Wow what beginning of this minor Prophet:
Chapter 1:2-6
"I will utterly consume everything From the face of the land," Says the LORD; "I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land," Says the LORD.
"I will stretch out My hand against Judah, And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, The names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests––
Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; Those who worship and swear oaths by the LORD, But who also swear by Milcom;
Those who have turned back from following the LORD, And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him."
One could also put it: God is really angry right here!
How little do we turn our focus to this side of our loving God and Father…
How seldom do we think about God’s justice and his standard of righteousness…
Oh, how we avoid this reality of our Lord, simply because we are scared and have difficulties connecting the God who, out of love, sent his son to die for us with his attributes of wrath that he has to bring if he truly is righteous!
Why is that?
I believe there are many reasons, but two main areas that drive us to avoid meditating on these aspects of our Lord:
Our lack of knowledge about who our God really is! (let me explain)
And secondly our reluctance to give up the sin that so easily entangles us, and that we ultimately enjoy more than loving our Lord.
According to Jesus we love Him if we obey Him and do what is right (John 14:15+21…).
So we really have to face the reality that if we avoid God character of righteousness and judgment out of fear, that’s when we actually love our self and our sin more than our Savior!
But love drives out fear! (1.John 4:18)
The only other reason to avoid Gods attributes of jealousy (Exodus 20:5, 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24…) that result in God’s chastisement of His loved ones is that we don’t know Him!
We claim to know Him, but we only think and speak about his promises and his faithfulness to meet our needs as we think it’s best. And if he doesn’t comply we ask if our faith is lacking or we are in sin that God might not do what we want Him to…
But if we knew God, we would always praise Him for anything that he allows in our lives, because He truly knows what is best!
He has the right to be jealous and angry with us!
If not, than just look at your life this last week and look at all the times you failed the one who took three nails for you to lead you into a new life.
He is always right!
And especially when he is angry and ready to bring judgment! Because it’s only the mercies of God that we are actually not consumed by now (Lamentations 3:22).
So when he starts of here in Zephaniah with:
I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land," Says the LORD.
Those who have turned back from following the LORD, And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him."
But there is something about God that we rest upon!
Something that is what keeps us alive!
Something that reached it climax on the cross in His Son Jesus Christ:
God’s endless mercies and His continual never ending readiness to turn from his anger to bring peace if we repent!
Just like with Jonah and Nineveh we see it here with the Prophet Zephaniah:
Verses 1- 3 of chapter 2
Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation,
Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the LORD’S fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the LORD’S anger comes upon you!
Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD’S anger.
There is always the “mercy option” for the repentant heart!
So I call out to you:
Realize the anger of God against you!
Know, that your God who gave his life for you is jealous for you and will not share you with the sin you love more than you love Him!
He is waiting for you to return to him, to turn from your wicked ways to lavish His mercy upon you!
But if you don’t then be assured that God loves you too much to not just let you go – you who you call your self a follower of Christ!
So is it fear, or lack of knowledge of God that keeps you from trusting God?
What ever it is, leave your sin and turn because God will forgive, but He will also punish the one he loves!
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.
But just to make sure we don’t misunderstand:
Jesus died for your sins! We will not and never experience the eternal punishment we actually deserve for our sinfulness, because Christ died and paid it all!
But the love of your father will not allow you to run from His blessings and that is why he will “chasten” you, to bring you back to Him!
So hear the call of the Prophet and turn:
Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation,
Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the LORD’S fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the LORD’S anger comes upon you!
Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD’S anger.
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