“At that time will I bring you again, even in
time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all
people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith
the Lord.” Zeph
3:20
Zephaniah
foretold both the near day of judgment against Judah and the future day of judgment against the entire world. Such warnings, however, only provided the context for the book’s main purpose,
which was to muster tireless trust in God’s faithfulness to preserve and
ultimately delivering his believing remnant, even through judgment. Zephaniah’s
summons to submit by “seeking” and “waiting upon” God, culminates in the joy of
the redeemed in their salvation through Christ. With the shadows of judgment
looming, Zephaniah’s greatest motivation for patiently pursuing God comes in
his glorious vision of future hope that is held out for all who persevere in
faith; the book’s final verse includes a magnificent portrait of hope.
It begins “at that time” — when the
proud are removed and the God-dependent persevere. God clearly promises to
exalt his own before the world’s eyes. The
ultimate end of new covenant transformation is worship. All things are from
God, through God, and to God (Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:16). It
is about His glory, His Son, His greatness, His exaltation and as we gather for
worship, may our lives illustrate the matchless worth of God in Christ
Jesus.
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