As Zephaniah
continued to prophecy concerning Assyria and it's capital city
Nineveh, he shared how “flocks” would “lie down in
the midst of her” and “all the beasts of the nations”
including the “cormorant” and the “bittern”
or “birds” would “sing in the windows” and “desolation
shall be in the thresholds”. In chapter two and verse fifteen
of his prophecy, Zephaniah gave a description of this “rejoicing
city that dwelt carelessly” and the result for doing so where
we read:
This is
the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I
am,
and there is
none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to
lie down in! every one that passes by her shall hiss, and
wag his hand.
The verse begins, “This
is the
rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am,
and there is
none beside me:”
Zephaniah
began with the phrase, “this is the
rejoicing”
or “exultant and jubilant” “city”
which refers to “town or a place of waking which is guarded”
“that dwelt carelessly”
which means “remained, sat and abode securely and with safety”.
In other words, they had no worries concerning attacks from an
outside forces, and Zephaniah added, “that
said” or
“uttered, answered and spoke” “in
her heart”
which refers to “the inner man, will, heart, soul and
understanding” “I am and there is
none beside me”
which is all one Hebrew word “'ephec”
and means “ceasing, end and finality”. In other words, Nineveh
was a city that felt secure within itself and was without fear from
anyone removing them from their exalted position.
The
verse continues, “how is she become a
desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in!”
Zephaniah added, “how is she become a
desolation”
which is the Hebrew word “shammah”
which means “waste, horror and appalment” “a
place for beasts” or
“the living and active” “to lie
down in!” which
means “resting or dwelling place of wild beasts”. This once
boastful, rejoicing and thriving city was to be a place where wild
animals would make their lodging.
Finally
the verse says, “every one that
passes by her shall hiss, and
wag his hand.”
Zephaniah continued with, “every one
that passes by”
or “goes through, takes away or brings and carries away from”
“her shall hiss”
which means “whistle and pipe” “and
wag” or
“quiver, totter, shake, reel, stagger, wander, move, sift waver,
toss about, disturb and tremble” “his
hand”
which means “the wrist or hand of a body”. The people of Nineveh
were to be so desolate that“every
one” who
passes by them shall mock animatedly“hissing”
and “waving”
their hands as to say, you have received what you deserve.
When
we consider these words of Zephaniah, it is easy to relate to feeling
so secure within our situation that nothing appears to be able to
move us from it. The people of Nineveh thought they could go
“carelessly” about
their day to day activities without regard for anyone defeating them.
Little did they know their security and abundance was about to be
removed and destroyed to the point that wild birds and animals would
occupy their dwelling places. As we think this through, let us
examine our own lives to determine whether we trust and rely upon
ourselves or the Lord Jesus Christ. If we discover we are so
dependent upon ourselves that we have shut him out, let us repent,
and turn to the only security within which we can fully rely, Jesus.
For without Him, we have nothing that could not be removed.
Next
time we will begin the final chapter of Zephaniah's prophesy and see
him write about the “filthy, polluted and oppressing
city”, so read ahead, and we
shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
;
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