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December 19

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WHEN WILL THE LORD LIVE AMONG US?

From: December 19, 2023

“For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs” (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT).

Near the end of Zephaniah’s prophecy of trouble and tribulation for Israel, he prophesied the coming of a Mighty Savior. Like a mighty hero, He would abide with them and rescue them. Like a husband, He would receive and rejoice over His bride. Like a mother, He would quiet their weeping with His love and sing a joyous song over them to help them forget their tears.

Surely, this prophesy was fulfilled in Christ’s first coming. Yet, not completely. For as John wrote, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). The Messiah has come, but His own people rejected Him. “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

Zephaniah’s prophecy was partially fulfilled at Christ’s first coming. Christ has come as Immanuel, God with us. He has come as Savior. But His singing over Israel points to a coming not yet fulfilled. The complete fulfillment of this prophecy points to Christ’s Second Coming. The First Advent was preparation for the Second Advent. Christ has come. Christ is coming again.

In the meantime, He already lives among us by His Holy Spirit. He lives in us and we abide in Him. And the fruit of His life in us sings within us, songs of love, joy, and peace.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we celebrate Christ’s first coming. His birth, sacrificial death and resurrection. Yet, we look forward in hope to His soon return. Until then, strengthen us to proclaim Him to the nations with our praise and singing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The Lord gave this message to Zephaniah when Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah” (Zephaniah 1:1 NLT).

From: December 19, 2022

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS THROUGHOUT THE GENERATIONS

Do you know your great, great grandfather’s name? Zephaniah did. Some believe he gave such an extensive lineage in his introduction to establish that he was a descendent of King Hezekiah. However, it does seem odd that he didn’t refer to him as “King Hezekiah” if that were truly the case. Regardless, Zephaniah knew his lineage well. He had probably memorized his family’s “begats” all the way back to Abraham as this would have been part of his childhood training. Every Jew had to be able to establish their tribal identity in order to receive the lands and titles of their inheritance. Only Levites could serve as priests, only those from the Levitical house of Aaron could serve as High Priest, the throne in Jerusalem belonged to a descendant of David, and so on.

The prophet Zephaniah wrote during the “days of” King Josiah, the last good king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. His prophecy warned the people of Judah to repent because God was soon to judge them and only a remnant would be saved. Zephaniah’s prophecy of judgment was fulfilled when Jerusalem fell to Babylon.

However, his prophecy about the remnant being rescued by the “Mighty Savior” is only partially complete (see Zeph. 3:17). Jesus, the Son of David, Son of God, is the Mighty Savior who has come and lived among us. And He will soon come again.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we come to You with the awareness of Your faithfulness throughout the generations. We ask that You empower us to fulfill Your purpose in this generation. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV).

From: December 19, 2021

GOD IN OUR MIDST, REJOICING OVER US

Near the end of Zephaniah’s prophecy of trouble and tribulation for Israel, he prophesied the coming of a Mighty Savior. Like a mighty hero, He would abide with them and rescue them. Like a husband, He would receive and rejoice over His bride. Like a mother, He would quiet their weeping with His love and sing a joyous song over them to help them forget their tears.
 
Surely, this prophesy has been fulfilled in Christ’s first coming. Yet, not so. For as John wrote, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). The Messiah has come, but His own people rejected Him. Remember how Jesus grieved that Jerusalem would not let Him comfort her? “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, …How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matt. 23:37). Jesus sang with His disciples (See Mark 14:26), but not over Jerusalem.
 
Zephaniah’s prophecy therefore points to a coming not yet fulfilled. His prophecy points to Christ’s Second Coming. The First Advent was preparation for the Second Advent. Christ has come. Christ is coming again. And He will come singing over us.
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we celebrate Christ’s first coming. His birth, sacrificial death and resurrection. Yet, we look forward in hope to His soon return. Until then, strengthen us to proclaim Him to the nations with our praise and singing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV).

From: December 19, 2020

IMMANUEL, GOD WITH US, SINGING OVER US

Near the end of Zephaniah’s prophecy of trouble and tribulation for Israel, he prophesied the coming of a Mighty Savior. Like a mighty hero, He would abide with them and rescue them. Like a husband, He would receive and rejoice over His bride. Like a mother, He would quiet their weeping with His love and sing a joyous song over them to help them forget their tears.
 
Surely, this prophesy has been fulfilled in Christ’s first coming. Yet, not so. For as John wrote, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). The Messiah has come, but His own people rejected Him. Remember how Jesus grieved that Jerusalem would not let Him comfort her? “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, …How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matt. 23:37). Jesus sang with His disciples (See Mark 14:26), but not over Jerusalem.
 
Zephaniah’s prophecy therefore points to a coming not yet fulfilled. His prophecy points to Christ’s Second Coming. The First Advent was preparation for the Second Advent. Christ has come. Christ is coming again. And He will come singing.
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we celebrate Christ’s first coming. His birth, sacrificial death and resurrection. Yet, we look forward in hope to His soon return. Until then, strengthen us to proclaim Him to the nations with our praise and singing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The Lord gave this message to Zephaniah when Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah” (Zephaniah 1:1 NLT).

From: December 19, 2019

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS THROUGHOUT THE GENERATIONS

Do you know your great, great grandfather’s name? Zephaniah did. Some believe he gave such an extensive lineage in his introduction to establish that he was a descendent of King Hezekiah. However, he probably would have referred to him as “King Hezekiah” if that were truly the case. Regardless, Zephaniah knew his lineage well. He had probably memorized his family’s “begats” all the way back to Abraham as this would have been part of his childhood training. Every Jew had to be able to establish their tribal identity in order to receive the lands and titles of their inheritance. Only Levites could serve as priests, only those from the Levitical house of Aaron could serve as High Priest, the throne in Jerusalem belonged to a descendant of David, and so on.
 
The prophet Zephaniah wrote during the “days of” King Josiah, the last good king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. His prophecy warned the people of Judah to repent because God was soon to judge them and only a remnant would be saved. Zephaniah’s prophecy of judgment was fulfilled when Jerusalem fell to Babylon. However, his prophecy about the remnant being rescued by the “Mighty One” (Zeph. 3:17) who saves is only partially complete. Jesus, the Mighty One, the Son of David and Son of God has come and will soon come again to take up His rightful place on David’s royal throne.
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we come to You with the awareness of Your faithfulness throughout the generations. We ask that You empower us to fulfill Your purpose in this generation. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar” (Psalm 138:6 NKJV).

From: December 19, 2017

Though the Lord God is transcendent, high and holy above all creation, He draws near to the humble of heart. He “regards the lowly,” leaning in to “lift them up” (James 4:10). But the Lord “resists the proud” (James 4:6), fully aware of them, yet aloof.
 
Does God seem near or far from you today? If the distance seems great, God has not moved. Perhaps your pride has taken you afar. Turn and draw near. Repent of pride and self-effort. Humble yourself before the Lord in Jesus’ name. For our God is high and holy, but He is also humble, willing to stoop down and save sinners that call on His name.

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands” (Psalm 138:8 ESV)

From: December 19, 2016

The psalmist David expressed his confidence that the Lord would “fulfill His purpose” for him. He did not ask God to bring to pass his own plans, but that God would “fulfill” what He planned for David’s life. He prayed, “God use me for the express purpose for which You made me!” This can be our prayer too. We can join David in praying, “Lord, fulfill Your purpose for me.”

“The word of the Lord which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah” (Zephaniah 1:1 NKJV)

From: December 19, 2015

Do you know your great, great grandfather’s name? Zephaniah did. Some believe he gave such an extensive lineage in his introduction to establish that he was a descendent of King Hezekiah. However, he probably would have referred to him as “King Hezekiah” if that were truly the case. Regardless, Zephaniah knew his lineage well. He had probably memorized his family’s “begats” all the way back to Abraham as this would have been part of his childhood training. Every Jew had to be able to establish their tribal identity in order to receive the lands and titles of their inheritance. Only Levites could serve as priests, only those from the Levitical house of Aaron could serve as High Priest, the throne in Jerusalem belonged to a descendant of David, and so on. The prophet Zephaniah wrote during the “days of” King Josiah, the last good king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. His prophecy warned the people of Judah to repent because God was soon to judge them and only a remnant would be saved. Zephaniah’s prophecy of judgment was fulfilled when Jerusalem fell to Babylon. However, his prophecy about the remnant being rescued by the “Mighty One” (Zeph. 3:17) who saves is only partially complete. Jesus, the Mighty One, the Son of David and Son of God has come and will soon come again to take up His rightful place on David’s royal throne.

“So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. “Yes, take it and eat it,” he said. “It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!” (Revelation 10:9 NLT)

From: December 19, 2014

John was given a scroll to “eat” in his vision, just as the prophet Ezekiel had been given one in his (Ezekiel 3:1-3). For both of them, it was as “sweet as honey” when they chewed on it, but unpleasant when they digested the impact of its message. God’s Word is sweet to the believer whose ears are open to hear it, yet it is “sour” as they consider those whose ears will not. Our joy in God’s future plans of judgment is tempered by the realization that many that we love and care about will not escape His divine wrath. We therefore commit to keep chewing on God’s sweet Word, yielding to its work in us, and announcing its message to others. Perhaps, those we love will eventually open their ears to hear. And relieve our soured stomachs.

“For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord” (Zephaniah 3:9)

From: December 19, 2013

The prophet Zephaniah was a resident of Jerusalem prior to its overthrow by Babylon. He was probably a member of the royal family of David (see his reference to Hezekiah). His prophecy was a call to repentance and of coming judgment. Yet, in the midst of these words, he reported God’s plan for a coming “time” when all peoples would call upon the name of God with a “pure” and changed speech. A future day when the peoples of the world would serve God in “one accord.”