Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.

Zephaniah 1:7

Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests. Zephaniah 1:7

I continue my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my study focus is an unassisted review of the third division per my commentary: v7.  Here, we have a scene much like that of a court room where in vv1-6 Zephaniah lays out the charges against Judah (see previous posts) - see vv4-6 where Zephaniah shares God's judgement that Judah has worshiped other gods besides the One True God, and by definition Judah has turned away from God and not "inquired of Him." This is a very serious charge considering how we are to love God first and others second as the most important commandments (see also Matthew 22:36-40, Exodus 20).  The wages of sin - ALL sin - are death; see Romans 6:23. In light of the charges against Judah and how the punishment previously described by Zephaniah (see vv2-4) - how God will destroy everything, including Judah - Zephaniah now turns to Judah (and by implication all believing readers) to sit in silence as it is now God's time to force Judah's hand into listening to Him, something they should be doing daily.  God wants us to love Him, listen to Him, be obedient to Him, and ultimately to glorify to Him - this is why we exist.  We don't exist to pursue whatever dreams WE think we want.  Our dreams - if not aligned with God's will - will become idols just as those pursued by Judah.  Much like a parent disciplines a child, in v7 Zephaniah is seeking Judah's silence because God is full of love, patience, etc. and while He could have wiped out Judah WITHOUT any warning, He sees a teaching moment and ultimately out of his compassion, He is preparing an opportunity for Judah to repent. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is full of patience and grace - often giving those who fall away opportunities to repent and return to Your love arms.  Thank You Jesus for saving me and for the grace You give me.  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us led Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

 

For Israel and Judah have not been forsaken by their God, the Lord Almighty, though their land is full of guilt before the Holy One of Israel.

Jeremiah 50:46, 51, 49, and 34

For Israel and Judah have not been forsaken by their God, the Lord Almighty, though their land is full of guilt before the Holy One of Israel. Jeremiah 51:5

Day 224 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as my focus this morning is God's message (part two - yesterday was part one) through Jeremiah to Judah regarding judgement of Babylon.  God also judges Elam as my commentary* indicates "Elam and Babylonia have been bitter enemies over the centuries, it is probable that Elam is at this time a part of Nebuchadnezzar’s empire and an ally against Judah."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

In the verse I highlight today, I am reminded that

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. v11

Speaking on discipline, the author of Hebrews wants us to view our circumstances in light of how we have a Heavenly Father that disciplines just as we all had an earthly father that did the same (v4-11).  We should view hardship as discipline (v7) and training and other circumstances as well as discipline and training.  If God has great plans for us, then He should be equipping us for those plans as well should He not?

The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.

Daniel 9

The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him. v14

We may not like what God is doing in our life but just as Daniel states, God is righteous in all that He does and I would go one step further that He is perfect in all that He does.

Daniel prays to end the suffering of Israel who is in exile and pleads with God for mercy (v19).

The angel Gabriel once again appears to Daniel providing further prophecy of the end times.  See also this post from John Piper on this topic.

We must view God’s discipline as training.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who disciplines me out of love – thank You Jesus.  I know You love me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love but You provide it anyway.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my love towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.

Ezekiel 39

Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord. v28-29

God's justice is not indiscriminate...it is purposeful and out of love.  Ezekiel is used by God to deliver not just a stern message about punishment but also a message of love - this is how chapter 39 ends.

God does not like being separated from His children as we were created to be in unity with Him - this is so from the beginning in the garden of Eden. Sin separates us from God and this separation is our own doing (see also v23-24).  

Yet God does not like being separated from His children so He gathers them to be near Him and offers unity with Him through His Son Jesus Christ - the greatest gift of all time.  We were created to be in unity with God to be His ambassadors for His purpose...any punishment should be seen through this lens as God works through us to prepare us for what He has in mind for us (see also Romans 8:28).

My Prayer: What an awesome God You are that You love me and sent Your Son Jesus to die for me so that I could be free from the sting of sin and death - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love Him.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.

Lamentations 3

For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.  Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.  For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone. v31-33

Given Jeremiah's relationship with God - his proximity to God and his resulting relationship - he is able to remain hopeful for himself and for the Jewish people.  Although Jeremiah is pained by the punishment experienced by the Jewish people, he knows it is not an indiscriminate anger - God did not lash out hastily.  It is a thoughtful, rational response that is part of a plan to bring the Jews back to Him.

We know that God sent His Son - this is God's plan.  Therefore, God uses this punishment as a means to an end, not as an end in itself. 

See John Piper provides this excellent brief commentary on these verses.

See also previous posts on punishment as training. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You provided Your Son to redeem my sins, to cover my sins and to give me and everyone the opportunity to have freedom from the sting of sin and death.  We simply need to accept You into our lives and to accept this gift of grace with You as our Savior.  Thank You Jesus for the greatest gift of all time. I am not worthy of such a gift. I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Jeremiah 29

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” v10-14

Like any good father does for his children, God comes to His children who are being carried into exile to Babylonia. They deserve this punishment.  Yet God offers words of encouragement - this punishment is designed to be for your good and my glory. This is unconditional love - God may not approve of what we are doing and He may be disappointed in us, but He never stops loving us any less and all that He does is out of love for us. 

See also post from a few days ago. 

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God and I love You.  I know that all that I do is out of love for me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

Jeremiah 24

Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. v5-7

 
The Lord reveals to Jeremiah that those exiled to Babylonia should remain hopeful - that their affliction and punishment is for their own good and of course God's glory.  These people - as is the case with us - need further refinement as part of God's plan to use us for His glory.

See also punishment as training, discipline as training, and the refiner's fire.

"My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-6

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and Your discipline and punishment has produced fruit - thank You Jesus that You love me such that You desire to refine me versus throw me away.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worthy of such love and grace.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me.

Jeremiah 8

Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me. v21

God takes no pleasure in our sin; in fact, he is greatly disappointed as our sin separates us from Him and it is not God's design for us.  When He punishes us, it is for our good.

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:11-12

My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me...even when I sin and You have to punish and discipline me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love as worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’

Isaiah 47

You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’ v10

Addressing Babylonians who held Israelites in bondage, God warns those who have not seen God's hand in Israel's plight to know that their OWN sins have not gone unnoticed and will not go unpunished.  God is in control and knows everything - we must live in reverent fear of God.  At the same time we must understand and know that God loves us even though we sin, and as a demonstration of this He disciplines us out of love - see posts from last several days.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who knows everything about me, including my sin - yet You still love me and died for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  I am harsh with my words and actions. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. v10

Isaiah continues to deliver words of encouragement how, despite His disappointment with His children and how they spurned Him, God will restore Israel.  God is good - He always keeps His promises.  He will never leave or forsake us. 

Like a parent who punishes a child for his own good - it is out of love that God disciplines us.  See also post from a few days ago.

He never stops loving us and we must God's love - even when we see Him disciplining us.

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who never stops loving me - You came to rescue me - knowing everything about my sin - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a gift - I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish.

Isaiah 38

Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. v17

Hezekiah is threatened by Assyria and is on his death bed yet God relents and adds 15 years to his life and defends Judah from Sennacherib. Although Hezekiah found favor in God's eyes, he was not perfect nor are we and from time to time we will see trouble in our lives and we must strive to see what God is doing in our lives for His glory and our good - see also post here and additional posts regarding Hezekiah and Chronicles here.  

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:11-12

My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who disciplines me for Your glory and my good - I have been blessed by Your discipline.  Thank You Jesus for molding me into more of Your image.  I desire to be more like You.  I am undeserving of such love.  I continue to sin and disappoint You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.   Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.

Isaiah 6

But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land. v13

God disciplines those He loves and in the early chapters of Isaiah, a vision is described for how God will chasten the Israelites for their disobedience.  Yet in the discipline, just as in chapter 4, we must see the love of God, not only His wrath.  God promises that a remnant of the Jewish people will remain - out of love and because of His promises to Abraham, Jacob, David, etc.  In chapter 7, God tell us of a coming child - Immanuel who we know is Jesus.   

My God is not an angry God, but a God who is slow to anger and abounding in love.  

We all sin (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) and we must see discipline AS love.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me at all times and who disciplines me because of Your love for me - thank You Jesus for all that You do to mold me and to make me more like You.  I love You.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please give her a clean scan today.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.