Woe to the Filthy and Polluted City Zephaniah 3:1

After sharing prophesies of judgment concerning the cities and countries which surrounded Judah and Jerusalem, in chapter three and verse one of his foretelling he turned his attention back to Jerusalem once again where we read:

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

The verse begins, “Woe to her that is filthy and polluted,...” Zephaniah began with the word, “Woe” which means “ah, alas, ha, ho and O” “to her that is filthy” or “rebelling, maltreating, whipping, lashing and lifted up with self” “and polluted” which means “defiled, polluted, desecrated and stained”. Jerusalem was once in alignment with the LORD but had forsaken Him and His ways. Now they were worthy of being greatly warned of judgment for their actions.

The verse continues, “... to the oppressing city!” Zephaniah added, “to the oppressing” or “suppressive, violently, maltreating and vexing” “city” which refers to “a town, place of waking or guarded place”. Zephaniah knew Jerusalem had been “suppressive, violent, mistreating and vexing”, and punishment of the people within the city was the main focus of His prophetic words.

When we meditate upon Zephaniah's words, we sense the warning of “Woe” which was given to the city of Jerusalem. We should remember the “Holy Spirit of God” inspired Zephaniah's words, and how would we react if we heard Him declare us “filthy and polluted”? Conviction of the Holy Spirit should always bring us closer to the Lord Jesus, and when we know we are near Him, we can confess, repent and turn away from the sins He has revealed. May Jerusalem's warning remind us when the LORD declares us polluted, He awaits our willingness to align ourselves with Him again.

Next time Zephaniah tells how they did not “obey, receive correction, trust or draw near to God”, 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 ;