Reading
SAA Notes
Josiah was a godly king who turned to God with all his heart, soul and strength. Yet the kingdom hardly survived his death in battle. Zephaniah’s message is one of judgment on an obstinate and unrepentant Jerusalem and the people of Judah who opposed passively and actively their Messiah, Josiah.
SJA Notes
* Dear God, please teach us wisdom today from Your word.
“I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.”
Josiah was a king of Judah who had a great desire to please the Lord God. He worked very hard to remove idolatry from Israel.
We read in 2 Kings 23,
“Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.”
AND YET.
Listen to what the Lord says to His people and to the whole world through the prophet Zephaniah,
“I will bring distress on mankind,”
This is not a gentle rebuke.
“In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.”
These verses should bring us to a deeper understanding of Jesus’ return.
We read in Revelation 22,
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.”
Our ONLY hope in life is found in Jesus. Solely and wholly. Only in Him will be find rescue from God’s just and consuming wrath.
* Holy God,
In Your mercy and grace, please open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, our hearts to understand what You are saying here in Zephaniah.
Please mark us as a faithful and humble and meek people, who submit themselves under You, under Your will.
Please write Your word on our hearts today Lord God.
Amen.