Monday, April 18, 2016

A Pure Language Zephaniah 3:9


The LORD's desire according to Zephaniah the prophet was for the people of Jerusalem to “wait” upon Him “until the day” He would “rise up to the prey”, “gather the nations”, “assemble the kingdoms”, and “pour out upon them” His “indignation” and “fierce anger”. The LORD's declaration was “all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of” His “jealousy”. In chapter three and verse nine, Zephaniah declares the LORD will give His people “a pure language” after His anger is complete where we read:

For then will I turn to the people a pure language,
that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

The verse begins, “For then will I turn to the people a pure language, ...” Zephaniah began, “For then will I turn” which is one Hebrew word “haphak” and means “to overthrow, overturn, change and transform” “to the people” which refers to the “nation, kinsmen and kindred” “a pure” or “polished, chosen, cleansed, bright, tested and proved” “language” which means “speech and edge of a shore”. Once the devastation had occurred to the nations and people surrounding Judah and Jerusalem, the LORD was to restore unto the people a “clean, bright, tested and proved” manner of speaking and communicating.

The verse continues, ...that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.” Zephaniah went on to add why the LORD was going to give them this “pure language” as he wrote, “that they may all call” which is the Hebrew word “qara'” and means “to call out, cry, utter, proclaim, read, summon, appoint and give a name to” “the name” or “reputation, fame and glory” “of the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the One true God”. Zephaniah continued, “to serve” or “work and labor for another” “him with one” which means “a certain once and for all” “consent” which means “back” and refers to the idea of having a unified effort to work and labor for the LORD.

When we think about Zephaniah's words, we see the beauty of having a single “pure language” whereby the people of Judah and Jerusalem would bear witness of the character of the LORD and be united in their efforts to serve Him. The language of the surrounding nations and their unwillingness to praise, serve and be unified before the LORD no doubt had infiltrated the people of Judah and Jerusalem. After the surrounding nations and people were destroyed, their “chosen and polished language” would return. It is interesting to consider the importance of this “pure language” as we think about God's desire for His people to “call out” and “serve” Him in unity. May the LORD Jesus give us a “pure language” to “call out to Him”, and may He help us to be unified in our efforts to labor for Him.

Next time Zephaniah shares concerning “beyond the rivers of Ethiopia”, 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 www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.




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