Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18
Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think the Lord will do nothing, either good or bad. Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. They will build houses but will not live in them; they will plant vineyards but not drink the wine.
The great day of the Lord is near–near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath.
A Thought
The Lord gives Zephaniah a message of warning to his people who have wealth, houses and vineyards and seemingly have no need for God. The warning is that the great day of the Lord is near because they have lost sight of the true and living God. That day will be filled with distress, anguish and a day of battle cry against their fortified cities. The people will be as blind men walking in darkness and distress because of their sins against God. Their blood will be poured out and their silver and gold will be worthless to save them from the wrath of God. Zephaniah also starts his message that those who will be silent before the Sovereign Lord, the Lord has consecrated a sacrifice to deliver them from his wrath. This is the same message for us today–God has given his perfect Son as a sacrifice for our sins. We must receive this grace along with the truth of Jesus Christ to receive deliverance from the judgement of the great Day of the Lord.
Our Prayer
Father we desire to be your children as heir with Jesus Christ filled with his righteousness. Deliver us from dependance on gold, silver and worldly possessions. Help us to keep our eyes on you, always giving thanks and praise for your deliverance from darkness into your glorious light. We ask this in the name of Jesus’ Christ, amen.
