Read
Sinful Jerusalem
1Too bad for that disgusting,
corrupt, and lawless city!
2Forever rebellious
and rejecting correction,
Jerusalem refuses to trust
or obey the Lord God.
3Its officials are roaring lions,
its judges are wolves;
in the evening they attack,
by morning nothing is left.
4Jerusalem's prophets are proud
and not to be trusted.
The priests have disgraced
the place of worship
and abused God's Law.
5All who do evil are shameless,
but the Lord does right
and is always fair.
With the dawn of each day,
God brings about justice.
6The Lord wiped out nations
and left fortresses
crumbling in the dirt.
Their streets and towns
were reduced to ruins
and emptied of people.
7God felt certain that Jerusalem
would learn to respect
and obey him.
Then he would hold back
from punishing the city
and not wipe it out.
But everyone there was eager
to start sinning again.
Nations Will Turn
8The Lord said:
Just wait for the day
when I accuse you nations.
I have decided on a day,
when I will bring together
every nation and kingdom
and punish them all
in my fiery anger.
I will become furious
and destroy the earth.
9I will purify each language
and make those languages
acceptable for praising me.
Then, with hearts united,
everyone will serve
only me, the Lord.
10From across the rivers
of Ethiopia,
my scattered people,
my true worshipers,
will bring offerings to me.
11When that time comes,
you won't rebel against me
and be put to shame.
I'll do away with those
who are proud and arrogant.
Never will any of them
strut around
on my holy mountain.
12But I, the Lord, won't destroy
any of your people
who are truly humble
and turn to me for safety.
13 The people of Israel who survive
will live right
and refuse to tell lies.
They will eat and rest
with nothing to fear.
Reflect
Monday mornings are glorious. Monday mornings are another opportunity to see the Lord at work in our lives, in the lives of those around us, in our communities, at our places of work and wherever we may go.
After describing what could be any corrupt city in the world, Zephaniah makes a startling statement of faith in verse 5 of this chapter: “the Lord does right and is always fair. With the dawn of each day, God brings about justice.” This must have been just as hard for the faithful and righteous in Zephaniah’s day to believe as it is for us today. With eyes of faith, Christ invites us to look beyond that which is disgusting, corrupt, lawless, and rebellious and to see glimpses of righteousness, glimpses of what is fair, glimpses of justice, glimpses of God’s grace, holiness and glory.
But more than that, Zephaniah reassures us that the day is coming when God will punish the nations for their sin, and put away those who are proud and arrogant. That the day is coming when people will only serve the Lord. Remember, the day is coming when the truly humble will eat and rest with nothing to fear. In the meantime, the truly humble are reminded that God is not silent, and that they have the awesome privilege of looking through eyes of faith and seeing God bringing about justice Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and every day of the week.
Respond
Lord Jesus, we rejoice in the confidence of knowing that you are doing what is right and fair, and that with the dawn of each new day you bring about justice. Open our eyes that we might see glimpses of what you are doing today in our midst, so that we may praise your holy name. Amen.
James Bruyn
Dr. James Bruyn is a bi-vocational visionary leader, writer and speaker who enjoys helping individuals integrate their faith in God with their daily life. James is passionate about connecting the rich promises of our loving Heavenly Father that we find in the Bible, with the joys and challenges of living out our faith in the workplace. James leads a ministry to Christians in the marketplace in Calgary, provides leadership coaching, and consults for the rail industry. Publications: God With Us At Work; Gifted To Do Our Work (Word Alive Press)