Zephaniah 2
Having Not Seen
Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;
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.
3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger.
4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord certainly, for he's not finished with the legions of men. Even so he's rewriting the story and setting all things right in his house once again. Perhaps you might not know where you're from nor even where you're going but trust me, our Father does in particular. As in Scripture not a sparrow falls without the Father. For those who are of more value indeed than they all so is there preciousness to be found in his sight. Considering too how diligently God would care for his people and the rewards as unto him, it's no wonder at such a time as this really that there's judgement around in the land. Might well you have remembered how that the Philistine reapers kept coming up to harry his people. They'd sin against the Lord and then they'd find the providing cut off in the land, right about the time that someone else cropped up instead. The Cherethites also were those who followed after false gods in his sight. They had a provider I'm afraid and it wasn't the Lord very much and certainly no trust in him then instead. They were called after another, that of their cherubim leader, that is if sources are accurate thus far as desired. Regardless of whoever the leader or where these had wandered, our God was setting some things right in his house. You see, he cannot come to a place where sin dwells. He just can't do it and so when it comes to his holy city set on a hill for all men to see, it follows that the light therein is only just of him. Else why would he go about searching it as with candles that would try the whole earth. Though I'm not sure what Gaza's story is particularly, though of this I'm certain that Ashkelon and Ashdod are cities of the Philistines in the midst. So often we say the phrase at burial sites perhaps where someone has died ' ashes to ashes dust to dust' echoing the phrase of our Lord that from dust were you taken and to dust shall you return. So regardless of whether anything's left in particular, the Lord in his mercy is coming back to correct all of his people. Judgement it seems must first start at his house in particular. That's when he comes correcting his servants and giving an account of their lands. Some have arisen to judgement and others to destruction with still others finding that of his mercy instead. The destruction though speaks of these places and of them that know not the Lord. How wonderful it is is it not to think of the no mores of the Lord. In that day there's be no more death, neither sorrows nor crying, nor any more pain for the Lord God himself is the light of that place. The blessed is the nation finds that God is in the midst of her right early too should she but pause and consider it really. He's got to be our focus doesn't he for where we are going. As the old gospel song goes 'be thou my vision' but oh Lord is doing one better isn't he than just letting us peep through a window of Heaven and see the blessing poured out for his people. Indeed, did he not promise that we would not even begin to have room to receive. It follows then there's something wrong with our Heavenly perspective and evne that of seeing him clearly that somehow these may be hid from the Lord in the land. He's supposed to wipe every tear from our eye isn't he and be just a hiding for all of God's people. If something seems wrong just yet in the house, let's keep going and see where the end of these all would be.
Having Not Heard
6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
9 Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
10 This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.
My goodness, it seems at such a time as this there is only the Lord. Perhaps you don't know who you are nor yet indeed who these other people are but God knows them and that's good enough for me. There's Ammon, which I'm not too sure at the moment where all these wandered from. Quite possibly, they came from Esau Jacbo's brother whom he'd tricked and decieve and now had only bad feelings and ill will also because of the birthright that was traded instead. Moab also as the washpot of God is also kin to this text. See, God knew where each was from and their own personal stories also that led them there to this place and this time. Sodom and Gomorrah also which are a desolation perpetually have been done because they trusted not the Lord God in sum. Though their trust should've been in the Lord God of hosts who would've accomplished their ways and made their feet stand. How often though do some of you know that you cannot speak ill of his people without maligning the God which created them. Thus, while Ammon and Moab might've seemed as not the people yet when it came to the Lord these would not be for long. He brings their judgement out as the noonday trotting it past for all to see so that when these lie down in peace and safety it's only of him. Surely you cannot speak ill of the Lord as a God who'd do nothing and so being cast down from out of his sight. Our God is not just a do nothing Father but is active and engaged in all of our lives. It comes then that this consummation will be catching up even of them. Thus, that when these places are desolate and uninhabited as has been promised the prophets, that our God is preparing himself a remnant for all of his people. Perhaps it's something left over and spoiled. Still though our God will remember so that not his people might not fall in his sight. So often we act like we're not seeing still or trusting the Lord for whatever is needed of this life for survival and then perhaps even some for the next it is sure. So that when our God is busily preparing a place for all of his people, perhaps it's not just a mansion in Heaven, some far off distant promise, or even a place that waits to be seen. Could it be that we don't yet know all of the Lord. Sure, we know of his Word having tasted and seen that the Lord is good and read it again. Though there's judgement waiting there certainly and what of the mansions in Heaven. Our God though is very much preparing a place for all of his people so that when there's no enemies around to be seen and only peace and safety to be found there with him. So that when that day comes and they find themselves assembled as guests bid for the Master's own table though ready and waiting on the soon coming the Lord, it might seem strange doesn't it to find houses to lodge in and provisions ready and waiting in all the coasts hereof not known. In the house down by the sea was where Zebulaon and Naphtalim used to live before all their destruction. Though when you're knowing the Lord, there's not only a place there prepared with all of his people but belonging and inclusion to be found in the midst. It follows then that if there's some flocks and some herds and a place to put them all rather that our God has been good once again to all of his people. Certainly he's not spoiling them, just caring and providing for all of his people just as the good Father is for those that know him as truly. Judah too will be there in droves, as one of the tribes which had not been left, nor forsaken, nor taken away from the Lord. See, the providing with which he kept all his people even they had enough then instead. Perhaps you don't see it just yet, don't know or even remember. Yet when our Lord's in the house it's nothing that's ever too visible is just how good our God is to his people. Our focus it seems is the only thing changed, that's in need of adjusting or perhaps somewhat strange.
Having Not Known
11 The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
12 Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.
13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.
14 And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds; for he shall uncover the cedar work.
15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
See, the heart of man is decieptful and wicked indeed. It's something that hides the true nature at hand. So that if there's no eye to have seen nor ear to have heard nor has it entered into the heart of man the wonders God has prepared it's only our God who has opened the minds. It might look senseless at the moment with Ethopians and them that are his once having left off of his Word. Assyria too for their much violence to all of his people though he used them didn't he in their sustaining much rather. Then too there's Ninevah along with what all we'd know. Jonah tells they'd once strayed away and run far from the Lord much as he had though as time would've told. There's things covered there inside that only our God can bring out, only our God can make plain the vision and make it known also to all of his people. He's the mighty God we serve who shuts what he wants to be shut and opens what he wants opened instead. None can stay his hand or disannul it for it's just how he is. His presence comes within and cleanses the house so it may be meet for his presence, the just. When it comes to the creatures though there's his presence and providing to be found throughout all the land. Nothing unclean may pass through there that we would seen. Still though our God is the one who writes the vision and makes it plain that we'd know and consider even he as the Lord. You might not see it just yet. You might not know it just yet but just you wait. There's the Word of the Lord and his promise above that if we'd only hold on we'd yet see good days in store. Though from the tithes he releases the blessing that kept men alive.