Project 119: Zephaniah 3
| Project 119
This week's devotions are written by MBBC Student Ministry Intern Allison McSwain.
The closing chapter of Zephaniah artfully juxtaposes the themes of the justice of God and the love of God—something we see frequently in the minor prophets. How encouraging it is that “He does no injustice; every morning He shows forth His justice” (Zephaniah 3:5, ESV). Yet we don’t always recognize that justice. Each morning we turn on the news to see another shooting, another kidnapping, another robbery. Where is justice, we ask? Verse 5 tells us that the unjust know no shame, and we certainly see that when we look around our world. However, the same verse tells us that each dawn He does not fail. When God seems to be silent toward the pain and suffering in our world, we must encourage ourselves with the truths of Scripture. He is truly just, and He will bring judgment on all wickedness in due time. “‘Therefore wait for me,’ declares the Lord, ‘for the day when I rise up to seize the prey’” (Zephaniah 3:8, ESV).
Yes, God is a just God who cannot look on sin and requires righteousness. But He is also a loving God who restores those who are most undeserving of His grace. The last several verses of Zephaniah are some of my favorites in all of Scripture. My heart swells with hope and joy reading these words of our Lord: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing” (Zephaniah 3:17, ESV). What a beautiful picture! The God of all creation…rejoicing and singing over me. The same God who promises to deal with the oppressors of His people, who restores the fortunes of those who have become so deserving of His wrath. Thanks be to God for these promises!
Pray with me:
God, today I thank You for being just and loving—for bringing the darkness to light and for forgiving those who have sinned against You. Help me to remember the promise of restoration that is one day coming to this fallen creation. Fill me with hope when I begin to despair. I look forward to the day when You bring all nations of the earth under Your renown.
Zephaniah 3 (ESV):
Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations
1 Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,
the oppressing city!
2 She listens to no voice;
she accepts no correction.
She does not trust in the LORD;
she does not draw near to her God.
3 Her officials within her
are roaring lions;
her judges are evening wolves
that leave nothing till the morning.
4 Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men;
her priests profane what is holy;
they do violence to the law.
5 The LORD within her is righteous;
he does no injustice;
every morning he shows forth his justice;
each dawn he does not fail;
but the unjust knows no shame.
6 “I have cut off nations;
their battlements are in ruins;
I have laid waste their streets
so that no one walks in them;
their cities have been made desolate,
without a man, without an inhabitant.
7 I said, ‘Surely you will fear me;
you will accept correction.
Then your dwelling would not be cut off
according to all that I have appointed against you.’
But all the more they were eager
to make all their deeds corrupt.
8 “Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD,
“for the day when I rise up to seize the prey.
For my decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
to pour out upon them my indignation,
all my burning anger;
for in the fire of my jealousy
all the earth shall be consumed.
The Conversion of the Nations
9 “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples
to a pure speech,
that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD
and serve him with one accord.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush
my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones,
shall bring my offering.
11 “On that day you shall not be put to shame
because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
in my holy mountain.
12 But I will leave in your midst
a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD,
13 those who are left in Israel;
they shall do no injustice
and speak no lies,
nor shall there be found in their mouth
a deceitful tongue.
For they shall graze and lie down,
and none shall make them afraid.”
Israel’s Joy and Restoration
14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you;
he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
17 The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
19 Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you in,
at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes,” says the LORD.