Are you readers getting “tired” of judgment?

So far, with little variation, that’s been the theme of Zephaniah, the Holy and Righteous Standard of Almighty God and how mankind has violated such Purity.

But today, in Zephaniah 3:5, we get a glimpse of Something Beautiful, Someone Pristine.

Yes, the Prophet talks about our great God.

“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.”

God is present!

Even in Judah, everywhere else too!

The initial adjective “just” that describes LORD means “straight, lawful, correct.”

“In the midst” means “among.”

That God does no iniquity is a “given.” The noun “iniquity” suggesting that the Lord will “never act wrongfully.” He will never deviate from His Truth!

The “light” mentioned here reminds me of the Old Testament Glory of God, the Shekinah Glory (Cloud) and all its (His)Luminosity!

Every morning God reveals His Righteousness! Think of Jeremiah’s words in Lamentations 3:22-23. “It is of the LORD’S MERCIES that we are not consumed, because HIS COMPASSIONS fail not. THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING: great is thy faithfulness.”

Wow!

God judges (according to this Text) every day, every sunrise! His judgment is apparently not just a future event! His Grace reigns daily, Romans 5:21. But so is His judgment proactive! (I would love to preach this neglected thought some day!)

Then one more clause about God, “He faileth not.” Indeed! Here the verb “faileth” translates “adar” in Hebrew, meaning “to lack” anything. God never comes up short! And this little verb is only used 11 times in all the Bible! It’s beautiful!

But, all the foregoing being accurate and true … humanity still disappoints. “But the unjust knoweth no shame.” He is never sorry or regretful for his doings! No repentance. No humility. No thought of ever being wrong. Not yet, anyway.

A great God.

A sinful creation.

Yes, judgment must come.

Or repentance.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell