Today’s verse has given me more “pause” than any in the whole Book of Zephaniah, I think.

And we’re only three verses from concluding our journey!

Here it is. “I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.” Zephaniah 3:18

The “I” in our Sentence is the Lord, of that we can be sure.

But some of the Israelites, the more godly I would suspect, are here “sorrowful.” Or “burdened.” Or feel like they are carrying a great load, a “reproach.”

These three words are nearly synonyms, meaning (in order as listed above) “grieved, something heavy needing to be lifted,” and “shamed, rebuked, scorned.”

But the key question is … “Why?”

What’s the cause of their consternation?

Something about the “solemn assemblies.” These are either the Feast Days (national Holy Days God gave Israel) or days of coming together for repentance or prayer.

We today would almost say “Revivals!”

The Hebrew for “solemn assembly” is “moed,” a word used 223 times in the Bible meaning “congregation” (150 times) and “feasts” (23 more times), feasts unto the Lord. As described in Leviticus 23, for example.

These people are heartbroken because … they have not been able to (in our words) go to Church and worship God! Enemy nations have overrun them. God’s judgment has fallen upon them. Their national sins have withheld God’s Blessings!

And a few, a “remnant,” are overwhelmed with hunger and thirst for the things of God!

God notices them in our verse today and is making provision to dispel their sorrow! To lift their burden! To turn away their shame!

Any heart burdened over sin and yearning for God’s Power … will hear from Him … soon!

What will God do on their behalf?

He says: “I will ‘gather’ them!” The Hebrew is “asaph,” meaning “to assemble!

Gods is calling a conclave!

A Meeting!

Christians have always loved getting together as a group and worshiping the Lord.

Seems God’s Heart is in agreement as well!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

IF WE WANT HIM … HE WILL COME!