What picture comes to mind when thinking about God and His attributes? You might picture Him as the all-powerful, mighty King of the Universe that He is. Many also think of the love and mercy He has shown through His Son, Jesus Christ. Others think of Him as an indulgent grandfather who is not really powerful, and who would never bring judgment on anyone. That is not the picture that we get in a reading of the Book of Zephaniah and today’s passage from the Bible. Let’s take a look at this passage of Scripture from one of the more obscure books of the Bible.
Zephaniah prophesied to the southern Kingdom of Judah during the years 640 - 620 BC., which was during the reign of King Josiah. Zephaniah was related to the royal family, as he was a great-great grandson of King Hezekiah. The prophet, along with his contemporary Jeremiah, and so many other prophets before him, preached to the people, warning them to repent of their sins and turn back from faithless worship of pagan idols. Their wicked idolatry had been getting worse and worse over the last years. In another few decades the country would be overrun by the Babylonians, the people taken into captivity, and Jerusalem with the Temple destroyed.
As our passage opens, Zephaniah instructs the people to be quiet before God. They are to keep quiet because judgment is coming (vs. 7). None of their pleas or complaints will be heeded any longer. When a child deliberately disobeys their parents clear instructions, and then are going to be punished, often they will protest, make excuses and promises, or try to wheedle out of their punishment. This is what the people were doing with God. Many did not believe the prophets’ warnings that God was going to bring punishment. Others who did believe protested, saying they didn’t deserve punishment, or hadn’t done any wrong. They made excuses and promised to obey, but they never did. Just as many parents will tell their children to stop their complaining and whining, God was telling the people to be quiet. He was not going to listen to their complaints, excuses, and false promises anymore. They had refused to be humble and repent, and the time for talking has passed. If words are going to be spoken, God will speak them!
God also tells us to be quiet so that we can better hear what He has to say. When we are so busy telling God what we want, and what our plans and wishes are, we can’t hear what He needs to tell us. Most of us have probably had the experience of trying to tell someone else some important news, but we can’t get a word in as they keep on talking, and talking, and talking! Often that is the case with us and the Lord. We never let Him speak to us. The prophet tells us to “be silent in the presence of the Lord God” so we can hear His voice.
As Zephaniah continues his message to the people, He warns them that God will search through the city of Jerusalem, and throughout the land, searching out those who have refused to repent and obey His Word (vs. 12). When we want to find something that we’re looking for, we will turn on a light in order to see, and often even use a flashlight to search every nook and cranny. God will search just as carefully for those who have flaunted His Word, and who think they can hide from Him. They feel that He doesn’t see what they do, and that He doesn’t care. They feel that God is just like that nice grandfather, kind but slow and dim-witted. Zephaniah warns that God will search the city and punish those who deserve punishment. Since they refused to search their own hearts, were content with the moral chaos around them, and were indifferent to God, He promises the punishments described in the rest of the passage. No one will escape God’s judgment. There will be no place to hide.
Some people believe that God is inactive, and won’t respond to either the good or evil people do. However, He does see and will respond. To sit back and be complacent is wrong and a dangerous thing to do. God is holy. He will judge and justly punish everyone who is content to live in sin, and who is indifferent to Him. As Zephaniah warned, the great Day of the Lord is near.
Lest I end on a discouraging note, though we all find ourselves in the place of the sinner and deserving of His punishment, God provided us a way out through the Blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus died the sinner’s death on the cross, taking our punishment for us. All who accept Jesus as their Savior, need no longer fear God’s just wrath, but are now accepted into His family as His children. Do not wait, turn to Jesus today!
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