August 22, 2025 - Zephaniah 1-3

The day of the Lord . . . The Lord will be against the idolaters and the unrighteous.  For them it will be a day of darkness and gloom.  Their silver and their gold will not deliver them (1:18).  But the humble, those who do the Lord’s commands, who seek righteousness, they will be hidden from the wrath of the Lord (2:3).

Even the city of Jerusalem, that is, all in her who refuse to follow the Lord, will face judgment on that day.  To the righteous of Jerusalem, however, the Lord says, “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.  The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing” (3:17).  Again, we are reminded of God’s displeasure with the unrighteous and his favor toward his own.  We want to be in that latter group, right?

Since thy Father’s arm sustains thee,

Peaceful be,

When a chastening hand restrains thee,

It is He,

Know His love in full completeness

Fills the measure of thy weakness,

If He wound thy spirit sore,

Trust Him more.

Without murmur, uncomplaining,

In His hand

Leave whatever things thou canst not

Understand,

Tho’ the world thy folly spurneth,

From thy faith in pity turneth,

Peace thy inmost soul shall fill,

Lying still.   -- Carl Rudolph Hagenbach (1870)