Our Daily Scripture – 2/6/25 (Thursday)

SCRIPTURE:  ZEPHANIAH 3

EXISTING CONDITION OF JERUSALEM (vs. 1-5)

  1.  She is rebellious, defied. (v. 1)
  2.  She is disobedient and refuse to accept correction. (v. 2a)
  3.  She does not trust in the Lord nor draw near to her God. (v. 2b)
  4.  Her officials are roaring lions, her rulers are evening wolves. (v. 3)
  5.  Her prophets are arrogant and treacherous. (v. 4a)
  6.  Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law. (v. 4b)
  7.  They act corruptly in all they did. (v. 7)

WHAT GOD DID:

  1.  I have cut off nations, their strongholds are demolished. (v. 6a)
  2.  I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. (v. 6b)
  3.  I have destroyed their cities with no one left. (v. 6c)
  4.  I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath and fierce anger on them. (v. 8a)
  5.  The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger. (v. 8b)
  6.  I will purify the lips of the people that all of them may call on the name of the Lord. (v. 9)
  7.  My worshipers and scattered people will bring me offerings. (v. 10)
  8.  I will remove from this city those who rejoice in their pride. (v. 11)
  9.  I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the Lord. (v. 12)
  10.  The remnant of Israel will do no wrong.  They will eat and lie down without fear. (v. 13)

THE FUTURE OF JERUSALEM (vs. 14-20)

  1. They will rejoice with all their heart. (v. 14)
  2. God took away their punishment and turned back their enemy. (v. 15a)
  3. They will no longer fear any harm. (v. 15b)
  4. The Lord will be with them to save. (v. 17a)
  5. The Lord will quiet them with his love and rejoice over them with singing. (v. 17b)
  6. The Lord will remove the sorrows for the appointed feasts. (v. 18)
  7. God will deal with those who oppressed them. (v. 19a)
  8. God will rescue the lame and gather those who been scattered. (v. 19b)
  9. God will give them honor and praise in every land where they were put to shame. (v. 19c)
  10. God will gather them and bring them home. (v. 20a)
  11. God will restore their fortunes and give them honor and praise among all the people of the earth. (v. 20b)

THOUGHTS:

The leaders in Jerusalem were rebellious.  They pretended to worship and serve God but in their hearts they had rejected Him and continue to be complacent about their sins.  So God had to chasten them.

God’s people became so proud and refused to listen to God’s voice.  How about you?  Are you listening to the word from the Bible?  Are you willing to let God work in your life?

In the last days, God will judge all people according to what we have done.  Justice will prevail and evil will be punished.  All the obedient will be blessed.  Be patient to wait for God’s time.