Rev Writes - Sun 28th Sept

SO... How are you coping with these minor prophets?
One thing is for sure, ‘Minor’ does not mean insignificant or that we can somehow put aside what they are saying. It simply means they are shorter books. Today we’ll look at the prophet Zephaniah.
Zephaniah is a prophecy - a book which spoke to the immediate situation in Judah some 2600 years ago, and it speaks to ours too. It helps us to understand more the depths of the judgment that we deserve - for God is a jealous God – and it helps us to understand the love of God in Christ. For in Christ we have one who rescues us for the coming day of the Lord – the wrath to come as Paul says.
Zephaniah’s prophecies contain judgment against Judah due to their sin - including rebellion, idolatry, indifference and arrogance to God. However, it also includes judgment on the nations for their pride in mocking the people of God 2:4-15. This judgment is depicted as the ‘great day of the Lord’ – which is near. The people are to come together and seek the Lord with humility 2:1ff.

Beyond this judgment, the Lord will gather his people (a remnant –both from Judah and from the nations 3:9,10), and he will dwell with them– he will save/rescue/gather. He will bring them home. 3:16ff.

Here’s a thought. The people of Judah some 80 years before Zephaniah had witnessed the defeat of their Northern ‘cousins’ (Israel) by the Assyrians due to their sin. They had 80 years to contemplate how they should respond to God. 80 years to wake up to the effects of idolatry, indifference, apathy – of trust in wealth. Yet as 2 Kings 17:19 tells us, even Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced.

How are you going with the minor prophets?
Are we people who are learning and growing?
Are we submitting to the Jesus as Lord?

Does the fact that you are free of the judgment of God because of Christ, so shape you that you joyfully live for Him?

Zephaniah ends with the promise of restoration (3:19ff). Beyond judgment there will be a day when the remnant of God’s people will be pure through judgment – gathered by the Lord- a day when he will bring His people home.

Are you ready for this day? Is your trust in Jesus alone – his death for your sins?
If so 2 Peter 3:9-18 reminds us that we ought to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of God, making every effort to be spotless and blameless and at peace with Him.

God bless,
Col