Zephaniah

I know that I don’t blog much any more, but I wanted to take a moment and testify to the greatness and the beauty of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Ive been moved by his grace this weekend, as I called out with a sense of emptiness and sadness and he ushered in people to encourage me and love me well and build me up. How great he is. As I sit in his word this morning, I am again moved by this faithfulness and delighted by the least likely of books-Zephaniah.

As many of the Old Testament prophets, Zephaniah speaks to the coming judgment on the nations and the coming day of the Lord, and as I read I asked, where is the hope in here lord? And it comes rushing in towards the end of chapter 3 where the Lord says (right after declaring that he will pour upon the nations his indignation):

For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord. From beyond the rivers of Cush, my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering.

When I read, beyond the rivers of the Cush, I am reminded that the Lord will bring his worshippers from every land, from every nation, call them the sons and daughters and they shall be redeemed as He brings them forth.

He then says this great promise:

On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain. But I will leave you in your midst, a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the lord, those who are left in Israel they shall do no injustice and speak no lies…for they shall graze and lie down and none shall make them afraid.

When I think of the battle we wage with fear, when I think of my dear friend who described to me just last night her deep desire for security, that longing to know that we are safe and may live in the pasture of the Lord forever, I am overwhelmed that he would promise this, not to the ones who were perfect or who were best, but to all that call upon the name of His Son who removed the deeds by which we have rebelled against him.

Just a few verses later again it is declared: The Lord has taken away the judgments against you.

The King is in your midst.

Fear not.

He will rejoice over you with gladness.

He will quiet you by his love.

He will exult over you with loud singing.

He will save the lame and gather the outcast.

Will change our shame into praise.

He will bring us in, gather us together and make US renowned and praised.

Oh how good this Lord is. How good to love and be loved by Him.