Some interesting thoughts percolate this morning as I read this short prophesy by Zephaniah, who is generally unfamiliar to us. Many people wouldn’t be able to say with certainty that Zephaniah was a book of the Bible, and yet there is a wonderful message here.
It has been many years since the righteous king Hezekiah ruled in Jerusalem. The northern kingdom fell to Sennacherib the commander of the Assyrian army many years ago. The south had been spared because they cried out to God and were humble. But as we read here of their pride and arrogance, and their lack of concern for righteous living we also learn that judgement is about to catch up with them. Manasseh was an evil king, and Josiah likely grew up under his reign. Hezekiah would be Josiah’s great-grandfather. He was a godly king, which accounts for his long reign (31 years). Zephaniah was a prophet who spoke of a gloomy future to Josiah, and to the nation as a whole. From the time that Josiah rules until the time the kingdom falls completely is about 50 years (approximately). Two other kings will rule for 11 years each, others for much shorter periods. Much of the time after Josiah’s death, Judah will be under the control of Assyria.
Zephaniah reminds us once again that arrogance and pride will not go unpunished. The arrogance displayed here is a disregard for the laws of God, specifically a failure to live honestly and treat others fairly and with dignity. Lying, cheating, stealing, being proud and misrepresenting what God was said (false teaching, false prophecy) were rampant in Zephaniah’s day. It seems that people would “go to church” and profess to believe in God, but at the same time they would worship other gods, and violate key tenets of the law.
For instance, I cannot be accepted as a believer of Jesus Christ if I cheat others, tell lies and worship Mohammed, or Buddha, or practice Wicca.
Even if I attend church every Sunday, profess to follow Jesus and give a portion of my earnings, I will not be included with the righteous, because I have knowingly and willingly worshipped other gods, and violated the covenant.
I cannot say that Christians don’t lie, or steal, or have setbacks…but we don’t dismiss them as being “okay” or “acceptable”. These failures must be confessed to God, and forgiven by Him. Greater effort to remain submitted to His will must be sought, and the whole exercise should be completed in humility and contrition. There is no place in Christianity for pride in self, self sufficiency or self aggrandizement. The Christian relies completely on God day by day, and the thought of violating His will makes the righteous recoil in disgust.
Such is not the case in Judah. Even though Josiah is mandating a return to holiness, and many do respond, there are also a large number whose hearts are still bent toward false gods. As a whole, the community isn’t repentant of their sins, even though it isn’t popular under Josiah to talk about them. Outlawing alcohol during the prohibition didn’t stop people from drinking…it just drove it underground.
God has a plan to change the hearts of his people. It will happen by exile to another country where they will be treated harshly. Many will starve or die along the way. Most who are taken from their homeland will not return. Those who do return will have been quite young when they left. They will cry in agony and loss as they look upon the ruins of the temple, remembering what they lost.
As hard as this is to consider, there is a great hope in Zephaniah. Repentance will bring restoration. God promises to bring health and fortune back to the people as they return home. We know that the exile lasted 70 years. Many years went by after that where no one except the few released by Cyrus the Persian returned. In 1948 the Israelites became a nation, and since then they have prospered greatly. Among the nations around them none are successful as Israel. And although you could read the third chapter as past history, because everything mentioned there has already happened…I believe this prophecy still hasn’t completely come true. I think it’s a reference to future glory, when God comes and lives and rules from within Jerusalem, and all nations bow before Him. Jesus has come and lived among them, and that was glorious to be sure, but He didn’t come as a ruler that time, but as a Savior, a Sacrifice.
It doesn’t matter how far you’ve wandered away from the truth, or how many sins you have committed, God wants you back. Yes, punishment is a reality, but it doesn’t have to be your reality. You can be forgiven and restored and live in perfect harmony with your Creator. God is predisposed to forgive you, if you will only ask. Zephaniah reminds us both of God’s ability to punish, and His ability to forgive and bless.
Choose blessing!
Faithfully,
PR