While God NEVER seems to overlook any sin on the part of His people, meaning Judah specifically in the Book of Zephaniah … God abruptly (now already having chastened His people) turns and severely (much more severely) judges the enemies of Judah (or Israel). Anyone (individual, family or nation) who “harms” the Jewish people … will face the opposing Hand of God! It’s Genesis 12:1-3 all over again and again and again! “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I WILL BLESS THEM THAT BLESS THEE, AND CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Wow!

Well, today’s Text, a 4 verse unit (also now often called a “pericope”) of Scripture, well illustrates the above stated truth. After so much (most of Zephaniah so far) “judgment, wrath, scathing (but still holy) anger” … God now turns and destroys many of little Judah’s foes. (Actually, the rest of Zephaniah chapter 2 is involved in these battle details.)  “For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.” Zephaniah 2:4-7, a little geography lesson too!

This specific paragraph focuses on the formidable enemy to the west of Israel (Judah) … that being the Philistines. Almost Judah’s perpetual enemies. (Think of the time of David, Goliath the giant for example!)

Three of the nation’s five best known cities are specified! Gaza (meaning “strong”), Ashkelon (meaning “to be weighed in the balances”), Ashdod (meaning “powerful”) and Ekron (meaning “torn up by the roots”). Each is to face God’s hot Wrath!

Note the litany of verbs used as well. “Forsaken,” then  “made desolate,” followed by “driven out,” and finally  “rooted up!” That last unit is a “play on words.” Literally it says something like this” Ekron shall be ekroned!” Both the proper noun and the verb are built on the same stem in Hebrew, “EQRON.”

Incidentally, “Gath” (the other City in the Philistine pentapolis) in here NOT mentioned! Perhaps because she had been so dominated (conquered even) by the Israelites years earlier. Maybe she never regained here prominence. Amos 1:6-8 also omits her, in the context of judgment too.

The “Cherethites” are also Philistines, the name starkly meaning “executioners!” The Cherethites specifically were thought to have come to the mainland from Crete, thus the nomenclature.

When God finishes with them, the Philistines … “no inhabitant” remains!

Total deportation, or annihilation!

Then … God gives that land to Judah! Again our text, its last half: “And the sea coast (where Philistia is, the Mediterranean) shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.” Zephaniah 2:6-7

Blessing (after repentance) … instead of God’s continued buffeting!

Yes, God often “whips” His Own children.

But Woe be unto the man who tries to do so (harmfully “touch” Judah) by himself!

Jeremiah 30:11 illustrates: “For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.”

What a great God we serve. Always true to His Word!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

This Verse is on my mind. A prayer to God from the lips of His Prophet Habakkuk. “O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, IN WRATH REMEMBER MERCY.” Habakkuk 3:2

And that’s exactly what God is doing in Zephaniah 2:3. After a whole chapter of “judgment,” the Preacher Zephaniah proclaims, instructs: “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”

See, God is willing to “hide” a godly remnant (should one exist) in the Day of His Anger! And these who have “defended the faith” are here called the “meek.” And “anav” in Hebrew means “humble, lowly, poor” (in this world’s goods), even “afflicted.”

To “seek,” employing the Hebrew verb “baqash,” means “to desire (strongly), to demand,” and even “to beg” at times! This word occurs 3 times in this short verse!

Seek justice.

Seek rightness (in the Eyes of God).

And seek more humility!

Then (cause and effect) … IT MAY BE (using the word “perhaps”) you will be “hidden” in the Day of Judgment. “To hide” (in Hebrew “sathar”) means “to be kept secret.” Concealed, closed up, but once in the Bible “to be absent!”

No promises, but certainly … possibilities.

Sort of a … “God’s Will be done” … kind of thing.

Safety in the storm!

Not to the strongest!

But nearly (in the view of the world anyway) to the weakest!

Jesus’ words: “Blessed are the meek” are ringing in my ears.

Tomorrow, get ready.

More judgment, much more.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

How may I gain such meekness? James believed one could (partially anyway) acquire it himself! “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10

Then again, the Holy Spirit produces meekness in our lives as we are daily “filled” with His Presence. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, MEEKNESS, and temperance.” Galatians 5:22-23

Wow!

 

With judgment pending, for the whole Nation of Judah, God seems to give one more opportunity for grace! “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you.” Zephaniah 2:1-2

The people are here called “O Nation not desired!” Yet she (Judah) had earlier been called “the apple of God’s Eye!” His “favorite,” the one “closest” to Him! Wow! See Deuteronomy 32:10.

What a difference unconfessed sin makes!

The noun “nation” (in the clause “nation not desired”) here is (astonishingly) “goy,” almost always used of GENTILES in the Bible! (Seldom of Jews!) God is exasperated! And the verbal “desired” means “yearned for,” the state of “longing” for something or someone.

And “to gather together” translates “qashash,” only used 8 times in the whole Bible! It means “to bend over and gather sticks or stubble.” In other words, “humble yourselves!” Don’t be so “high and mighty!”

Notice God says to Judah TWICE, “Gather together,” that is … “become lowly,” indicating a willingness “to abase oneself!”

Our Text continues. “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you.”

Before the “decree” come forth, BEFORE JUDGMENT IS BORN (“bring forth”), or BEFORE GOD’S WRATH FALLS UPON THE LITTLE NATION!

And the “day” passing so quickly (as if blown away by a puff of wind, like an empty husk of wheat) is the day of Grace, the day God again offered repentance to His erring, stubborn people.

Both occurrences of “anger” here are (in Hebrew) spelled “aph,” their normal word for “nose” or “nostril!” GOD IS NOW SO UPSET, SO WRATHFUL THAT HE IS BREATHING HARD, RED FACED, an anthropomorphism for sure. (God being described using human terms … to help us better understand His reaction.)

In the middle of judgment, God “pauses” to offer an opportunity for repentance!

That’s HIM!

Praise His Name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

More judgment!

I am thankful we live in the Day of God’s Grace! Ephesians 3:2 uses the best expression: “If ye have heard of THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD which is given me to you-ward.”

Not the Day of God’s Wrath! As in Revelation 6:17, the tribulation: “For THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

Zephaniah, for nearly a whole chapter, has been describing the fierce Anger of God.

Today’s Text included: “And I (the Lord) will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.” Zephaniah 1:17-18, the chapter’s last two verses.

Wow!

The verb “to bring distress” (in Hebrew “tzsarar”) hints at some extremely “tight” places, no room to move, maybe even the loss of freedom! And “walking like blind men” surely indicates instability, people halting and staggering and about to fall!

God induced discomfort … due to unconfessed and unforsaken sin!

But things get worse, immediately. Bloodshed, death, wasted lives! (Because the Jews were under enemy attack! From the Babylonians historically and the Antichrist prophetically.)

And “bribery” won’t work this time. Yes, previously Israel had “bought” the favors of her enemies. By paying taxes or tribute, “money for peace!” Look how this fact is worded: “Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath!”

The noun for “wrath” is again “ebrah,” a veritable “outpouring” of Holy Anger!

What aspect of God’s Character (His “Essence”) is demanding such punishment?

His “jealousy!” Zephaniah minces no words: “The whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His Jealousy.” Holy, sinless jealousy, I might add.

A noun (“quinah”) meaning “zeal, ardor, passion,” the Lord God Almighty always having demanded total allegiance. Exodus 20:3 … “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.”

The expression “speedy riddance” is “bahal kalah” in Hebrew, a rather “quick termination” of these rebels! Of the land’s inhabitants.

Yes folks, God’s GRACE has reigned now for nearly two thousand years.

But, when it comes, God’s WRATH will linger for quite some time as well. (But even, with our great God, in Wrath … there is some Grace! “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.” Jesus in Matthew 24:22)

The Lord willing, more Monday morning. When we begin Zephaniah chapter two.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Each morning I determine to finish our discussion of Zephaniah Chapter 1. But I keep finding little phrases or clauses or thoughts that I can’t omit! I’ve fallen in love with this Prophet, how true to His Lord he stood!

This Friday we notice again just 2 verses. “That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.” Zephaniah 1:15-16, remarkably with the Lord Himself still speaking!

The “day” here implied included the tragic day Judah “fell” to the Babylonians, no doubt. Finally in 586 BC, beginning 70 years of servitude (captivity) for that little Nation. In the bowels of Nebuchadnezzar’s heathen giant!

But this “day” also includes glimpses of a yet future judgment. The “Tribulation” period described by both the Old Testament Prophets and our Lord Jesus. (Well, add the Apostle John from the Isle of Patmos too, in the New Testament Book of Revelation).

Our Text today contains a “list,” a frightening one! A litany of adjectives almost unparalleled in Scripture! “Wrath, trouble, distress, wasteness, desolation, darkness, gloominess, clouds, thick darkness, trumpet (an attacking army) and alarm!”

I can only think of one more Bible list as lengthy, but its “negatives” are blessings, really! Revelation 21:1 gloriously enumerates things that will NOT be in Heaven! “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” No tears, no death, no sorrow, no crying, no pain, no former ills at all!

But Zephaniah’s list (unlike any other I’ve found) is loaded with seldom used words in Scripture!

God’s Wrath has finally fallen!

For example, “wrath” is not “aph,” as expected, used 276 times in the Bible. But “ebrah” (an outpouring, a flood, unlike anything before, passing even God’s past record), only found 34 times in the Bible!

And the noun “distress” is found only 7 times in the whole Bible, Old Testament!

“Wasteness” only 13 times, meaning “to rush over,” hence, to destroy!

And get this. “Desolation,” only 3 times, meaning “a ravaging storm!”

“Gloominess,” just 10 Bible occurrences, “very dark,” as when the sun finally sets.

Finally, “thick darkness,” just 15 appearances in the Bible! Twice translated “gross darkness!”

Such words of judgment make me think of a song, but the title’s real meaning would have to be reversed. “What a Day that will be!” Not a day of “good tidings” as in 2nd Kings 7:9, but a day of “trouble” as in 2nd Kings 19:3.

Isaiah 22:5 expertly captures the awesome thought. “For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.”

And that day, though partially history, is surely mostly future!

Wow!

Or better, “Woe!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell