PROPER 28-Old Testament
TEXT: Zephaniah 1:7-16
TITLE: The Predicted Day of the Lord
“At that time I will search Jerusalem…and punish those who are complacent…who think, ’The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.” Zephaniah.1:12
Weather is known to be unpredictable. Therefore, people go to great lengths to prepare for it. They take along an umbrella for possible rain or an extra sweater for possible cold, or sun screen if they think it will be a sunny day. If people prepare themselves for something as unpredictable as weather, why don’t they prepare for something that calls for preparation and is predictable-the return of our Lord? Some do; His believers! Yet some choose to remain complacent even in the face of what’s certain to come.
Our text is full of predicted imagery as to what that day is going to be like; bitter cries, shouting, it will be a day of writhing, wrath, and ruin; such as the world has never known. Such a warning instills fear and fear can sometimes be good. The Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” However, there are those who think, “There’s no God!” or “The Lord will do nothing.” For the believers the Psalmist says, “It will not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. (KJV) The reward for complacency and unpreparedness! However, we His children, not motivated by ‘fear-fear,‘ but Godly fear and by His love and we believe it is by His grace we are saved. Thus, ours will be a reward of peace and eternal joy!
Father, keep me ever prepared for Your second coming, in Jesus Name, Amen.
