Glory to God! The Lord has been good to us throughout the past week and our life with Him so far proves that He will remain good to us for the rest of our life. When we look back and examine our own life-path till this moment, we can understand that the Lord has been guiding us through every path we took, whether we took an easy path or a difficult path. And He was on our side and protected us from every harm and danger, as Apostle Paul stated: He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us (2 Corinthians 1:10). God spoke through one of the Psalmists that:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Psalm 43:1b-3a; also refer to Psalm 23:4; 91:3-7; Daniel 3:25).

Elsewhere it is stated that the Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth (Psalm 145:18; also refer to 34:18; 73:28; Isaiah 55:6). Prophet Jeremiah noted down God’s word that You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13; also refer to Deuteronomy 4:29). James the brother of Jesus wrote: Come near to God and he will come near to you (James 4:8a). Yes, it’s absolutely true that if we draw closer to God, He will come near to us for sure; and if He is near to us, there is nothing to fear or worry about with regard to the challenges we face in our life. For instance, when the children of Israel faced trials and temptations during their forty years of wilderness journey (Exodus 16:35; Deuteronomy 8:4; 29:5; Joshua 5:6; Nehemiah 9:21; Psalm 95:10), the Lord helped them to overcome all such situations as they drew closer to Him and cried out to Him abiding in His righteous laws and decrees and commands, as the Scripture points out: They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle (Psalm 107:5-7). Apostle Paul stated: … God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13). Since the Lord is good to us, He will …

• • stay close to us in every life-circumstance [expected or unexpected] (James 4:8)
  • give rest to us in all restless situations
  • comfort/console us in times of our pain and sufferings
  • heal all our infirmities and inabilities
  • do good to us at all times
  • deliver us from all harm and danger
  • save our soul from eternal condemnation, and so on.

He is our El-Roi, the God who sees us (Genesis 16:13; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Job 34:21; Psalm 33:13; Proverbs 15:3; Isaiah 40:27). He sees us through all of our life situations – He sees our life-circumstance, He sees our faithfulness toward Him and others, He sees our praise and worship of Him, He sees the good we do for others, He sees our pain and struggles, He sees all our unanswered questions, He sees our anger, regrets, sadness, despair, disappointments, loneliness, fear, and He sees all that we go through in life; and He will help us to continue the good we do with the help of His Holy Spirit, and, at the same time, He will help us to overcome the defects and deficiencies we have in our life. Yes, we can overcome any challenging life situation through our trust in the Lord, as it is mentioned: The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles (Psalm 34:17). God spoke through prophet Jeremiah: I will save you from the hands of the wicked and deliver you from the grasp of the cruel (Jeremiah 15:21). It is mentioned in the book of Psalms that It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes (Psalm 118:8-9). All these Scripture passages points out that if we trust in the Lord, He will deliver us from all our troubles, which is God’s promise to us (Psalm 34:19; 54:7; 118:7; 1 Corinthians 10:13).

The Lord God Almighty blessed us with a hopeful and promising verse for our SftW meditation this week, which is taken from the prophetic utterances of prophet Zephaniah 2:3. The book of Zephaniah is part of the Twelve Minor Prophets. The book is written by prophet Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah (Zephaniah 1:1a). Prophet Zephaniah ministered during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah (Zephaniah 1:1b). The main contents of his prophetic messages were about the fast approaching day of the Lord, the day God set apart to punish the wicked and sinful (Zephaniah 1:1-2:3; also refer to Isaiah 13:11; Jeremiah 25:31; Ezekiel 30:3; Joel 2:1-2; Amos 5:18-20; Malachi 4:1; Revelation 18:8). The Lord’s judgment is decreed upon the whole world, especially upon Judah and other nations for the sins and wickedness of their unfaithfulness, idolatry, injustice, and so on (Zephaniah 2:4-3:8; also refer to Jeremiah 46:26; 48:47; 49:6; 49:39). The day also signifies God’s restoration plans for the righteous as well as those who repent and return to the Lord seeking Him earnestly (Zephaniah 3:9-20; also refer to Isaiah 61:7; Jeremiah 30:3, 18; 31:12-14; 46:26; 48:47; 49:6; 49:39; Joel 2:25-26; Zechariah 9:12; 1 Peter 5:10).

Prophet Zephaniah gives much emphasis to the day of the Lord and the trouble and distress the Lord is planning to bring upon the earth, especially upon those who reject the truth and follow their evil ways (Zephaniah 1:14-17). It is not only prophet Zephaniah who talked about the day of the Lord and that it is near (Zephaniah 1:14-17) but several other Old Testament prophets and New Testament saints also foretold about the day of the Lord – the day the Lord comes to judge the world, for instance: prophets like Isaiah (13:6, 9-10); Jeremiah 30:7; 46:10; Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3; Joel (1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14); Amos (5:18-20); Obadiah (1:15); Zechariah (14:1); Malachi (4:1, 5);and apostles like Matthew (25:31-46); Paul (Acts 17:31); Peter (1 Peter 4:5; 2 Peter 3:10); John (Revelation 20:12-15); and so on; are also talks about the impending of the day of the Lord.

Thus, the Lord set apart the day of the Lord to judge the world and the peoples on earth. One of the Psalmists stated that … He [the Lord] will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness (Psalm 96:13). Prophet Zephaniah prophesies regarding God’s judgement upon His people Israel, particularly on Judah [in this context], and other nations in the day of the Lord and His restoration plans for the remnants of Israel and Judah and the nations:

• • The prophecy regarding God’s judgement upon the whole earth (1:2-3)
  • The prophecy regarding God’s judgement upon Judah (1:4-14)
  • The prophecy regarding God’s judgement upon Philistia 2:4-7)
  • The prophecy regarding God’s judgement upon Moab and Ammon (2:8-11)
  • The prophecy regarding God’s judgement upon Cush (2:12)
  • The prophecy regarding God’s judgement upon Assyria (2:13-15)
  • The prophecy regarding God’s judgement upon Jerusalem (3:1-5)
  • The Lord’s invitation for Judah’s repentance (2:1-3)
  • The Lord’s invitation for Jerusalem’s repentance and their denial (3:6-8)
  • The Lord’s Restoration plans and purification of the Nations (3:9-10)
  • The Lord’s Restoration plans and purification of Jerusalem (3:11-13)
  • The Lord’s Promise of restoring the remnants of His people and the nations (3:14-20).

As God is planning to bring down His judgement upon the earth, He is reminding His people and urging them, especially those who have forsaken the righteous laws and decrees and commands He has given them, through prophet Zephaniah that the day of the Lord is very near and, therefore, repent and return to Him and seek Him earnestly, so that they might be able to escape the dangers of the fierce wrath of God as He is coming to judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness (Zephaniah 2:3a; also refer to Psalm 9:7-8; 50:3-6; 96:13; 98:9; 110:5-6). Also, the Lord God urges the humble of the land as well as those who do [obey] what He commands to seek righteousness and seek humility before the day of the Lord comes (Zephaniah 2:3b). God’s judgment is not just limited to His people Israel or for His chosen ones of all times but it extends to all peoples and nations, as prophet Isaiah stated: [God said] I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless (Isaiah 13:11; also refer to Jeremiah 25:31; Zephaniah 1:17-18; Revelation6:15-17) …

• • God will punish the world for its evil
  • God will the wicked for their sins
  • God will put an end to the arrogance
  • God will put an end to the haughty
  • God will humble the pride of the ruthless

Prophet Zephaniah states that on the day of the Lord – the day of His wrath, the Lord will punish all the wicked of the land:

I will bring such distress on all people that they will grope about like those who are blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole earth will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth (Zephaniah 1:17-18).

Apostle Paul also stated similarly:

But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism (Romans 2:8-10).

The Lord God Almighty whom we worship and serve is a God of justice. We can understand two factors from knowing the reality that God is a God of justice: Firstly, the Lord does not tolerate any wickedness (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 5:4; 11:7; Isaiah 30:18b; 59:2; Habakkuk 1:13; 1 Peter 3:12); and secondly, the Lord will reward everyone who does what is right and righteous (Romans 2:6-8; Ephesians 6:8). Although the Lord punishes the wicked, He is a merciful and compassionate God and He will grant forgiveness if the wicked repent and return and wait upon Him. He will hear their prayers and answer them accordingly (Proverbs 15:29). If we plead with the Lord God Almighty and worship Him in the Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24), He will set up a path of hope for us in the middle of all the troublesome times and will save us from all harm and danger, as prophet Zephaniah stated: 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 (Zephaniah 3:15). The same God who punishes the wicked in the land [because He is the God of justice] (Proverbs 11:21; Job 21:19; Isaiah 13:11) will rescue all those who call upon His name and wait on Him (Psalm 34:19; Proverbs 18:10; Isaiah 43:2) and they will be rewarded for their righteous deeds [because He is merciful and compassionate] (1 Samuel 26:23; Psalm 18:20; 58:11).

There is no doubt that the Lord will hold everyone accountable for their actions in life – good or bad (Ecclesiastes 12:14), and He will judge every person – the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5) according to their deeds. Everyone has to give an account of what they have said or did, as Jesus foretold His disciples: I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken (Matthew 12:36). Apostle Peter also referred to the similar message to the believers in the early church that everyone will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray (1 Peter 4:5; also refer to 2 Timothy 4:11). This indicate that as each person (resurrected or transformed [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17]) pass through the judgement seat of God on the day of the Lord, the Lord Himself will examine the words they have said and the deeds they have committed during their lifetime and the wicked will be punished and go away to eternal punishment, but the godly and righteous will be rewarded and welcomed in to their eternal abode (Matthew 25:46; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Galatians 6:7-8). All these factors prove that the Lord alone is God and only the name of the Lord will be exalted in all the heavens and on the earth (1 Kings 18:39; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 18:31; 86:10; Isaiah 2:11, 17; 44:6; 46:9). When God forgives and accepts His people as His sons and daughters through Christ Jesus, they do not need to be heard or taught about God’s plans and purposes regarding their lives, but the Holy Spirit will teach them (Isaiah 54:13; John 6:45; 14:26) what they need to know and guide them into the presence of God, as Apostle John stated: As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him (1 John 2:27). Prophet Isaiah states that many peoples from around the world will come and worship the Lord God Almighty in Zion: Many peoples will come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths. The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3).

Prophet Zechariah states, on that day …

Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling (Zechariah 2:11-13)

Dear friends in the Lord, in the light of our meditation this week, let us all humble ourselves and seek the Lord, seek righteousness and seek humility believing that we will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger (Zephaniah 2:3). The Lord is trustworthy, reliable, dependable, faithful, unfailing, and steadfast.  He will fulfill all His promises to us for He who called is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; Hebrews 10:23). May the Lord God Almighty bless us all! Amen!