Paula Wiseman

Faith and life meet in a story

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Posts that reference the book of Zephaniah

Seeking

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Side view of a Beagle puppy walking, sniffing the floor, isolated on whiteSeek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. Zephaniah 2:3

Seek. The dictionary says it means to resort to, to go to. The Greek word means to search out by worship and prayer, to strive after.

It takes hard work and focused effort.

Seek the Lord, the source of our lives, the source of all life.

Seek righteousness, living by His ways and His commands.

Seek humility, realizing everything we have is a gift from Him, even our ability to seek Him and His ways.

Monday starts the work week.

Start with this work– start with seeking the Lord, seeking righteousness and seeking humility.

Perfect Love

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lightstock_60438_xsmall_user_527383Valentine’s Day is my least favorite holiday. There. I said it out loud. And it’s not because I’m alone and bitter, or I have relationship issues or anything like that. Quite the contrary. But still.

Valentine’s Day thrives on guilt and cultural pressure to make a person express sentiments of affection and love. How genuine could those expressions be after they’ve been teased out over the requisite nice dinner/flowers/candy. I mean, if you wouldn’t say it July or October, why should I believe it on February 14?

In thinking about Valentine’s Day, it made me wonder if we give our relationship with God that same treatment? Is it based on culturally expected declarations of love and devotion? Are we guilted into picking up the latest token to show our affection? Have we checked off Christmas and figure once Easter is passed we’ve done what’s expected of us until next year?

 

He deserves so much more than our obligatory, cursory commitment.

  •  This is God who delights in us (Psalm 18:19, Isaiah 62:4)
  • Who sings over us (Zephaniah 3:17)
  • Who comforts us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
  • Who defends us (Psalm 5:11)
  • Who lifted us up (Psalm 3:3, Psalm 147:6)
  • Who loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3)
  • Who laid aside His glory in order to identify Himself with us (Philippians 2:7-8)
  • Who died a horrible death because the prospect of being separated from us for all eternity was too much to bear (John 3:16)

 

This Valentines’ Day, regardless of what your relationship status is, take a moment to bask in God’s perfect love for you.

 

 

Study Tip: Zephaniah

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The latest in our ongoing look at the Minor Prophets.

Zephaniah is one of the last prophetic voices crying out before the fall of Judah to the Babylonians. He tells us in the very first verse that he is of royal blood and he uses that platform to deliver a sober message of the impending judgment. His words likely date to the period just before Josiah's sweeping reforms and he may have had an influence on the young king.

 
  • In world politics, with the shift in the balance of power from Assyria to Babylon, Judah's days were numbered. Especially in Chapter 1, note how many times the phrase "day of the Lord" or "that day" is used. What will the day be like? As with many prophecies there are often near term and long-term fulfillments. Do you notice any items that fit with our contemporary situation or have yet to be fulfilled?
  • In chapter 2 four nations are specifically mentioned and in the beginning of chapter 3 Jerusalem is the focus. What sins are listed as being the cause of judgment? What remedy does God propose? Do we still deal with the sins mentioned here, either individually or as a society? Can Zephaniah's remedies be applied?
  • God never delivers a message of judgment without also emphasizing hope and restoration. What words of hope are mixed in the prophecy? (The latter half of chapter 3 focuses on God's faithfulness and restoration.)
 
My favorite is Zephaniah 3:17
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.”
 
 
 
Next week: Haggai and Zechariah

How God Feels About Us

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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
 
I paraphrased it-
 
The Lord is as close as He could possibly be
Your Hero, He will rescue you.
He is thrilled to have you safe with Him.
His love will calm your fears.
He can't help but sing sweet songs to you.
 
How would our lives change if we grasped how God truly feels about us?