More on the judgement of God
Date 29 01 23 Text Zephaniah 2 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
I don't know about you but if I'm reading a book, I like to be quite strict and not look at the end of the story. Others are not strict at all and are quite happy to sneak a look at the end and see how it is all going to work out. Now with this book of Zephaniah that we are looking at I have decided that you probably need some encouragement to press on to the end and so I am going to give you a hint of what is at the end.
We have looked at Chapter 1 and this week I want us to look at Chapter 2 but, as we will see, although there are one or two encouraging things here; there is no real let up in the theme of judgment. There are different emphases true but still it is mostly judgment all the way. The theme is still the LORD's fierce anger … the day of the LORD's wrath ... the day of the LORD's anger … Woe to you ... "I will destroy you, and none will be left." … The LORD will be awesome to them when he destroys all the gods of the earth. … What a ruin she has become ….
But let me assure you of where all this is heading. In Chapter 3:14-20 it is all very different. There at the end of the book we read - Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing." etc, etc.
So that is where we are heading but first we have four prophecies, mostly full of woe – the first is spoken against God's own people, the rest against their neighbours. Four things then
1. Be ready for judgment, humble and obedient ones; seek God, righteousness and humility
Three things here
1. Realise what is coming
In verse 2 we read about a future time when the decree takes effect and that day passes like windblown chaff, it is the day when the LORD's fierce anger comes upon you … the day of the LORD's wrath that is going to come upon you.
We have seen this in Chapter 1 but here it is again – a day of judgment is coming, a day of the LORD's fierce anger … the day of the LORD's wrath. Because of sin, there will be judgement and it is important that we know that this day is coming. Before it comes there will be times of judgment for individuals and one day there will be a universal judgment for all.
DEWS is the name of a European Union project designed to give an early warning of tsunamis and other geological problems such as erupting volcanoes and landslides. The name stands for Distant Early Warning System. The project is based on the idea that to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Clearly, the sooner we know that a disaster is ahead then the better; the greater the likelihood of being able to avoid it. Warnings like this are in the Bible to urge us to be prepared, to be ready.
2. What to do about it
The chapter begins Gather together, gather yourselves together, you shameful nation. Sinful Israel is addressed first. In verse 3 they are told Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility …. So by and large the nation acts shamefully but there is a remnant who are humble and who are obedient and the appeal goes out to them to come together and to seek three related things
- Seek God. Always in Scripture we are urged to seek the Lord.
- Seek righteousness. Anyone who is genuinely seeking God will be seeking righteousness – true goodness, the right way. Jesus says that blessing comes to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.
- Seek humility. The people in mind here are humble people but part of true humility is that you see the need to be more humble. It is what the Bible calls growing in grace.
3. Why to act that way
The reason is perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger. It is not put very strongly but there is the hint of salvation for those who do as is recommended. Of course, we can say more boldly today that if a person genuinely seeks the Lord and relies on Jesus Christ then that person will indeed be protected from all harm on the day of the LORD's anger but then it was a little more tentative.
In November 1938, UK Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain put Sir John Anderson in charge of Air Raid Precautions. Anderson was a scientist turned politician who led the Ministry of Home Security, responsible for civil defence, air raid wardens, rescue squads, fire services, the Women’s Voluntary Service and what came to be known as Anderson shelters.
Anderson commissioned engineer William Patterson to design a small and cheap shelter that could be erected in people’s gardens. The first one was erected in a garden in Islington, 25 February 1939 and, between then and the outbreak of war in September, around 1.5 million were distributed to people in areas expected to be bombed and so in need of protection. During the war a further 2.1 million were erected. Anderson shelters were issued free to many households; others were charged £7.
Easily erected, the shelters were made from six curved sheets bolted together at the top, with steel plates at either end, and measuring 1.95m by 1.35m, the shelter could accommodate four adults and two children. Shelters were half buried in the ground with earth heaped on top. When the bombs dropped it was frightening but you were safe. God will keep safe all who trust in him on that day.
2. Hear this judgment on those in the west and the promise of restoration for God's people
From Israel, Zephaniah turns his attention to those living west and east and south and north of them, as the prophets often do. First, west:
For much of the Old Testament period the great enemy of God's people is the Philistines, who are spoken of in verses 4-7. The Philistines appear to have come from the west, perhaps Crete or another island and settled in Canaan around the same time as the Hebrews. They chiefly occupied the western part of the country. They had five main cities and four are mentioned here – Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron. Gath is the only one missing. Different words are used for the different cities but they are all negative words (4) - Gaza will be abandoned and Ashkelon left in ruins. At midday Ashdod will be emptied and Ekron uprooted. There is some wordplay going on here. It is not possible to reproduce it properly in English but it is something like “Gaza will be Godforsaken and Ashkelon abolished. At midday Ashdod will be abandoned and Ekron extirpated.” Abandonment, ruin, emptying and uprooting – that is what lies in store for those who oppose the people of God.
Picture such people as being set adrift like a boat, being ruined like a building being demolished with a wrecking ball, thrown out like an upturned rubbish bin on the back of a refuse lorry and like weeds being pulled up by the roots.
Verses 5 and 6 sum up Woe to you who live by the sea, you Kerethite people; another way of referring to the Philistines the word of the LORD is against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines. He says, "I will destroy you, and none will be left." The land by the sea will become pastures having wells for shepherds and pens for flocks. Each of the cities will go. These urban centres that were once so splendid and magnificent will be removed and become fit only for pasturing sheep.
The final comment in verse 7 contains a hint of hope for God's people. That land will belong to the remnant of the people of Judah; there they will find pasture. In the evening they will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon. The LORD their God will care for them; he will restore their fortunes. Where Philistines once roamed, God's people will rule. There they will pasture their sheep. Their sheep will lay down at night in the ruins of Ashkelon. There the LORD will take care of his people. The promise is that their fortunes will be restored.
How that should encourage us. Yes God is coming in judgment but those who survive, his remnant, will be blessed. Be thankful it is so,
3. Hear this judgment on those proud mockers in the east and the promise of reversal
Having looked west the prophet next looks east and to the adjacent nations of Moab and Ammon on the other side of the Dead Sea. God speaks and he says (8) “I have heard the insults of Moab and the taunts of the Ammonites, who insulted my people and made threats against their land.” God is always aware when his people are being persecuted. He remains alert. It affects him too.
Those who persecute believers can expect to be judged in due time. It goes on (9) “Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will become like Sodom, the Ammonites like Gomorrah - a place of weeds and salt pits, a wasteland forever.” You remember what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah. The allusion to Sodom and Gomorrah and the judgment brought on them long ago is appropriate as not only is this all in the same area but Moab and Ammon were the fruit of the incestuous liaison between Lot and his daughters remember.
In the rest of verse 9 we read God's words “The remnant of my people will plunder them; the survivors of my nation will inherit their land.” Once again this theme of a reversal, a turning of the tables, is here. Referring to Moab and Ammon verses 10 and 11 say This is what they will get in return for their pride, for insulting and mocking the people of the LORD Almighty. The LORD will be awesome to them when he destroys all the gods of the earth. Distant nations will bow down to him, all of them in their own lands. In Moab and Ammon they worshipped idols but all that is coming to an end as we mentioned preaching from Chapter 1. The end has begun. We see it all around us but there will be a final destruction of all the gods of the earth at the last. Zephaniah saw a day that is now here in part when Distant nations will bow down to the true God, all of them in their own lands. And so again – judgment for all who refuse to repent but glory to God.
4. Hear this judgment on those in south and north once so proud and the promise of reversal
As for the south, verse 12 is very brief, "You Cushites, too, will be slain by my sword." This is a reference to those who lived south of Egypt with whom Israel had limited interaction. They were going to suffer God's judgment, however, when Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians rose to power. Nebuchadnezzar would overthrow the Egyptians and the Cushites who tried to help them. Interestingly, Zephaniah refer to the Cushites' defeat by the Babylonians as my sword. When a nation falls, it is God who allows it.
The final point of the compass was north and this time, the Assyrians. These, of course, were the people who carried off the Israelites into exile and made it so difficult for Judah. Their time will come, however, it is clear.
13 He will stretch out his hand a phrase we had n Chapter 1 against the north and destroy Assyria, leaving Nineveh utterly desolate and dry as the desert. Another run of ds then - destroyed, desolate and desiccated. Again we have this picture of an urban setting so destroyed that it is fit only for sheep to graze. 14 Flocks and herds will lie down there, creatures of every kind. The desert owl and the screech owl will roost on her columns. You can almost hear them hooting. Their hooting will echo through the windows, rubble will fill the doorways, the beams of cedar will be exposed. The place is now a ruin, as indeed happened to Assyria. Verse 15 alludes to her pride This is the city of revelry that lived in safety. She said to herself, "I am the one! And there is none besides me." That is true of many cities in this world no doubt. New York, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, Berlin, London. How proud each one. But listen to the final words of the chapter What a ruin she has become, a lair for wild beasts! All who pass by her scoff and shake their fists. Again what a reversal, what a turning of the tables.
How important that we take this all in and do not make the mistake of living only for today. No, we need to be ready for the day of God's wrath whenever it may come.
