- Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation, before the decree takes effect—before the day passes away like chaff—before there comes upon you the burning anger of the Lord, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the Lord. Zephaniah 2:1-2 – The words from the prophet in chapter one describing the coming judgement for these nations was intense, and here in chapter two it starts with a plea for them to repent. I like how one commentary touched one this for it said while so many of the prophecies given in the Old Testament are declaring future destruction, there is almost always an unwritten understanding between the Lord and the prophecy’s hearers that these things being spoken of will come if they don’t repent. Yet, if repentance comes, the destruction is held back. In the first two verses we see the Lord call them to gather before it’s too late for this repentance. For the Day of the Lord was coming and the days are passing as quickly as chaff in the wind. No more should there be a posture of, “I’ll wait till tomorrow to get right with God,” for tomorrow may be too late. This was true for Zephaniah’s hearers and for us today as well. Tomorrow is too late to wait to get right with God. Tomorrow is too late for us who believe to wait to share the good news with people. Yes, Jesus may not return for another 2000 years, but we also may not even make it to dinner tonight before He returns. And even if He doesn’t return for a while, life is so fragile and we may not have tomorrow with the ones we love. All this though shouldn’t be scaring anyone about the future and worrying them about the dangers ahead. It’s simply a push to get serious about our faith and helping people know about Jesus. If tomorrow may be too late for them to turn to Jesus, then let’s tell them today about Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3317
- I have heard the taunts of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts against their territory. Zephaniah 2:8 – While we hear the taunts of our enemies know God hears them too. It’s easy to find ourselves believing that when our enemy speaks over us and towards us that we are the only one who hears it. That no helps is coming because no one hears what’s going on. Like us being trapped in a basement but no one can hear the pain we’re in or see what our enemy is doing to us. But God can. God sees what the enemy is doing and hears the voice of our enemy who is speaking words of hate. As we see within our passage God is reminding us He too hears what’s being said and will not stay still when it comes to what’s happening. He isn’t just observing, He’s stepping in to resolve the things we can’t. Know then you’re not alone with the enemies in your story. God sees, God hears, and God steps in. Know God hears what’s being said about you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1555
- The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah, on which they shall graze, and in the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the Lord their God will be mindful of them and restore their fortunes. Zephaniah 2:7 – What this message was saying to its listeners was two fold. One, the enemy was going to be defeated. God was going to come and wipe the enemy, the peoples who taunted His people, clean on the earth. Two, that the good land that was once occupied by the enemy will now be a safe place for His people to dwell and rest in. The places that once were home to great enemies are now their home of great peace. Wherever the enemy’s strongholds are in your life, lift those up in prayer to God. Ask for those strongholds to be wiped clean like in our passage and replaced with havens of peace. Does the enemy have a stronghold in your mind leading to destructive ways of thinking? Does the enemy have a stronghold in a certain relationship that is causing so much tension and stress? Bring those to the Lord. Watch the as He begins to work and be open to however God does work with those things. Have confidence in our God that He is powerful enough to take the most powerful of strongholds of our enemy and make it a green pasture for us to lie down in. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2106
Daily DEVO 