“The Great Day of the Lord is Near”...the Wayfarer 10/22/13

“The Great Day of the Lord is Near”

10/22/13

“The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteneth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

A day of the trumpet and alarm against fenced cities, and against high towers,”

(Zephaniah 1:14-16)

Today we once again visit the words of one of the prophets, during a time that Israel had departed from its intended path, and allowed political correctness to take precedence over the true worship of their God.

As with all the prophets, the words of warning are accompanied by words of consolation, and hope, for those willing to repent and to turn again to the laws and commandments given them by that God.

Once again I find I am unable to “rightly divide” this short book, but must take it in its entirety to get to the context of today’s dissertation. I ask therefore, once again for the forbearance of the reader, and ask you to read the entire text for yourself, rather than copy all three chapters as a whole.

Just as in Noah’s day, God had had enough of the machinations and inventions, and utter failure of this people to follow the laws and live up to their end of a covenant made with their forefathers.

This first chapter begins with them being told:

“I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the Lord.”

(Zephaniah 1:2)

It continues with a list of all that is to be consumed, and the reasons for that judgment.

Particular people are specified that are being warned including:

“And them that are turned back from the Lord; and those that have not sought the Lord, nor enquired for him.”

(Zephaniah 1:6)

Just as Judah, in this instance, is being judged, so must that judgment come to all lands, and all peoples who allow themselves to fall into that same category described in that 6^th verse.

The 12^th verse also delineates those who, not only give no respect to Him, but also those who fail to believe in His existence and ability to take action on this puny planet:

“And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil.”

(Zephaniah 1:12)

Just as so many today fail to consider God in their lives daily, giving no thanks for the many blessings imparted to them, giving no thought to anything but their own inherent greed, and giving no credit to any but themselves for the end products of their labor, so too did that people at that time.

Just as so many today consider only political correctness in the conduct of their lives and daily business, relying only on themselves and other imperfect men to conduct that business, so too did that people at that time.

Just as the thieves among us continue to rob from those they are able to overcome, either by force, or by deception with no regard for any but themselves and their own, so too were that people so jaded that God no longer mattered to their society.

The second chapter opens with a plea for the repentance of that people before that promised day of wrath to come:

“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)

The reader should note that this warning that is given is not given to Judah alone, but also to those who had infiltrated and polluted the society being prophesied to.

The old prophet goes through a list of those peoples, and specifies what is to come for them as well.

Note also the promise contained in that 3^rd verse!

Viewed through the macroscope of time, the similarities to that world and this one are impossible to deny.

Viewed through the judgments that were given, and the proof of history of those judgments having come to pass, why should this or any other people expect to face a lesser judgment for a greater crime?

The 3^rd chapter continues in pronouncement of that judgment, but also gives hope beginning with the 9^th verse, exhibiting that once again, redemption through repentance is not only possible, but guaranteed!

“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.

From the rivers of Ethiopia my supplicants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

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.

 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.

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.”

(Zephaniah 3:9-13)

Zephaniah continues to promise a return to God’s grace for that people, and the blessings that are to come with that grace.  The promises of the concluding verses are something that we should strive for in every society today, just as those of that remnant had to do at that time.

“Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven our; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

At that time will I bring you again, even in the time 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.”

(Zephaniah 3:19 & 20)

“Well, preacher, once again, what does this prophecy have to do with us? We aren’t in any kind of captivity!”

I beg to differ, friends, we are in a far worse captivity than even the slavery experienced by the Jews while in Egypt.

We are being held captive by a world that daily refutes the existence of our God, and our Savior. It is a world that is sometimes subtle in its efforts to banish God from our society, sometimes violent and very much open in those efforts.

We are bombarded with political correctness (Pollution of Belief) on the airwaves, in our government agencies and even at times from the pulpit.

 That Great Day I mentioned in the title is yet to come for this society, but it is a day that has been promised by God throughout time. God cannot and will not lie, therefore not only will that day come, but so too must we expect the judgment that comes with it.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

I repeat again the warning given by that old prophet that we visited today, and more importantly the warning given by the greatest prophet of all, Jesus himself!

We have the same choice available to us that was made available to those who chose to seek Him in those days, except that our choice is far easier to make acceptable to God.

Jesus gave us the ability to choose personal redemption through repentance, and that is the only redemption that will matter when we stand before the Judge!

Jesus said Whosoever, this includes you as well.

As for our nation and society, we have choices to be made by those who live in it. We may choose to go along to get along, or we must choose to live in the light of the love demanded of us by both our Savior and his father. That love must include a return from political correctness to biblical correctness.

God never gave us a choice to pick and choose which of his laws we want to follow and which to discard because it is inconvenient to us or others at the time. He demands all or nothing!

If you choose less than all…You have chosen nothing!

I close as always with the sincere love of this pitiful sinner saved only by the grace of my God through faith in the redemption offered by the sacrifice of His son, still a lowly soldier in His Service, praying that others find that same redemption before the arrival of that Great Day.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer