Before, Before, Before and Before Zephaniah 2:2

Zephaniah prophesied the LORD's words as he called the people of Judah and Jerusalem to “gather together”, and then he called them “a nation not desired”. In chapter two and verse two of his prophesy, Zephaniah continued his words by sharing four phrases that should be heeded “before” the punishment from God would fall where we read:

Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you.

The verse begins, “Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff,...” Zephaniah began with the phrase, “Before the decree” which means “in advance of the statute, ordinance, limit and prescribed task” “bring forth” or “bear, beget, gender, travail or be born” “before the day” which refers to “the time, year, period of division of time” “pass” or “alienate, carry, do away, take away, cross, pass or march over and traverse” “as the chaff” which means “the winnowed loose threshing which is blown away by the wind”. Zephaniah desired for the nation of Judah to “gather together” “before” the statute and ordinance would declare the time when judgment would fall.

The verse continues, “...before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you.” Zephaniah continued, “before the fierce anger” or “in advance of the burning and heated sore displeasure, fury and wrath which is shown in the nostrils, nose and face” “of the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah the existing One and the proper name of the one true God” “come upon you” or “go in, enter, go and come in” “before the day” which refers to “” “of the LORD's” which is “Yehovah or Jehovah the existing One and the proper name of the one true God” “anger” or “wrath which is shown in the nostrils, nose and face” “come upon you” which means “go in, enter, go and come in”. Two times Zephaniah referred to “the anger” “of the LORD” which shows a strong displeasure with the manner in which the people were living. Zephaniah's desire was for the people to heed these warnings as the “gathered together” to consider them.

As we think through these words of Zephaniah, let us note the four warnings and appeals which the LORD gave to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “before the decree; before the day pass; before the fierce anger; and before the LORD's anger”. “The decree”, “the day”, “the anger” and again “the anger” could all be avoided. The reason he called them to “gather together” was to appeal to them to return to Him “before” all these things occurred. There was no strong desire from the LORD to bring judgment and punishment upon the people, these would be the results of their turning away from Him and His ways. As we consider this, we must wonder if He is calling the same phrases to us today. Is there pending doom and destruction which could be avoided if we would only turn our hearts toward Him and His Son Jesus Christ? Would there be a different future for us as there would have been for Judah and Jerusalem if we would only return to His ways? May the LORD Jesus help us to examine our own lives and the life of our country to determine if there are “before” phrases to which we should heed before it is too late.

Next time Zephaniah tells the people to “seek the LORD”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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