The Great Day of the LORD is Near Zephaniah 1:14

Because the people of Judah and Jerusalem abandoned the LORD and his ways, Zephaniah was given the task of prophesying over them “punishment” and “judgment”. Zephaniah wrote that not only would many of them lose their lives, but also their “goods shall become a booty”, “their houses a desolation” and they would “build houses, but not inhabit them” and “shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof”. In chapter one and verse fourteen of his prophesy, Zephaniah continued as he wrote concerning “the great day of the LORD” being “near” where we read:

The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hastes greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

The verse begins, “The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hastes greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD:” Zephaniah began with the words, “The great” or “large in number, intensity and magnitude” “day” which means “time, year or period” “of the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah” the “existing One” and “the proper name of the one true God” “is near” or “allied, approaching, at hand, nigh, short and more ready”. Zephaniah repeated the word “qarowb” in Hebrew for emphasis as he proclaimed again “it is near”, and went on to share how quickly it would arrive as he wrote “and hastes greatly” or “hurries, speeds and is swift exceedingly much” “even the voice” which means “sound, noise and lightness” “of the day of the LORD” or “the time period of Jehovah the existing One”. No doubt Zephaniah was commissioned to warn of the imminent judgment of the LORD that was to fall upon them.

The verse goes on to say, “the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.” Zephaniah continued by sharing the result of “the great day of the LORD” being “near” as he wrote, “the mighty man” which refers to “a strong, valiant and brave man” “shall cry” or “roar, make a shrill or clear sound, whoop and cry out” “there bitterly” which means “in anger, as chafed with discontented and great heaviness”. We can almost imagine even the bravest of men expressing their grief and anguish when the destruction of people, places and things which were once important and vital to Judah and it's people were destined to be completely demolished at the judgment of the LORD.

When we meditate upon Zephaniah's words, it may help us to picture ourselves as being the people of Judah. How would we react if people we knew, houses we occupied, workplaces we enjoyed and sites we visited were suddenly destroyed? Let us remember that the “judgment” of God had not fallen upon them at this point. This was the prophesy stating that such things would be. “The great day of the LORD” was “near” them, and they did not know it. Their lives went on as normal, and they even believed that the LORD was aloof, uncaring and not even concerned about they way they lived. Jesus warned of His imminent return and the subsequent destruction which would follow, and though He spoke of these things nearly two thousand years ago, the promise is still true. At any moment, life on earth could change dramatically, and should Jesus return for His church as He promised, our question should be, “will we be ready for Him when He comes”? “The great day of the LORD is near”, and may all who read these words take note and prepare.

Next time Zephaniah shares how“the great day of the LORD” will be one of “wrath, trouble and distress”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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