Sunday, December 18, 2016

DBRP_354 ZEP.3 ISA.57 REV.11


ZEPHANIAH 3:
Today we read the last chapter of Zephaniah. In chapter 2, we heard words that were much like what we heard recently in Isaiah 49 and 55:

2 NLT Gather [together] before judgment begins,
before your time to repent is blown away like chaff.
Act now, before the fierce fury of the LORD falls
and the terrible day of the LORD’s anger begins.
3 Seek the LORD, all who are humble,
and follow his commands.
Seek to do what is right
and to live humbly.
Perhaps even yet the LORD will protect you—
protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.

Note that God repeatedly says, “What you need to do to get right with me, do it NOW. Don’t put it off!”

ISAIAH 57:
In chapter 56, we heard how God’s plan includes even eunuchs and foreigners— which includes us. The chapter ended with a condemnation of Israel’s leaders which was filled with irony. The people who listened to Jesus when he said that he is the Good Shepherd, would likely have thought back to Isaiah’s words:

11 NLT Like greedy dogs, they are never satisfied.
They are ignorant shepherds,
all following their own path
and intent on personal gain.
12 “Come,” they say, “let’s get some wine and have a party.
Let’s all get drunk.
Then tomorrow we’ll do it again
and have an even bigger party!”

REVELATION 11:
We are still in the interlude before the 7th trumpet. In chapter 10 John saw a mighty angel come to earth holding a little and open scroll, the 7 thunders spoke. That— in prophetic language, indicates God’s voice, and John takes the scroll and as commanded eats it. This is not the first time a prophet has been told to eat a scroll. Do you remember the name of the other prophet? The mighty angel stood on the land and the sea. The sea symbolizes the kingdom of darkness, so his standing on land and sea indicates that the message the angel brings will impact the whole world even including Satan’s kingdom.



Dear heavenly Father and our Lord Christ Jesus: How amazing and how poetic will be the judgment that you will bring on the earth. You will destroy those who destroy the earth. You will have complete victory over Satan. Yet following that judgment, you say in Zephaniah:

3:12 I will leave there a humble and lowly people, who will come to me for help.
And this agrees with your words written down by Isaiah:

57:15 “I am the high and holy God, who lives forever. I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and repentant, so that I can restore their confidence and hope.

We worship you as the high and holy God, who lives forever. And today we have again glimpsed the high and holy place where you live. But one day, may we join those humble people with whom you will live. We repent Lord. And you restore our confidence and hope! Further you say:

19-21 I offer peace to all, both near and far! I will heal my people. But evil people are like the restless sea, whose waves never stop rolling in, bringing filth and muck. There is no safety for sinners,” says the Lord.

Lord we thank you that the seventh and last trumpet will soon sound. Your rule will suddenly become absolute. There will be no more waiting. And you will reward all who have served you. Just as you brought the captives back from Babylon--- not as slaves, but as freed people, so you will bring us into your glorious victory.


Check out this episode!

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