"Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; 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. 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." Zephaniah 2:1-3
There are few serious students of the Word that doubt the coming of the Lord is near. There is a general understanding that the Day of the Lord is upon us. The Day of the Lord is that time when God removes all doubt as to His existence, yet men will still reject Him. In the end, Christ will return, renew, restore, and reign for a thousand years. Jewish days, however, begin at evening. Before the dawning of that precious day the night of the tribulation will fall across the world and God's wrath will be poured out against the rebellion of men and angels. Zephaniah gives us some details which happen shortly before the darkness of the Tribulation that envelops humanity. "Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand:" (1:7a)
"The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly." (1:14) Can you hear the warning sirens of the Holy Ghost screaming that the time is near? Zephaniah is clearly telling his readers about the nearness of the Lord's day. There are several signs that will herald that event; signs that can be seen forming around us as clearly as ominous storm clouds on the horizon. God wishes men heed Him before that time so He issues one last warning before the onslaught begins. Notice in the text above the repeated use of "before". Notice the recurring admonition to "seek" before you cannot find.
"Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together," God pleads. The Hebrew word for "gather" can mean to get your thoughts in order. Come to your senses! Wake up! Pay attention! God is yearning for mankind to understand their nearness to His justice. He is extending grace still; even so, the decree that sends destruction is about to be issued. BEFORE it comes, BEFORE God's anger and wrath abound, BEFORE the deluge of judgment come to your senses and repent! Why is God seemingly shouting this warning?
"Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired." Not desired? Kacaph--to turn pale, to blush, to have shame. He is calling to a people not blushing at their sin. Folks who do not have shame see no reason to repent. They can't discern their guilt. They don't understand that they are on a collision course with the holiness and might of an omnipotent, incensed God. They have spurned His love and mocked the sacrifice of His Only Begotten. God is emitting a clarion call to all so a few will repent and turn, but the majority will not turn! Sad, isn't it? Is this not the very thing we see in our day?
"It may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger." For those who heed the call there is a hiding. Those obeying the pleading voice of God will be sheltered from the storm. They will not be present when the gavel of righteousness smashes against man's rebellion. This is one of several Old Testament promises that parallel 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
There is still time! It is still "before". Hurry! Make a decision! There are many indicators that the hand of grace is about to be withdrawn. We will look for those in Zephaniah soon! Repent! He is soon2come!
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So many just don't have the good sense to fear God. It doesn't matter what you say or how much you prove to them they simply won't believe.
ReplyDeleteI thank God that He opened my eyes before it was to late.
We are talking about Eternity and yet they take their eternal destiny so lightly.
One day soon it will be too late. If only they will believe before that day.
Life or death, its their choice.
I chose Him, I chose Life.
Gerie
Me too, Gerie. Me too.
ReplyDelete