Monday, March 14, 2016

The Day of the LORD Zephaniah 1:7


After pronouncing judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem for their apostasy from “the LORD”, Zephaniah began a new section of prophesy concerning “the day of the LORD”. In chapter one and verse seven we read:

Hold your peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand:
for the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, he has bid his guests.

The verse begins, “Hold your peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand:” Zephaniah began with, “Hold your peace” which is all one Hebrew word “hacah” and means “hush, keep silence, hold your tongue and be still” “at the presence” or “face, person or in front of and before” “of the Lord” which is the Hebrew word “'Adonay” and means “my lord and the title spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence” “GOD” or “Jehovah” which is “used primarily in the combination with Lord Jehovah”. Zephaniah added, “for the day” or “time or period” “of the LORD” “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the one true God” “is at hand” or “near or in place”. This “day of the LORD”, or time period when the LORD would bring judgment upon them, was to produce silence and awe in everyone who considered it.

The verse goes on to say, “for the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, he has bid his guests.” Zephaniah went on to add, “for the LORD” or “Yehovah or Jehovah” “has prepared” or “made firm, stable, established and fixed” “a sacrifice” which means “a slaughter for the purpose of offering”. Zephaniah added, “he has bid” or “consecrated, sanctified, prepared, dedicated, hallowed, sanctified, separated and made holy” “his guests” which refers to “the called out, read, recited and proclaimed”. In other words, the LORD prepared the “slaughter” of the people like unto a great sacrifice, and He invited, called and consecrated others to participate in the casualties which were going to be among them.

When we meditate upon Zephaniah's words, we understand the awesomeness of this invitation and warning. Judgment was to fall upon the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, and although they were going on with life as usual, their pending sacrifice was inevitable. Not only was the LORD going to destroy them, but He mentioned “the day of the LORD” to do so. Let us imagine what it was like to receive these words from Zephaniah. What if our country was named for judgment? What if there was an appointed time where “guests” would be sanctified and invited to watch our demise? No doubt there were many reactions to these words from the people of Judah, and perhaps there are many reactions among us as well. As we think about this, let us humble ourselves before the LORD Jesus and ask Him if there is any reason we should be concerned not only for ourselves, but also for our country and people, and then let us align ourselves with Him who has promised “I will never leave you nor forsake you”.

Next time Zephaniah tells how the LORD will “punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel”, 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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