No Obedience, Correction, Trust or Drawing Near Zephaniah 3:2

As Zephaniah continued his prophecy concerning Jerusalem, he declared, “Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!”, and in chapter three and verse two he gives four reasons why this city was to be judged: “No obedience”, “Received not correction”, did not “trust in the LORD”, and “drew not near to her God” where we read:

She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction;

she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.

The verse begins, “She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction;” Zephaniah began with the phrase, “She obeyed” which means “listen to, hear, understand or give heed” “not the voice” or “sound, noise, cry claim and proclamation”. Zephaniah continued, “she received” which means “took, got, fetched, seized, acquired, brought or snatched” “not correction” or “discipline, chastening, reproof, warning or instruction”. The people of the city did not take heed to the “voice” of God, and they would not “receive” His discipline, instruction and warnings either.

The verse goes on to say, “she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.” Zephaniah added, “she trusted” which means “have confidence in, be secure and feel safe” “not in the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah, the existing One and the name for the One true God” “she drew not near” which means “approached and entered not” “to her God” which refers to “the Divine One and true God”. The people of Jerusalem did not put their faith and confidence in the LORD, and they did not “approach and enter into” Him either. They placed their trust in other things, and they distanced themselves from the One true God.

When we consider Zephaniah's reasons for “Woe” to come upon the people of Jerusalem, we notice four times when he used the word “not”: “obeyed not”, “received not”, “trusted not” and “drew not”. How different this narrative might have been if they would have simply, “obeyed”, “received”, “trusted” and “drew” near to the LORD rather than rejecting Him. These four traits are good testing areas for us as well. Are we “obeying”, “receiving”, “trusting” and “drawing near to” Him in all we do and say? May these four reasons for Jerusalem's plight motivate us as we look to our Savior Jesus Christ to lead us in ways that were forsaken by others who faced His judgment.

Next time Zephaniah shares concerning their “princes and judges”, 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 ;