August 10, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Zephaniah? Here’s today’s reading:
Zephaniah 1 (NIV)
1 The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:
This prophet preached during the reign of king Josiah the son of Amon. Josiah is mentioned in 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 34-35. King Josiah instituted a sweeping reformation of worship in Judah 621 BC. most scholars date the book in 630 and 621 BC. Josiah reigned from 640-609 BC. [ Holman Bible Dictionary ] There are also four generations given for Zephaniah but probably not related to king Hezekiah the past king. Hezekiah was a common name. [ Holman Bible Dictionary ] The names don`t seem to match up although some scholars think it is. Zephaniah is preaching about coming judgement on the whole world including Judah. The fowls of the heavens and the fish of the sea will also be consumed. The whole land will be devoured by fire. I believe the phrases used are referring to the end times. The day of the Lord; in that day; the great day of the Lord is near; that day is a day of wrath; in the day of the Lord`s wrath; in the day of the Lord`s sacrifice; in the same day; it shall come to pass in that day; it shall come to pass at that time; even the voice of the day of the Lord; a day of trouble and distress; a day of wasteness and desolation; a day of darkness and gloominess; a day of clouds and thick darkness; a day of the trumpet and alarm. But the Lord did promise that there would never again be a worldwide flood to destroy the earth but instead it would burn with fire. Such terrible judgement upon the world because of mankind`s sins. In all this coming judgement mankind is so complacent without a care in this world not even considering that they are going to hell. Melodye and I were discussing this very thing today. Mankind is truly blinded to their sin but why are Christians also complacent and living as if Christ isn`t coming anytime soon. Why aren`t we out there telling others about Jesus. God takes this very serious. In Ezekiel he is warned to tell others to turn from their sins. Ezekiel 3;17–21 and Ezekiel 33;7–11. This was addressed to Ezekiel but the application is there for us. Ezekiel 33;8 [ When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.] vs 9 [ Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. ] I realize that it is different that we won`t lose our souls but we should be very concerned for the unsaved. For they are headed for destruction. Not just their body but their souls. What is our purpose after we got saved. It is to have fellowship with God and fellowship with other believers and to tell others about Jesus. God bless us everyone.
I am wondering whether this destruction has already happened or this is describing the events in the last days… Ptr Peter? Nevertheless, it describes what God doesn’t like and I was specifically struck by this part: 6those who turn back from following the Lord
and neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him.”
Zechariah 1 like so much of prophesy, I can’t make this out. The magnitude of destruction has no parallel in history. The closest I see the Second Coming, say Revelation 19. That passage is more of a battle than cannot be won against Christ. It’ll occur, not sure when. I am no help here, -gy
I think we have a both/and here, rather than an either/or. And many Old Testament prophets do the same, prophesying about the near future of Israel or Judah (or both) and the far future (the end times) as well….and some times the transition between them is sudden and even goes back and forth. So this chapter definitely addresses the people of Josiah’s time where, although Josiah’s reforms were wide spread and more complete than others, it is short lived. So knowing the people will follow the evil leaders that come after Josiah, here God warns them what will happen as discipline. It also makes clear what God cares about and what He is looking for from them. God’s judgment is never capricious and there is always clarity about why it comes even if there is not too much clarity about when it comes. And although the great day of the Lord usually refers to what God does in the end of time….I think the horrible things that Babylon will bring as they destroy Jerusalem and exile its people, is a kind of day of the Lord…which is given here as a precursor of what God will do in the end. So I think the beginning and the end of the chapter describes what God will do in the end, but that provides a vantage point of the kind of destruction that He will bring on Judah in their near future. They will suffer a portion of what the whole world will eventually get because they are acting in the same dismissive way toward God as all men will eventually express. And God must address that with judgment, otherwise He would be condoning it.
Even in the end times, God will save a remnant. All would be destroyed in the end but for Jesus’s return.
Zephaniah 1
Zechariah 1 BTW: I typed “Z e p h a n I a h.” my cell is playing tricks!
I am okay with near/far, partial/full, kinda like the Lord’s Day approach. I think of text WRT history, and if it did not happen, does it fit a prophesy to come, or is it a “one-off” event.
God wanted this recorded, it would have been immediately understood by the audience of the time period. -gy
It is always difficult to read books and prophesies that demonstrate God’s wrath and discipline opposed to the side of God that demonstrates His love and mercy. We must remember that there is always love and forgiveness but that our choices have consequences and like any good parent He must punish and provide instruction to His people because He loves them.
I do hope to never see some of the destruction that will pour out in the end times but the reality is it is a response to how far we as a people have moved away from God and therefore His judgement must come and we all have played some part in being a sinful people.
“Those who worship and swear oaths by the Lord,
But who also swear by Milcom;
Those who have turned back from following the Lord.”
When I read this, I couldn’t help but think of the growing ecumenism in our world. Not all religions lead to God. Or even calling God something different than what He calls Himself is a modern slippery slope.
VBS memory verse: Isaiah 45:5 – I am the Lord. There is none other. There is no other God besides me. ( I was thinking of this verse this morning during Pastor’s sermon and the definition of holiness.)
From the Jerusalem Connection blog:
“A new video has just been released in which Pope Francis very clearly expresses his belief that all of the major religions are different paths to the same God.
He says that while people from various global faiths may be “seeking God or meeting God in different ways” that it is important to keep in mind that “we are all children of God”.
This is the most recent example that shows that the Pope has completely abandoned any notion that a relationship with God is available only through Jesus Christ.
As he has done throughout his papacy, he continues to lay the groundwork for the coming one world religion, and yet hardly anyone seems upset by this.”
https://thejerusalemconnection.us/blog/2016/02/10/pope-francis-says-all-major-religions-are-paths-to-same-god/
So true Amy and very sad! I do hope many see the falsehood in that and leave the Catholic Church.