The Just LORD is in the Midst Zephaniah 3:5

Zephaniah the prophet pronounced “Woe” upon the city of Jerusalem because the would not obey, receive correction, trust in or draw near to the LORD. Not only were their princes and judges corrupt, but their prophets and priest were none the better. In chapter three and verse five of his prophesy, Zephaniah declared “the just LORD is in the midst”, and we discover the result of His being there. We read:

The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning does he bring his judgment to light, he fails not; but the unjust knows no shame.

The verse begins, “The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity:” Zephaniah began with the words “The just” or “lawful, righteous and correct” “LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the name of the one true God” “is in the midst” or “among, in the inner part or middle”. He goes on to add, “thereof; he will not do” or “fashion, accomplish or make” “iniquity” which means “injustice, unrighteousness, wrong or violent deeds”. The LORD was in the middle of the city of Jerusalem and among the people without unrighteousness and violent wrongs.

The verse goes on to say, “every morning does he bring his judgment to light, he fails not; but the unjust knows no shame.” Zephaniah continued, “every morning” which is the Hebrew phrase “boger boger” and means “break of day and end of night” “he brings” or “gives, puts and sets” “his judgment” which refers to “justice, ordinance, court, process, procedure, litigation, cause, sentence, execution and decision” “to light” or “day-break, dawn or morning light”. Zephaniah goes on to add, “he fails” which means “lacks or keeps”; “not; but the unjust” which refers to “the perverse or unrighteous ones” “knows” or “perceives, finds out, discriminates and distinguishes” “no shame” which means “confusion, disgrace, ignominy and dishonor”. In other words, “morning by morning” the LORD publicly manifests His justice through the prophets without fail, and He continually set before the people examples of His decisions, but still the people were not shamed into repenting of their wicked acts and deeds.

When we meditate upon this verse, we find the faithfulness of the “just” LORD not only to be in the middle of the people but to continually call them to repentance by giving them examples of righteousness, but the people would not turn back to Him. They forsook His ways though He constantly appealed to them “every morning” with examples of His justice. Have we known individuals who are as stubborn as these? Have we ever been so obstinate that even though the LORD entreats us day after day, we still turn our backs upon Him? While we think on these things it is easy to keep our focus upon how horrific and unregenerate these people were and not look within ourselves to see if we have gone astray. May the LORD Jesus Christ help us to discover any ways which are contrary to Him, and when we do, let us turn to Him while the “just” LORD is “in our midst”.

Next time Zephaniah shares how the LORD has “cut off the nations”, 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.