Exemplary Proceedings

Zephaniah, a prophet of God, heard audibly or was clearly directed by signs the declaration of the purpose of God.  "The word of the LORD which came", Zephaniah declares.  Poole reiterates this with "Zephaniah did not hammer out of his own brain any such news; he received from God what he communicated."  And that, of course, is true of all of scripture.  And the crux of that declaration is that we need to listen.

Why does God allow calamity?  Why, if He is in control, does He not stop this virus?  In Zephaniah, we are allowed an answer from the past.  What was going on in this passage to the Jews was just as devastating, really way worse!!  Chapter one, verse two, God says "I will utterly consume all things from off the land."  That is not good.  And if we read about the flood, we should know that He has the power.  Why won't we bow??  That is the question!

Here's a short list of "why" from just chapter one and this is just about those who were suppose to be His people.  We, as a church, need to take heed from this.  Where are we in our worship?  Mr. Poole comments very unapologetically in regard to chapter one: "Priests..should have been stedfast to God, but had fallen from the true God and His worship, to Baal and his worship.  Persons that mix idol worship and the worship of the true God."  [we should not be cocky here because we don't have "idols" because we do, indeed, have them...]  -These persons have- "...forsaken the Lord and His worship, turned atheist, or in matters of religion, have taken up not what is purest and truest, but what is nearest and most in fashion...pretended religions."  "YET!!  they would not inquire!"  So, in verse seven, God tells them to hold their peace:  "thou that murmurest in discontent or disputes out of frowardness against God, His worship and His government."

Where are we?  Mr. Poole says, "Stand in awe!"  "Cease all thy quarrels and disputes and stand in awe!"  God tells the people this judgment will come to pass that "we might see clearly the just and exemplary proceedings of God; these people sinned in sacrificing to strange gods and God will punish them."  What are our strange gods?  If you are guilty, bow, repent, and amend your ways.  We may feel distressed but at least we are, by God's mercy, allowed to see our error and turn to Him.