and in His Word--and they all point to an awesome God!
These are my contemplations and reflections on today's Bible readings in Zephaniah, Psalms, Proverbs, and Revelation. Key words and phrases that I noted included deceit, complacency, humility, justice, wait, restore, a new song, gospel, patience, and rest. Having reached this point in reading through the Bible this year, the one word I am left with is "hope".
"Hope is the silver shaft of sun breaking through the storm-darkened sky, words of comfort in the intensive care unit, a letter from across the sea, the first spring bird perched on a snow-covered twig, and the finish line in sight. It is a rainbow, a song, a loving touch. Hope is knowing God and resting in His love" (The Life Application Study Bible/Introduction to the Book of Zephaniah).
God declares in the book of Zephaniah, "I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place"! Verses 5 & 6, of chapter one describes a practice that continues today and one that I was made aware of during a Bible study this year on "Invasion of Other Gods" by Dr. David Jeremiah. "Those who worship and swear oaths by the Lord, but who also swear by Milcom (the god Molech, which Israel was warned about worshiping all the way back in Leviticus); those who have turned back from following the Lord, and have not sought the Lord, nor inquired of Him". In the study on "Other Gods" we discovered it is a fact that many "Christians" become involved in other religions while holding onto some of their Christian beliefs. They add practices from these religions to their Christian beliefs in an attempt to "enhance" their spiritual experience. God forbids such pantheistic practices. He alone is the true God. (See Deuteronomy 5:7-10.)
In verse 12, God says that "at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps". (The Jewish people used lamps to search out leaven in their houses in preparation for the Days of Unleavened Bread. Leaven represented sin.) God warns in this passage that those "who are settled in complacency" will be punished. And those who think God will do nothing--"who say in their heart, the Lord will not do good, nor will He do evil" (v.12). God warns, "O undesirable nation, before the decree is issued. . before the Lord's fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger comes upon you! Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger" (2:1-3). (Hope!)
"This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and made arrogant threats against the people of the Lord of hosts. The Lord will be awesome to them. For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth" (v. 10, 11). God takes issue with the "rebellious", "polluted", and "oppressing" city---"She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the Lord, she has not drawn near to her God" (3: 1, 2). (I can use this list to examine my own heart!) "Therefore wait for Me, says the Lord, until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms, to pour on them My indignation, all My fierce anger; all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy" (v. 8).
In the Book of Zephaniah that is filled with the judgment of God "in that day", God comforts His people. (Hope!) "In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing" (v. 16, 17). And, in Psalm 147:2, we read, "The Lord builds up Jerusalem. . He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds". In verse 6, "The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground".
In Proverbs 30:18-19, Solomon acknowledges, "There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a virgin". This reminds me to take time to consider God's creation and to stand in awe of His hand in everything that catches my interest.
I found it thought-provoking that "singing" is found in 3 of the 4 books we read from today. "Their voice shall sing in the windows" (Zephaniah 2:14). "He will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17). "Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God" (Psalm 147:1). "They sang as it were a new song before the throne . . . and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth" (Revelation 14:3). Continuing in verse 4, "These are the ones who were not defiled with women (? other gods), for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God".
Continuing in Revelation 14, we read about "the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth", and "the mark of the beast". Verse 12, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus". To consider where I stand with God in my walk with Him (Am I "complacent"? Is there "deceit" in my mouth? How often do I "sing praises to God"? Do I "trust in the name of the Lord"? Am I "defiled" with idolatry? Do I "follow the Lamb"?, etc.) and to consider God's love and mercy toward me and the hope that I have as a born again child of God summarizes today's readings for me!
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