As Zephaniah
prophesied judgment and punishment upon Judah and Jerusalem, he
warned of the nearness of “the great day of the LORD”, and
he declared it to be “a day of wrath”, “trouble”,
“distress”, “wasteness”, “desolation”, “darkness”,
“gloominess” and “a day of clouds and thick darkness”. In
chapter one and verse sixteen of his prophesy, Zephaniah continued
his words as he shared about that “day” being “a day
of the trumpet and alarm” where we read:
A day of
the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high
towers.
The
verse begins, “A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced
cities,...” Zephaniah continued his thoughts concerning the
“great day of the LORD” by adding that it would be “a
day” which is the Hebrew word “yowm” which means “time,
year or period” “of the trumpet” which is the Hebrew
word “showphar” which means “horn or ram's horn” “and
alarm” or “signal, sound of tempest, shout, blast of war or
battle cry” “against the fenced” or “gathered,
restrained, fortified, made inaccessible, enclosed or cut off”
“cities” which were “guarded towns or dwelling places of
people”. The “battle-cry” of Judah's enemy was to come against
them in the “great day of the LORD”, and like a warning
“trumpet” which would “alert” the city they were under
attack, this “great day” would have it impact upon them no
matter how well defensed they thought themselves to be.
The
verse goes on to say, “...and against the high towers.”
Zephaniah added, “and against the high” or “exalted,
tall, proud and haughty” “towers” which literally means
“corner, angle or square” and refers to “a pinnacle, chieftain,
bulwark or stay”. The “angles” of the towers which were built
within the walls were designed so attacking armies would be warded
off from both sides. Zephaniah's prophesy declared not even such a
design would be able to prevent the penetration of “great day of
the LORD”.
When
we think through Zephaniah's words, we realize the dependence Judah
had upon their “fenced cities” and their “high
towers” for their protection. They felt their barrier walls and
“high towers” were their defense, when actually “the
LORD” was. Whenever “the LORD” was to bring judgment
upon Judah, all He had to do is “lift His protective hand”, and
there was no defense of their own making that would prevent the
attack. We must realize that our greatest defense is in our
relationship with Jesus Christ. Should He ever decide to allow us to
protect ourselves, enemies will find ways to destroy us. If we have
forsaken His protection, we have opened ourselves to the penetration
of the enemy and no defensive measure will keep us fully protected.
Let us allow the LORD Jesus to help us realize the security we have
in Him, and rather than rely upon our “fenced cities” and
“high towers” when the “trumpet and alarm”
sound, may He become the One upon whom we fully place our trust.
Next
time Zephaniah shares how the
LORD “will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk
like blind men”, 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
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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