KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Sunday, August 06, 2017
Chapters: The Book of Zephaniah
Message: Judgment Comes First
Hello My Friend,
The Book of Zephaniah contains three chapters, the author of the book is Zephaniah and it was written to the people in Israel and all nations. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 639BC and 609BC. The purpose of the book was to warn all nations of Judgment Day. What we are to learn from the book is that God rather save then destroy, and is mighty to save all who come to Him. “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17.
God spoke to Zephaniah during the time that Josiah was king he made drastic changes in Judah and all of Israel to remove all the evil in the land, and while God was pleased with that he was doing, Judah had gone too far, and His judgment stood. While we are not responsible for others sins, there are always repercussions from sin and they usually affect everyone, not just the offender. These were not people that had no knowledge of God, they knew of Him, yet chose to rebel against Him, worship other god, and even worse, worship Him along with other gods, judgment always begins with the house of God.
“I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD. I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him. And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.” – Zephaniah 1:2-6,12.
“and punish the men that are settled on their lees:” Lees; The grosser parts of any liquor which has settled on the bottom of a vessel, this represents the hardened, careless heart that is satisfied with life without God. They are those whom trust in their riches and are completely oblivious to God’s dealings with man. While they do acknowledge God they say in their heart that God does nothing for man, that it is beneath Himself to concern Himself with mere morals. Let me tell you, God cares about every soul His creates, and wants all to be saved from judgment, what angers Him more is not the one whom does not know who He is, it is the one who knows of Him, yet are content to live their lives without Him. “But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” – Luke 6:24-26.
I saw this bumper sticker that spelled out the word FICTION, each letter had a religion as if to say all religion is fiction, including Christianity and Judaism. The first thing I thought was how clueless this man was, while we can all agree that most religion is man made, there have always been two that existed, since Abraham anyway, and that is the Jewish and Islamic religions, Christianity came in with Jesus. Now, I do not believe that they all worship God the same, but they all acknowledge God, and they too will be judged. Next comes the judgment of those who mock Israel for God’s judgment upon them and use it to their advantage.
“I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts. And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness. And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work. This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.” – Zephaniah 2:8-10,13-15.
“because they have reproached and magnified themselves” Perhaps more dangerous than worshiping false gods is making yourself into one. We all think highly of ourselves, that is just part of our nature, but when we place ourselves above God we have a problem. The devil did that and has a one way ticket to hell and the lake of fire waiting for him as does anyone who is too proud to admit they need Christ. You can pray a thousand times a day, worship every man made god known, but unless you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and are saved you are a part of the billions of people who will be consumed off the land upon His return. Through Zephaniah, God warns of that day all the earth is destroyed, except for those who sought Him.
“The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame. I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings. Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.” – Zephaniah 3:5-9.
“for my determination is to gather the nations,” God does not want to see anyone end up in hell, even those in heathen nations, but He will never force Himself upon anyone. God continues, revealing the time in which, Israel too will finally acknowledge Christ, and all nations will be one.
“In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.” – Zephaniah 3:16-20.
“at that time I will undo all that afflict thee:” What a day it will be when God’s wrath is halted, and their will be an end to all evil as we know it, no more sin, sickness, sadness, pain, suffering or even death. Salvation does not lie on a particular group, sect, race, or religion, it lies on One Person, the LORD, Jesus Christ. God willingly saves and rejoices over anyone who comes to Him through His Son. He promises that while we may be afflicted from time to time, we will be saved from utter destruction. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” – Romans 10:9,10.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for giving us hope and assurance of the glorious day in which all nations will come together as one, speak one language, and worship only You in the kingdom that You are preparing for all who are saved. You desire our fellowship, our devotion, and our reliance on You for all our needs as You delight in providing everything we have need of. Thank You for all that You do and allow in my life and in everything that You do. Lead me and guide me in Your will and ways, help me to labor only for the things that give You glory, for I know that as long as I am in You I will be taken care of and even receive much more than I imagine. I love You Lord, and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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