Mon.’s Devo - God’s Warnings

Read: Zephaniah 1:1-3:20; Revelation 10:1-11; Psalm 138:1-8; Proverbs 30:11-14 Zephaniah prophesied during the earlier part of Josiah’s reign which was around 625 B.C. Zephaniah means “Jehovah has guarded; hidden”. He begins with the list of his ancestors all the way back to his great-great-grandfather. I wonder if he was trying to imply that his generation and inheritance was hidden in God. He begins by giving God’s severe judgement on Judah for its idolatry and rebellion against God. Josiah had led his country in a great time of repentance and return to the Lord, but many did not follow him in this. They could not blame their leadership for leading them into idolatry, the blame was on themselves. In the second chapter, Zephaniah foretells of the fall of Nineveh because of their worship of Baal. Jeremiah and Huldah were both prophets during his time. Zephaniah spoke to the nation of their sins. Jeremiah had spoken to the labor force and the market places. Hildah spoke to the college in Jerusalem. The all pointed out the sin of the people and their turn from God to worship idols. In the third chapter, Zechariah condemns Jerusalem, but ends with the promise that she would be reestablished in worship to the true God. In Revelation it was time of the seventh angel to sound its trumpet. An angel came down from heaven standing on a cloud with a rainbow on his head. His face shone as the sun and his feet looked like pillars of fire. He had a little book in his hand that was open. One of his feet stood on the sea the the other on the earth. He cried out and seven thunders sounded. John was about to write what he saw but was told to seal up what the seven turners said and not to write them down. The angel declare the end of time on the earth, the sea and those under the sea. John was told to go and take the little book and eat it. It would be sweet to his mouth but bitter to his stomach. He told John that he would prophesy again before many people, nations, tongues and kings. Lord, we thank you for your plan on the earth. May we boldly declare your goodness and your ways in the path. Our hope is in you.