Zephaniah 3:1-13 (NRSV)
1Ah, soiled, defiled,
oppressing city!
2It has listened to no voice;
it has accepted no correction.
It has not trusted in the LORD;
it has not drawn near to its God.
3The officials within it
are roaring lions;
its judges are evening wolves
that leave nothing until the morning.
4Its prophets are reckless,
faithless persons;
its priests have profaned what is sacred,
they have done violence to the law.
5The LORD within it is righteous;
he does no wrong.
Every morning he renders his judgment,
each dawn without fail;
but the unjust knows no shame.
6I have cut off nations;
their battlements are in ruins;
I have laid waste their streets
so that no one walks in them;
their cities have been made desolate,
without people, without inhabitants.
7I said, "Surely the city will fear me,
it will accept correction;
it will not lose sight
of all that I have brought upon it."
But they were the more eager
to make all their deeds corrupt.
8Therefore wait for me, says the LORD,
for the day when I arise as a witness.
For my decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
to pour out upon them my indignation,
all the heat of my anger;
for in the fire of my passion
all the earth shall be consumed.
9At that time I will change the speech of the peoples
to a pure speech,
that all of them may call on the name of the LORD
and serve him with one accord.
10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
my suppliants, my scattered ones,
shall bring my offering.
11On that day you shall not be put to shame
because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
in my holy mountain.
12For I will leave in the midst of you
a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD —
13the remnant of Israel;
they shall do no wrong
and utter no lies,
nor shall a deceitful tongue
be found in their mouths.
Then they will pasture and lie down,
and no one shall make them afraid.
oppressing city!
2It has listened to no voice;
it has accepted no correction.
It has not trusted in the LORD;
it has not drawn near to its God.
3The officials within it
are roaring lions;
its judges are evening wolves
that leave nothing until the morning.
4Its prophets are reckless,
faithless persons;
its priests have profaned what is sacred,
they have done violence to the law.
5The LORD within it is righteous;
he does no wrong.
Every morning he renders his judgment,
each dawn without fail;
but the unjust knows no shame.
6I have cut off nations;
their battlements are in ruins;
I have laid waste their streets
so that no one walks in them;
their cities have been made desolate,
without people, without inhabitants.
7I said, "Surely the city will fear me,
it will accept correction;
it will not lose sight
of all that I have brought upon it."
But they were the more eager
to make all their deeds corrupt.
8Therefore wait for me, says the LORD,
for the day when I arise as a witness.
For my decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
to pour out upon them my indignation,
all the heat of my anger;
for in the fire of my passion
all the earth shall be consumed.
9At that time I will change the speech of the peoples
to a pure speech,
that all of them may call on the name of the LORD
and serve him with one accord.
10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
my suppliants, my scattered ones,
shall bring my offering.
11On that day you shall not be put to shame
because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
in my holy mountain.
12For I will leave in the midst of you
a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD —
13the remnant of Israel;
they shall do no wrong
and utter no lies,
nor shall a deceitful tongue
be found in their mouths.
Then they will pasture and lie down,
and no one shall make them afraid.
Observation: God's judgment on the city of Jerusalem is severe. Its leaders are like lions, its judges like wolves, its prophets faithless. Yet God promises not just to condemn but also to restore pure speech and a remnant of faithful people.
Application: It's easy to be overwhelmed by the headlines. I often am. I resonate deeply with Zephaniah's outrage at corruption in his day. Yet I also resonate with his hope, that God hasn't given up. God is still paying attention, and justice will reign. It is still worthwhile to be faithful to God, even in a seemingly faithless world. It's the only way to be.
Prayer: God, I pray for justice and peace. Be among us in this fallen world, and show us your mercy. Give us hope. In Jesus' name, amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment