Flocks, Beasts and Desolation Zephaniah 2:14

As Zephaniah continued his prophesy concerning the the northern country of Assyria and it's capital city Nineveh, he declared the LORD would “stretch out his hand against the north”, “destroy Assyria” and “make Nineveh a desolation” which would become “dry like a wilderness”. In chapter two and verse fourteen, Zephaniah shared how the “flocks” and “beasts” would be affected, and how “desolation” would be “in the thresholds” where we read:

And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.

The verse begins, “And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it;” Zephaniah wrote, “And flocks” which refers to “herds of animals” “shall lie down” or “stretch themselves out and lay out” “in the midst of her” which means “middle, into, through, among and between” “all the beasts” or “living and alive animals” “of the nations” which refers to “peoples and nations” “both the cormorant” which was a “ceremonially unclean bird perhaps a pelican or extinct bird” “and the bittern” or “porcupine or hedgehog” “shall lodge” which means “stop over, pass the night and abide” “in the upper lintels of it” which means “bulb, knob or capital of a pillar”. In other words, the city of Nineveh would be so desolate that herds of animals, beasts and birds would lodge in the areas where people once lived.

The verse continues, “their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.” Zephaniah added, “their voice” or “sound or noise of lightness and frivolity” “shall sing” which means “render song” “in the windows” which refers to “the piercing of the wall” “desolation” or “dryness, drought, heat and parching heat” “shall be in the thresholds” or “spreading out, basin, goblet, bowl or sill”. Zephaniah continued, “for he shall uncover” which means “be bare, nude, uncover, leave destitute, discover, empty, raze and pour out” “the cedar work” or “cedar-panels, work or wains-coating”. Not only would the birds dwell in places where people once lived, but their songs would be heard within “the windows” of their buildings and in “the thresholds” of their homes where luxurious “cedar work” was displayed.

When we meditate upon the words of Zephaniah, we understand how ominous the LORD's judgment was upon Nineveh. Where once there were thriving people and life, there was to be wild animals, flock and birds overtaking their homes. The writer of the book of Hebrews in chapter ten and verse thirty one wrote, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”, and we understand the veracity of this statement when we consider Nineveh as well as their country “Assyria” and the other countries surrounding them. May we keep the “desolation” of Nineveh in mind as we continue in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and should we not have a relationship with Him, may we do so before we too experience the “desolation” He has declared upon men.

Next time Zephaniah writes concerning how the “rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly” now was in “desolation” , 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 ;