Judgment on Judah's Enemies

 

August 6, 2020

 

Zephaniah 2:1-3

 

Judgment on Judah's Enemies

Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation, before the decree takes effect—before the day passes away like chaff—before there comes upon you the burning anger of the Lord, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the Lord.   Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord.

 

A message for the people of God then, and now, in fact, this may be one of the timeliest messages for the Church today.  Yet it is not a new message, it has been the call to God’s people for many generations.  You will recall these words in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  

 

Zephaniah’s heart was to warn the people of God that destruction was coming soon, and his primary purpose was to extend an urgent invitation to the people of Judah to seek Yahweh.  To come to God in repentance and humility and to warn idolatrous Judah of God’s judgment. 

 

That’s the message for the idolatrous Church, where is the Church today, the doors of its building are closed to worship, some out of fear, some bowing to the demands of the State, but even when it was open, where was the church?  Did people see you as a mighty warrior?

 

It has been said that only twenty percent or less of the children of Israel that left Egypt were believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  If you look at the children of Israel today, it is still in that same percentage.  They may go to synagogue, but they do not expect the God of Abraham to part the Red Sea, and many do not believe he ever did; it’s just a nice story.

 

The Christian army, the Church of the unseen God, the Church, the bride of Jesus Christ are not immune to this quandary.  It is believed that the Christian Army also has a small percentage of believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  He is a God of promises.  Our God longs to have His creation and His Church place their faith and life in His hands.  God’s plan in using Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt was to win the hearts and minds of the eighty percent that did not believe.  His plan today is to win the hearts and minds of the eighty percent of the Christian Army who is burdened down with Church programs and busyness, yet does not expect God to show up and part the Red Sea that is keeping them in bondage.

 

From The Back Porch,

Bob Rice