Psalm 105

WEEK  13                                            Psalm 105

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Why do we celebrate Christmas and Easter (The Christian reasons, not Santa and a rabbit)? We do it to remember the great deeds of God. This is why this psalm was written to remember the great things God had done. We need to remember. Remembering gives us a point of reference. We see how God was faithful in the past; therefore, we can trust him in the future. Just like we know we can trust a friend because we remember they have been our friend in the past. Take time and remember what God has done for us all and what He has done for you specifically. 

Psa 105:1-45
(1)  O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
(2)  Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
(3)  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
(4)  Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
(5)  Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
(6)  O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
(7)  He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
(8)  He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
(9)  Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
(10)  And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
(11)  Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
(12)  When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
(13)  When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;
(14)  He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;
(15)  Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
(16)  Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
(17)  He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
(18)  Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
(19)  Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
(20)  The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
(21)  He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
(22)  To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
(23)  Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
(24)  And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
(25)  He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.
(26)  He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.
(27)  They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
(28)  He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
(29)  He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.
(30)  Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
(31)  He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.
(32)  He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
(33)  He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.
(34)  He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,
(35)  And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
(36)  He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
(37)  He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
(38)  Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
(39)  He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
(40)  The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
(41)  He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
(42)  For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
(43)  And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
(44)  And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
(45)  That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.

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Habakkuk 2

WEEK  13                                             Habakkuk 2

TUESDAY  Reflections

This chapter sounds like the rising of the poor against the rich. It sounds like what happened during the French Revolution: those who had were brought down by the very people they abused. It was a mess, as is most revolutions. The problem is not that there are rich people but how they arrived at that money. Eventually, all people who gain money and power through dishonest means are cast down. Israel will be no exception, and neither will Babylon.

 

At this point, many want to look at large corporations and point the finger at them, but this isn't what God is calling for. God is calling for us to examine ourselves. Do we gain by dishonest means? Do we steal from our employer or the grocery store, causing them to have to charge more to cover the losses? Or let's get personal: do you steal from entertainers by pirating movies or stealing music? Do you faithfully pay your taxes?

 

God doesn't want us to wait for the other guy to do what is right first.  God wants us to examine ourselves. Just as the 2 mites (pennies) were a great amount when given to God, what does it look like when stolen?

Hab 2:1-20
(1)  I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
(2)  And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
(3)  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
(4)  Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
(5)  Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:
(6)  Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!
(7)  Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?
(8)  Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
(9)  Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
(10)  Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.
(11)  For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.
(12)  Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!
(13)  Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
(14)  For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
(15)  Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
(16)  Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.
(17)  For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
(18)  What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
(19)  Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
(20)  But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

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Habakkuk 1

WEEK  13                                           Habakkuk 1  

MONDAY  Reflections

Habakkuk begins a complaint about how bad things are. He wonders what God is going to do about it. God had answered, but it is something that Habakkuk won't like: the destruction of his nation by the Babylonians.

 

This, to me, is a reminder that sometimes the solution to the problems we seek is not always what we want. We want God to deal with problems, but we want God to do it our way. The problem is God is going to use nations, people, or things which we might never want to see used. However, as this book ends, you see that God is going to deal justly with those who are evil even when He uses them in the short term. Or to say it another way, God is going to make everything right.

Bible Project Video for Habakkuk: https://youtu.be/OPMaRqGJPUU


Hab 1:1-17
(1)  The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
(2)  O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
(3)  Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
(4)  Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
(5)  Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
(6)  For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.
(7)  They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
(8)  Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
(9)  They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.
(10)  And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.
(11)  Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
(12)  Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
(13)  Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
(14)  And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
(15)  They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.
(16)  Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
(17)  Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

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Ezekiel 18

WEEK  12                                             Ezekiel 18

SATURDAY  Reflections

This chapter sums up how God deals with people. Each according to their own sin. It has been said, “God has no grandchildren,” and this chapter confirms it. Each person is rewarded or punished for their own actions.

 

However, God is not without mercy. He is willing to forgive sinners if they repent. But just as God is willing to forgive, God is also righteous, so right living doesn't guarantee a relationship with God if a person leaves it and begins to live in disobedience to God. As someone said, “It isn't how you begin but how you end the race that matters.” 

 

Israel's issue was that they wanted to blame God for being unfair when they were the ones not living correctly. Even today, we like to find someone else to blame for our problems. The one person we don't want to blame is ourselves. 

Eze 18:1-32
(1)  The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
(2)  What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
(3)  As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
(4)  Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
(5)  But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
(6)  And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
(7)  And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
(8)  He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
(9)  Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
(10)  If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,
(11)  And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,
(12)  Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,
(13)  Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
(14)  Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,
(15)  That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,
(16)  Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,
(17)  That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.
(18)  As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.
(19)  Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
(20)  The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
(21)  But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
(22)  All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
(23)  Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
(24)  But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
(25)  Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
(26)  When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
(27)  Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
(28)  Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
(29)  Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
(30)  Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
(31)  Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
(32)  For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

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Zephaniah 3

WEEK   12                                        Zephaniah 3

FRIDAY  Reflections

Destruction upon destruction, and now Zephaniah ends with God singing words like "Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!" (verse 14 NIV). As with the other prophets, God ends with words of hope and an invitation to join him in His song. God will restore not just Israel to their land, but He will restore their hearts to Himself. God is going to make all right.

Zep 3:1-20
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.

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2 Corinthians 8

WEEK   12                                       2 Corinthians 8

THURSDAY  Reflections

"For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have" (2 Corinthians 8:12)

 

It isn't the amount you give; it’s willingness. If you don't have a lot, give your 10% even if it's only $5. According to God, you have given more than a person who has given a million but has only given 5%.  What matters to God is never the amount but the heart, the willingness. Remember, the widow who Jesus said gave more, though all she gave was the minimum (Mark 12:43).

 

A Warning: Often, especially in affluent societies, it is easy to think you have less than you really do. The statistics say that even the poor in the West are richer than most of the rest of the world. Paul was amazed at the giving of the poor in Macedonia and praised them. He didn't refuse to let them give because they were poor but reminded the rich that they could do so much better.

 

2Co 8:1-24
(1)  Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
(2)  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
(3)  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
(4)  Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
(5)  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
(6)  Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
(7)  Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
(8)  I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
(9)  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
(10)  And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
(11)  Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
(12)  For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
(13)  For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
(14)  But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
(15)  As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
(16)  But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
(17)  For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
(18)  And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
(19)  And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
(20)  Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
(21)  Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
(22)  And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
(23)  Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
(24)  Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

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Psalm 104

WEEK 12                                         Psalms 104

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

This psalm sings of God, the creator and maintainer of the world. The poetry of the created world and God the supplier is refreshing compared to some of the other psalms. As the psalm ends, the writer says his meditations of God are sweet. When we see God as creator and sustainer of the universe, then our meditations are sweet. When we get distracted by the wrong in the world or in us, our meditations are not all they should be. 

Psa 104:1-35
(1)  Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
(2)  Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
(3)  Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
(4)  Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
(5)  Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
(6)  Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
(7)  At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
(8)  They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
(9)  Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
(10)  He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
(11)  They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
(12)  By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
(13)  He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
(14)  He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
(15)  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
(16)  The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
(17)  Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
(18)  The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
(19)  He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
(20)  Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
(21)  The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
(22)  The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
(23)  Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
(24)  O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
(25)  So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
(26)  There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
(27)  These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
(28)  That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
(29)  Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
(30)  Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
(31)  The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
(32)  He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
(33)  I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
(34)  My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
(35)  Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

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Zephaniah 2

Not a car...

WEEK  12                                          Zephaniah 2

TUESDAY  Reflections

If I were going to create a meme for this chapter, it would be the picture of Oprah Winfrey when she famously pointed out to the audience and said, "You get a car, you get a car, everyone gets a car." Of course, as in the world of memes, it would instead say, "You get destroyed, you get destroyed, everyone gets destroyed." Unlike Oprah's audience, I don't think Zephaniah's audience was even close to being happy. Yet this was God's message.

 

The only hope in this message was to those few who were trying to obey God. Zephaniah's words were: keep serving God and trust that they will be okay. There was a promise for the remnant who survived that the nations of Philistia, Moab, and Ammon would belong to them, but they had to survive first.

 

God rarely promises everything will go perfectly for those who follow him. In the New Testament, Jesus' words are even less reassuring as he promises hardship for his followers. However, for those who do follow God, the rewards are worth the pain. 

Zep 2:1-15
(1)  Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;
(2)  Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you.
(3)  Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
(4)  For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
(5)  Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.
(6)  And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
(7)  And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
(8)  I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
(9)  Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
(10)  This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.
(11)  The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
(12)  Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.
(13)  And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.
(14)  And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.
(15)  This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

Photo by Eduardo Flores on Unsplash