From: December 19, 2023
“For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs” (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT).
Near the end of Zephaniah’s prophecy of trouble and tribulation for Israel, he prophesied the coming of a Mighty Savior. Like a mighty hero, He would abide with them and rescue them. Like a husband, He would receive and rejoice over His bride. Like a mother, He would quiet their weeping with His love and sing a joyous song over them to help them forget their tears.
Surely, this prophesy was fulfilled in Christ’s first coming. Yet, not completely. For as John wrote, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). The Messiah has come, but His own people rejected Him. “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
Zephaniah’s prophecy was partially fulfilled at Christ’s first coming. Christ has come as Immanuel, God with us. He has come as Savior. But His singing over Israel points to a coming not yet fulfilled. The complete fulfillment of this prophecy points to Christ’s Second Coming. The First Advent was preparation for the Second Advent. Christ has come. Christ is coming again.
In the meantime, He already lives among us by His Holy Spirit. He lives in us and we abide in Him. And the fruit of His life in us sings within us, songs of love, joy, and peace.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we celebrate Christ’s first coming. His birth, sacrificial death and resurrection. Yet, we look forward in hope to His soon return. Until then, strengthen us to proclaim Him to the nations with our praise and singing. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: December 19, 2022
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS THROUGHOUT THE GENERATIONS
Do you know your great, great grandfather’s name? Zephaniah did. Some believe he gave such an extensive lineage in his introduction to establish that he was a descendent of King Hezekiah. However, it does seem odd that he didn’t refer to him as “King Hezekiah” if that were truly the case. Regardless, Zephaniah knew his lineage well. He had probably memorized his family’s “begats” all the way back to Abraham as this would have been part of his childhood training. Every Jew had to be able to establish their tribal identity in order to receive the lands and titles of their inheritance. Only Levites could serve as priests, only those from the Levitical house of Aaron could serve as High Priest, the throne in Jerusalem belonged to a descendant of David, and so on.
The prophet Zephaniah wrote during the “days of” King Josiah, the last good king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. His prophecy warned the people of Judah to repent because God was soon to judge them and only a remnant would be saved. Zephaniah’s prophecy of judgment was fulfilled when Jerusalem fell to Babylon.
However, his prophecy about the remnant being rescued by the “Mighty Savior” is only partially complete (see Zeph. 3:17). Jesus, the Son of David, Son of God, is the Mighty Savior who has come and lived among us. And He will soon come again.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we come to You with the awareness of Your faithfulness throughout the generations. We ask that You empower us to fulfill Your purpose in this generation. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: December 19, 2016
The psalmist David expressed his confidence that the Lord would “fulfill His purpose” for him. He did not ask God to bring to pass his own plans, but that God would “fulfill” what He planned for David’s life. He prayed, “God use me for the express purpose for which You made me!” This can be our prayer too. We can join David in praying, “Lord, fulfill Your purpose for me.”
From: December 19, 2015
Do you know your great, great grandfather’s name? Zephaniah did. Some believe he gave such an extensive lineage in his introduction to establish that he was a descendent of King Hezekiah. However, he probably would have referred to him as “King Hezekiah” if that were truly the case. Regardless, Zephaniah knew his lineage well. He had probably memorized his family’s “begats” all the way back to Abraham as this would have been part of his childhood training. Every Jew had to be able to establish their tribal identity in order to receive the lands and titles of their inheritance. Only Levites could serve as priests, only those from the Levitical house of Aaron could serve as High Priest, the throne in Jerusalem belonged to a descendant of David, and so on. The prophet Zephaniah wrote during the “days of” King Josiah, the last good king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. His prophecy warned the people of Judah to repent because God was soon to judge them and only a remnant would be saved. Zephaniah’s prophecy of judgment was fulfilled when Jerusalem fell to Babylon. However, his prophecy about the remnant being rescued by the “Mighty One” (Zeph. 3:17) who saves is only partially complete. Jesus, the Mighty One, the Son of David and Son of God has come and will soon come again to take up His rightful place on David’s royal throne.
From: December 19, 2014
John was given a scroll to “eat” in his vision, just as the prophet Ezekiel had been given one in his (Ezekiel 3:1-3). For both of them, it was as “sweet as honey” when they chewed on it, but unpleasant when they digested the impact of its message. God’s Word is sweet to the believer whose ears are open to hear it, yet it is “sour” as they consider those whose ears will not. Our joy in God’s future plans of judgment is tempered by the realization that many that we love and care about will not escape His divine wrath. We therefore commit to keep chewing on God’s sweet Word, yielding to its work in us, and announcing its message to others. Perhaps, those we love will eventually open their ears to hear. And relieve our soured stomachs.
From: December 19, 2013
The prophet Zephaniah was a resident of Jerusalem prior to its overthrow by Babylon. He was probably a member of the royal family of David (see his reference to Hezekiah). His prophecy was a call to repentance and of coming judgment. Yet, in the midst of these words, he reported God’s plan for a coming “time” when all peoples would call upon the name of God with a “pure” and changed speech. A future day when the peoples of the world would serve God in “one accord.”