Meditations in Zephaniah
 
1.  What must we do?  We must gather together before the Lord.
 
Zephaniah 2:1 – “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired.”
 
2.  Why must we gather together before the Lord?  Because we have become undesirable unto the Lord.
 
Zephaniah 2:1 – “. . . O nation not desired.”
 
3.  Why have we become undesirable unto the Lord?  Because of our sinfulness.
 
Zephaniah 1:17 – “. . . Because they have sinned against the LORD . . . .”
 
     a.  Because we have worshipped falsehood.
 
     Zephaniah 1:5 – “And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops . . .”
     (Remember that a pursuit after covetousness or self-interest is also false worship – See Matthew 6:24;
     Colossians 3:5; Philippians 3:18-19; 1 John 2:5-6)
 
     b.  Because we have mixed the worship of the Lord with falsehood.
 
     Zephaniah 1:5 – “. . . And them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham.”
 
     c.  Because we have turned back from the fellowship and service of the Lord.
 
     Zephaniah 1:6 – “And them that are turned back from the LORD . . . .”
 
     d.  Because we have not sought after the Lord or enquired for Him.
 
     Zephaniah 1:6 – “. . . And those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.”
 
     e.  Because we have disregarded any accountability before the Lord.
 
     Zephaniah 1:12 – “And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish
     the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do
     evil.”
 
4.  When must we gather together before the Lord?  BEFORE His fierce anger come upon us.
 
Zephaniah 2:2 – “Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you.”
 
5.  What are we to do when we gather together before the Lord?  We must seek for His gracious forgiveness and fellowship.
 
Zephaniah 2:3 – “Seek ye the LORD.”
 
     a.  We must come to a position of meekness before the Lord.
 
     Zephaniah 2:3 – “. . . All ye meek of the earth . . . .”
 
     b.  We must repent with broken-hearted conviction at the Lord’s judgment.
 
     Zephaniah 2:3 – “. . . Which have wrought his judgment . . . .”
 
     c.  We must pursue a pathway of righteousness and meekness.
 
     Zephaniah 2:3 – “. . . Seek righteousness, seek meekness . . . .”
 
6.  What hope do we have if we so gather before the Lord?  We may find hope in His mercy and grace.
 
Zephaniah 2:3 – “. . . It may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”

Posted in Meditations in Zephaniah, Rebellion against God, Anger of the Lord, Biblical Humility, Repentance of Sin,
​Grace and Mercy of God     

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Meditations in Jeremiah

In Jeremiah 42:1-3 we read, “Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, and said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) that the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.”  Herein this remnant of Judah presented their request for prayer that the Lord their God might direct them in the way that He would have them to go.  Yea, they made request for prayer that the Lord might direct them in the way of His will in order that they might obediently walk therein.  Certainly, this was a good request to make.  Certainly, this was the right request to make. 

Yet after having revealed the Lord’s answer to their request in Jeremiah 42:7-18, the prophet Jeremiah then presented a significant rebuke against this remnant of Judah.  Even so, in Jeremiah 42:19-20 he proclaimed, “The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.  For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it.”  Herein the prophet Jeremiah accused this remnant of having dissembled in their hearts as they expressed their request for prayer.  Now, to dissemble in one’s heart means to attempt to manipulate another by concealing one’s true motives under a false appearance.  Even so, this remnant of Judah dissembled in their prayer request before the Lord God.  Yea, they sought to manipulate the Lord God through prayer, appearing to desire His will concerning their way, while having already decided what way they intended to go.  Indeed, they sought to manipulate the Lord God through prayer into agreeing with that which they already desired and had already decided.

Meditations in Exodus

Exodus 4:14 begins with the statement, “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses.”  So then, what had Moses done to stir up the Lord’s anger?  Three times throughout Exodus 4:1-13, we find Moses questioning the Lord.  Even so, we learn that the Lord’s anger was kindled against Moses because of Moses’ spirit of questioning and doubting.

Meditations in Jeremiah

Jeremiah 32:26-29 – “Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?  Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it: and the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.”

Outlines in Psalms

This outline is a companion to three previous outlines:  And Forget Not All His Benefits - Psalm 103:1-5     
                                                                                       Bless the Lord, O My Soul - Psalm 103:1-2, 20-22     
                                                                                       Bless His Holy Name - Psalm 103    

The two themes that tie this central portion of Psalm 103 together are as follows:  (1) the mercy of the Lord that He displays toward us, and (2) the fear of the Lord that we are to maintain toward Him.

Psalm 103:8 – “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”

Psalm 103:11 – “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.”

Psalm 103:13 – “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.”

Psalm 103:17 – “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children.”