Among the
surrounding cities of Judah and Jerusalem that were prophesied by
Zephaniah to be destroyed was Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Ekron. He
also included the “Cherethites” which means “executioners”
and “Canaan, the land of the Philistines” which would be
so decimated that there would “be no inhabitant” there.
In chapter two and verse six of his prophesy, Zephaniah continued
his foretelling by sharing concerning the “shepherds” and
“flocks” which would dwell among the “sea coast”
where we read:
And the
sea coast shall be dwellings and
cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
The
verse begins, “And the sea coast shall be
dwellings and
cottages for shepherds,...” Zephaniah
continued his words concerning the judgment of the surrounding areas
of Judah and Jerusalem by adding, “And the
sea coast” or “sea territory” “shall
be dwellings” which refers to “abodes,
habitations and meadows of sheep or shepherds” “and
cottages” which is the Hebrew word “karah”
and means “pits or cisterns” “for
shepherds” or “pasturing, tending,
grazing and feeding”. The idea is the land would be so destroyed
that “shepherds”
would use the wide open area for watering and feeding their sheep.
The
verse continues, “...and folds for flocks.” Zephaniah
continued, “and folds” which refers to “walls or hedges
such as a sheepfold” “for flocks” or “small cattle
such as sheep and goats”. These places were to be so desolate, they
would be only useable for keeping and caring for sheep and goats.
When
we meditate upon Zephaniah's words concerning these “sea coast”
areas, we can picture in our minds a thriving community suddenly so
destroyed that only “shepherding” would be useful there. What if
our metropolis areas which were beaming with activity, commerce and
joyful play were suddenly turned into pastures with cisterns? It is
interesting to remember “this really happened”, and those who
were living there had no idea other than prophesies these judgments
were imminent. As we think through these things, let us be aware that
our situation could be altered at any time as well, and our
dependence or lack thereof in the LORD Jesus Christ would be revealed
at that time. May we savor this thought, the LORD desired for us to
consider the area of “the sea coast” that we might know
with certainty that He is ultimately in charge and control, and may
we live in such a manner that should everything we have be suddenly
destroyed, we will always be in alignment with Him who is able to
turn commercial cities into pastures for feeding and watering “sheep
and goats”.
Next
time Zephaniah shares concerning “the remnant”, 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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