Prophets Treacherous and Priest Polluting Zephaniah 3:4

As Zephaniah continued to prophesy concerning the “filthy and polluted” city of Jerusalem, he declared how they would not obey, receive correction, trust in the LORD, nor draw near to God, and even the “princes and judges” were corrupt within the city. In chapter three and verse four of his prophesy, Zephaniah adds the “treacherous” “prophets” and polluting “priests” to his list where we read:

Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary,

they have done violence to the law.

The verse begins, “Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary,...” Zephaniah wrote, “Her prophets” or “inspired spokesmen or speakers” “are light” or “wanton, reckless and frothy” “and treacherous” which means “deceitful, covert, offensive and transgressive” “persons” or “men or mankind”. Zephaniah added, “her priests” or “principal officers and rulers” “have polluted” which means “profaned, defiled, desecrated, violated and dishonored” “the sanctuary” which refers to the “apartness, holiness, sacredness and separateness of the hallowed place”. The “prophets” and “priests” were corrupt and deceitful, and in turn “profaned and defiled” the sanctuary of God.

The verse goes on to say, “... they have done violence to the law.” Zephaniah continued, “they have done violence” or “wrong both ethically and physically” “to the law” which means “direction, instruction, body of prophetic teaching, custom, manner, precepts and statutes”. Because these “prophets and priests” were corrupt, they fallaciously handled and maligned the law of God.

When we meditate upon Zephaniah's words, we can see a progression of wickedness that took place in the city of Jerusalem. First, they wouldn't listen to the LORD, then they wouldn't obey Him. Next they didn't trust in the LORD, and this lead them to not drawing near to Him. Soon, even their leadership was corrupt, and not even the spiritual leaders followed the laws of God. Perhaps, the roles were reversed and because the leaders both spiritual and secular abandoned the LORD and His ways, the people followed. Either way, apostasy was the result. As we consider this pattern, do we find the same in our city today? What if we were tested and examined as to whether or not our people, leaders and even spiritual leaders abandoned God? Would we find ourselves in the same condition as the city of Jerusalem? May the LORD Jesus help us to not only examine our city but also ourselves and determine whether we have forsaken Him in any way, and if so, let us return unto Him before we too hear “Woe”.

Next time Zephaniah shares how the LORD is “in their midst”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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