Sat.’s Devo - Zephaniah

Read: Zephaniah 1:1-3:20; Revelation 10:1-11; Psalm 138:1-8; Proverbs 30:11-14 Zephaniah was a prophet to Judah who was related to Hezekiah and King Josiah. He had grown up in Jerusalem so it deeply troubled him to prophesy against it. He was the last of the prophets to write before the captivity of Jerusalem. Israel had already fallen about 100 years before this and its people taken into exile and foreigners had replaced them. Judah had paid tribute to Assyria to keep them from invading their land but their alliance with Assyria had affected Judah in every arena of their lives. They had succumbed to astral religion, worship of goddesses and all sorts of idolatry. Reform had been made during the reign of Josiah but it was only an external reform. The hearts of the people had not changed. Zephaniah started with a slam against the idols of Baal and the Chemarims which were the idolatrous priests and the “Lord’s priests” and Milcom (the god of fire to which the children were sacrificed). In verse 10 it talks about the wails that will come from the Second Quarter. The Second Quarter was the upper city that was populated by the upper class which overlooked the temple near the main commercial center. This refers today of the wall-street elites, upper class politicians, A-list in Hollywood, CEO’s of companies and globalists who think their money will save them. Nothing can stand against God, the one who created them. The day of the Lord was drawing near to them and it was going to be bitter and sad for them because they refused to repent. He begged them to gather together and repent so that God would hide them in the day of the Lord’s anger. Zephaniah means “The Lord Has Hidden.” He mentioned five Philistine cities that were going to be wiped out and become pasture for the remnant of the house of Judah. He prophesied the fall of Nineveh which would also become a pasture for flocks of animals. It boasted of being so secure and great but it was about to become a laughing stock to all the nations. God had destroyed other nations hoping the people would repent and fear him but they continued in their sinful ways so they would be next. One day, God’s people would return to worship him in humility and righteousness. They would have their reputation restored to be the people of God. Their inheritance would be restored to them and all the nations would look at them with respect and honor. In Revelation it was time for the seventh seal to be opened. The angel appeared with a rainbow over his head. He’s face shone like the sun and his feet were like pillars of fire. He had the small scroll that had been opened and his right foot was on the sea and his left foot on the land. He shouted like a lion and when he did, the seven thunders answered. John went to write down what the seven thunders spoke but a voice from heaven told him to not write them down or tell them because they were a secret. He said there would be no more delay. When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan would be fulfilled. The voice told John to take the scroll from the angel. The angel told John to take it and eat it. It would taste sweet to his mouth but would turn sour in his stomach. He took it and it did just that. The voice told John to prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings. The message of God’s grace is sweet when accepted but brings judgement when rejected. Lord, help us to eat your Word and live it. Thank you for your warnings and mercy.