The Coming of Judgment Upon Judah

– Zephaniah One –

 

                Zephaniah identified himself as being the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah. His prophetic work was done in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. Zephaniah delivered a message of doom to his people. Through his eyes the future looked dim for his nation. Zephaniah is remembered for what he said about the great day of the Lord being near. God said, "I will utterly consume all things from off the land." (Zephaniah 1:2) Zephaniah believed that the Jews would soon face certain judgment. They were guilty of turning from the true and living God to idol worship. Zephaniah was not the first prophet to predict the coming of the Day of the Lord. He did give specific meaning to that concept. He saw that day as a day of wrath and despair. At the coming of the Day of the Lord sins would be punished.  

 

                 Zephaniah lived in Jerusalem. He was contemporary with Nahum, Habakkuk and Jeremiah. He called on the faithful remnant to seek the Lord. The focus in each of the three chapters of Zephaniah is "the Day of the Lord." Zephaniah, along with a few other prophets, described the moral collapse of the people of God. Judah claimed to be God's people but they were living in spiritual adultery. The Lord said through Zephaniah "I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham; And them that are turned back from the Lord; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him." (Zephaniah 1:4-6) The great lesson is again obvious in this short book; the steadfast, faithful and obedient will be blessed by God. We also observe that those who turn away from God must repent or they will face the wrath of God.                                                                                                          

                An announcement of coming judgment -- Zephaniah 1:1-3: This little book begins, "The word of the Lord which came unto Zephaniah." Zephaniah affirms that the message that he wrote was an inspired message from God. The destruction pictured in the book of Zephaniah was a complete destruction. This sounds like what took place during the captivity by Babylon. God promised to utterly consume all things from off the land. As Lord, Jehovah promised to destroy everything in their world. Remember, this was to happen as punishment for their sin and rebellion. Solomon wrote, "Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard." (Proverbs 13:15) In a figurative way God said, "I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the Lord." (Zephaniah 1:3) The stumblingblocks that were to be cut off were the idols that would be destroyed by captivity. Israel never committed idolatry after the return from captivity.

 

          God's wrath coming upon Judah -- Zephaniah 1:4-6: God promised that He would reach out to punish Judah and Jerusalem. The punishment would be so great that nothing would remain. Both Baal and the pagan priest would be overthrown. God's hand would be stretched out against Judah and upon all the inhabitants of capital city, Jerusalem. 2 Kings 23: 4-5 pictures the overthrow of Baal in these words. "The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel. And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven." Many went upon the housetops for the purpose of worshipping the sun, moon and stars. God would destroy them also. These people tried to mix idolatrous worship with the worship of the true and living God. They would bow down to the god Malcham, the chief god of the Ammonites while claiming loyalty to Jehovah. Nothing would remain of anyone who had turned back from the Lord or that had failed to seek Him.

 

          The day of the LORD is at hand -- Zephaniah 1:7-13: Zephaniah 1:7 says, "Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests." This verse is the same in meaning as Habakkuk 2:20, "But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him." The Day of the Lord had come and Judah would be taken to Babylon. The Lord had invited the entire world to observe the judgment that was to be sent upon His disobedient people. God promised to punish the national leaders and their families because they were responsible for introducing and allowing the evil that filled the land. Those that joined the evil leaders in idol worship would likewise be punished severely. God promised that crys would be heard when the invasion came. The commercial center of that day, Maktesh would be wiped out. The merchants would howl because of the punishment. How surprised some were going to be punished as they were? They had said, "The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil." Calamity was coming upon their city because of sin and they were too blind to see. God predicted that the invasion would come. He said, "Their possessions will be taken, their homes left in ruins. They will not get to live in the houses they build, or drink wine from the grapes in their own vineyards." Sin brings sure and certain misery.

 

          The day of the Lord described -- Zephaniah 1:14-18: The prophet wrote, "The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly." God gave the people warning, but they continued in their rebellion. Zephaniah described the terrible day of the Lord telling the people that it would be a day of wrath or anger and a day of trouble and torment. There would be disaster and destruction. It would be a time of darkness and despair. There would be storm clouds and shadows. The fulfillment of this prediction is seen in 2 Kings 24 and 25. It was a time of terrible destruction. The trumpet would sound forth the battle cry but the fortified cities and the mighty fortresses would fall. Sin brings punishment and humiliation. This distress was being brought upon them "because they have sinned against the Lord." Without allowing God to be in control men walk in the perplexing doubt of uncertainty. These people would literally have their blood poured out by the sword of their enemies. At times an invading army might be stopped by the offer of money. But the Lord said, "Not even your silver or gold can save you on that day when I, the Lord, am angry." God would use the Baby­lonians to make a "speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land." "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:31)

 

           Those that serve God are blessed and those that rebel are punished. Is it your desire to see the will of God done? If so it is time to become a Christian now! To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ as Lord (Acts 8:37), and be baptized to be saved. (1 Peter 3:21) After baptism follow Jesus in faithfulness as He leads you home to heaven. (Revelation 2:10)

rce Of Our Comfort

– Second Corinthians One –

 

   Second Corinthians chapter one gives us a look at how God had helped Paul through some very difficult struggles. This chapter provides a contrast between our troubles and God's goodness. Prayerful thanksgiving is needed in our heart as we appreciate the working of God in the various situations in our life. Our only reason for boasting is what God has done for us. Timothy joined in sending this letter to Corinth and Achaia.

 

   Paul told the brethren that their prayers were instrumental in delivering him in Asia. This is likely a reference to the events in connection with the goddess Diana found in Acts 19:23-41. Paul wanted the brethren to understand the integrity with which he and his fellow laborers had approached the work of God. Paul had changed his plans about a visit and evidently some there were questioning his sincerity. He explained carefully why these changes of plans were necessary. He said his change of plans was an effort to spare them. He did not desire any dominion over them. His desire was to share joy and not sorrow with them.  

 

   God comforts His people – 2 Corinthians 1:1-6: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, and his co-worker  Timothy  joined  together in  sending  this epistle. They wrote to God's church in Corinth and to all of God's people in Achaia. This letter was actually the result of Paul's first letter. It provided much comfort and some correction to the church. We must never forget the meaning of the expression "the church." According to the Bible there is one church and the pattern for this church is laid out in the New Testament. Paul prayed that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ would bless these brethren with peace. 

 

   God was described as "the God of all comfort." (2 Corinthians 1:3) God the Father is a merciful God, who always gives His people comfort. The nature of God is seen along with His character. The Father and the Son cannot be the same person. God is declared to be the Father of Christ. So the "Jesus Only" idea many is simply not true. There is Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

 

   Many Christians have faced sever persecution. However, God comforts His people when they are in trouble. He does that so that they might share that same comfort with others when they are in trouble. These brethren shared both in the horrible sufferings of Christ and in the amazing comfort given by God.  Paul found hope and strength in suffering. The assurance that Paul could find consolation in spite of his suffering would result in consolation for the Corinthian brethren. They could know that they would be comforted and saved even in troubled times.

                                                                                                  

God will deliver us – 2 Corinthians 1:7-11: Paul was not disappointed in the spiritual strength of the Corinthian brethren. They had remained steadfast in much suffering and he wanted them to have the assurance that the comfort of God would be theirs. After receiving the first letter from Paul these brethren had worked to correct the problems that were in the church there. Now they are encouraged to continue faithful even in spite of great tribulations that would come upon them. Paul reminded them of how God had delivered him and others out of sufferings that were so unbearable that death seemed certain. God delivered him and He would deliver these brethren also.

 

   Paul had feared death. Things did not turn out that way. God saved Him from the threat of death. This gave Paul a renewed faith in the power of God. He knew that God would do that again and again. We should take heart in the truth that God will deliver us from those things that threaten us. Paul saw the value of prayer when facing trials. He asked the brethren to pray for him to stay strong in the face of trials. This would encourage many others to thank God for blessing of answered prayers.

 

    Paul's Change of Plans – 2 Corinthians 1:12-18: Paul could rejoice because he had a clear conscience. He lived a simple, honest life with godly sincerity. His desire in all things was to be controlled by the will of God. Paul wanted to live godly before people of the world and especially before the Corinthian brethren where he had worked so hard. He wrote to the brethren concerning these things in a very simple and understandable way. He hoped they would read and understand completely what he had written. The reaction of the brethren to Paul's first letter showed that they had largely understood and accepted his message as truth.

 

   The confidence that Paul felt in these brethren had to do with the fact that he knew they would and had accepted the truth that he had previously written to them. He felt he could be even more helpful to them in imparting spiritual gifts if he was able to make two visits instead of only one. The two visits Paul had hoped to make included a brief stop at Corinth on his way to Macedonia and then a longer visit on his return. He would then go to Judea and he hoped that these brethren might help him on his way. Paul did not want these brethren to think that he was fickled because he did not follow through on these plans. He was neither flighty nor was he trying to please men. Paul wanted the brethren to understand that God can be trusted to keep His promises and so can he.

 

   A desire to spare them – 2 Corinthians 1:19-24: The promises of Jesus and His commandments left no doubt. Therefore, those that preach Him cannot mani­fest a fickle spirit in their preaching either. Jesus, the Son, is to be accepted as reliable because He is working in harmony with God, the Father. God's promises are backed by the authority of heaven. Each command and promise from heaven is related to God's glory. Paul told the Corinthians, "God makes it possible for you and us to stand firmly together with Christ." Paul gave God credit for what was done at Corinth. It was also God that had anointed them with the miraculous spiritual gifts. Paul said that, "God put His Spirit in our hearts to show that we belong only to Him." God gave the Holy Spirit as an earnest or guarantee of the promised inheritance of the faithful.

 

   Paul called God as a witness to affirm that he had stayed away from Corinth to keep from being to hard on them. He had changed his plans about an earlier visit to Corinth. This would allow them more time for study of the first epistle and more opportunity to make the necessary corrections to be right with God. If these things were not corrected the congregation would face severe chastisement. Paul was not a tyrant over the faith of these brethren but he would insist on these brethren changing their conduct to conform to the will of God.

 

   Will you appreciate Jesus enough that you will receive Him as your Lord and Savior NOW? To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ as Lord (Acts 8:37), and be baptized to be saved. (1 Peter 3:21). After baptism be spiritual in your daily living!