CHAPTER 3

1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! 2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.

This is a pronouncement of "woe." The word means "alas," and indicates termination of abilities. The nation has been pronounced defeated, diminished, and devoid of a place of prominence in the world.

The reason is also given. Though God had called for repentance, the nation had continued on a path of self-destruction. She did not place her total TRUST in the Lord. She became "filthy" and "polluted" while traveling the self-realization path. The nation had begun to mix idolatry with true worship, then her leaders even sacrificed their children to a false god.

As I have said many times, the Bible is applicable to our lives today. See the path and recognize the resemblance to America today! We have failed in worshipping the Eternal and Only God as our "refuge and strength." We have mixed idol worship with true religion and spend more on gambling than on food. We have traveled the path of self-realization so much that our people will sacrifice babies through abortion just to preserve their own desires.

3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. 4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

The leaders ("princes") were bent on destruction of the weaker people. The were arrogant and had no regard for truth or righteousness. As long as this one nation espoused truth and morality, other nations looked to her for leadership. But now they look upon her with scorn.

The prophets and priests were simply "preachers for hire." They would say and preach whatever the money dictated! When the truth is preached, God's Spirit uses it for conviction. When mediocrity is preached, there is little truth with which GOd's Spirit can work!

When preachers preach only to keep their jobs, there's little truth in it!

5 The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame. 6 I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. 7 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.

But God sees and knows ALL. He is in the "midst" of our lives whether we acknowledge Him or not! God will not DO wrong, neither will He SUPPORT wrongdoing!

God is always bringing His truth to "light." Even through a small number, God is preaching and teaching truth today.

Throughout history, God has "cut off" other nations who disavowed Him as the Eternal and Only God. Have we not seen it? Do we not understand it?

This should bring "instruction" to our lives. Instead, God is seeing today that the church is growing weaker and weaker as people are traveling that path of "self-realization." Instead of centering life around God and His will, our USA is centering life around self and trying to include God in it!

8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. 9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. 10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

The word "wait" indicates not only reliance upon God, but servitude while we rely and wait upon Him. Yes, there will come a day when God will "gather the nations" and "pour upon them" His "indignation." However WHILE we are "waiting" upon that day, let us SERVE the Lord by telling His truths!

WHEN God DOES gather all the nations, there WILL BE repentance upon those who have truly believed, and they will "call upon" Him without shame. God is seeking to turn all nations toward Him even today. His desire is that all may know of the plan of salvation and of the real truths of morality and decency. His plan is delivered to the church in what is called "The Great Commission."
"Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20)

This is how we should be SERVING God today! EACH Christian, as he/she goes about life, should be sharing the gospel with others; bringing them to know Christ as Lord and Savior; and teaching them how to live according to God's will expressed in the Bible.

Are you SERVING while you WAIT?

11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. 12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. 13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

There is coming a day when punishment for wrongdoings of nations will cease. Nations will be judged, and wicked leaders will be taken out. Pride in self will be changed to joyful servitude. However, the poor and sickly will still be among the people. This prophecy looked beyond to the time after the Babylonian captivity and after servantship to the Greek Empire and the Roman Empire. It looked beyond to when Christ would come, and "the common people heard Him gladly" (Mark 12:37).

Doesn't the prophecy of today look beyond the captivity of selfish pride, arrogancy and corrupt leadership? Doesn't it look forward to the time when Christ will come and set up a one thousand year reign on earth?

In THAT DAY (the millenial kingdom) truly "they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid."

WHILE we wait, let us SERVE and tell others of this wonderful "day" that is coming!

14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15 The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

OH! How the church should SING with joyful hearts! God has indeed "taken away" all our "judgments" by the blood of Jesus Christ. He will soon "cast out" the "enemy," the ole devil! And our KING - Jesus Christ - will be in the "midst" of us. There'll be no more evil in the land!

What a wonderful God to offer forgiveness through His own blood!
What a wonderful God to offer eternal joy in heaven with Him!
What a wonderful God to tell us of a day when He will rule and reign on earth a thousand years!

We should most certainly SING!

16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. 17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

In "that day" (the millenial kingdom), the nations will be ruled by ONE LORD!!

And here is more factual understanding for the statement that "the Jesus of the New Testament is the Jehovah of the Old Testament." The Bible says here that "the Lord thy GOD" is the One who will be there. He is the Divine, eternal, self-existant God Who is prophesied in Isaiah 9:6 as "Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." He was born into the world by a virgin birth. He lived a perfect life and offered that perfection upon the cross to pay for our imperfection. He offered sinlessness for our sinfulness. He appeased God with that offering, and atoned for our sins. Only GOD can appease GOD!

18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. 19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. 20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.

There will be a remnant of Jewish people who will truly repent and follow Christ Jesus as LORD. God will gather them in Jerusalem, and that city will again be honored among all nations. His throne will be there and He will rule over the earth from that worthy city.

God breathed into Zephaniah a prophecy that is profitable for you and me to study. It is profitable to reprove our sin; to correct our erroneous ways; and, to instruct us in righteous actions. Study of God's Scripture helps us to be more complete and able to perform God's will in our lives.

Zephaniah's prophecy also proclaims One coming, Who is the Son of God, and the Redeemer of all mankind.

Here, there is an offer of repentance. If people will sincerely repent, they can be as Zephaniah and be hidden as treasures while the judgment comes.

Are you a "hidden treasure" of God? Are you SERVING while you're WAITING?

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.