Introduction to Zephaniah

 

August 3, 2020

 

Zephaniah 1:1

 

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:

 

Introduction

 

Zephaniah

 

One of the Minor Prophets, Zephaniah focuses on the need to live in righteousness before God.  Of all the prophets, Zephaniah probably gave the most forceful description of judgment, but he also lifted up the possibility of restoration for those who repented and turned to righteousness. (Introduction is taken from the Holman Study Bible)

 

I find myself being reminded of the words of Isaiah the prophet; “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:5)

 

Never have I seen such evil, and those who do it are not the poor, but the leadership in the Congress of the United States.  Often they are funded by very wealthy evil men, who call evil good and good evil.  Often these people make statements that they are praying for the president of our Nation, but when examining their words, one must question to whom are they praying.

 

As one who seeks to follow Jesus, I find the need to examine myself often, and to pray for those who would allow the evil powerful people to control their lives.  But I also find myself asking forgiveness for my evil thoughts and many shortcomings.  Can we as brothers and sisters in Christ agree that we must seek righteousness before God?  It will not happen unless we ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to our need to repent and seek the face of God.

 

That is the approach I will take as I explore what the prophet has to say to me.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice