More
Zephaniah is no ordinary preacher. He is the great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah, one of Judah’s most famous rulers. He has royal blood in his veins, but more important, he has the message of God on his lips. Strange to say, Zephaniah preached during the reign of godly King Josiah, and it was a time of religious “revival” (II Kings 22-23). To all appearances, it was a time of religious concern and consecration.
There is a finality about the opening words of the prophecy (vv. 1-3) that suggests an ultimate and universal “day of the Lord” with justice triumphant and evil vanquished. But beginning with “Judah, and ... all the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (v. 4), Zephaniah warns of approaching individual judgment on rebellious nations. Judgment is coming and nothing will escape.
The warning is given at a time when the worship of Baal and other pagan practices are prevalent in Judah (vv. 4-6). For those who engage in such idolatry “the day of the Lord” (v. 7) will come as “the day of the Lord’s sacrifice” (v. 8) to which “he hath bid his guests” (v. 7). It was customary to summon people to a sacrifice (I Sam. 16:2-5). This time, however, they are gathered to learn their fate.
As judgment approaches, cries are heard from various parts of Jerusalem (vv. 9-10). None will escape of those who take the complacent, contemptuous attitude, “The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil” (vv. 11-12), that is, God is indifferent and will do nothing.Application
An idol can be anything reverenced more that God. People trust in themselves, money, or power and not in God. But ultimately all idols will prove worthless, and the true God will prevail. I need to seek God first (Matt. 6:33) and have not other gods before Him (Ex. 20:3).
Zephaniah 1:1-18 (English Standard Version)
Warning: MagpieRSS: Failed to parse RSS file. (Space required at line 39, column 24) in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/magpie6-1/rss_fetch.inc on line 230
Warning: array_slice() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/rss/esvLookup.php on line 15
View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »