“The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah: 2 “I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord. 3 “I will sweep away both man and beast; I will sweep away the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea—and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.” “When I destroy all mankind on the face of the earth,” declares the Lord, 4 “I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place, the very names of the idolatrous priests—5 those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the Lord and who also swear by Molek, 6 those who turn back from following the Lord and neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him.” 7 Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.” Zephaniah 1:1-7 NKJV
God of all creation,
Zepheniah begins by giving his birth credentials. Why he should be listened to. He is a son of Hezekiah, royalty. And he begins with a sort of reversal of creation in Genesis 1. The sweeping away of both man and beast, birds and fish . . . The ordered world they have known will become disordered, uninhabitable. Jerusalem’s safety will end. They worship creation and they have offended their creator!
“Be silent” You say, Lord God. Not in the way You call us to be still, relax and be safe in God in Psalms 46:10. But warning that one day they will have no choice but to stop and be silent. You God will give them no option.
It’s a little like when You warn someone of real danger. They pigheadedly go ahead and suffer the consequences. . Your people in Jerusalem think it will not happen to them or they are just not listening.
I hope I can tell the difference between Your “be still” not worrying and Your call to stop and take serious notice. King Josiah did take notice later and clean out the Temple, reinstate Your Law and worship. You are a righteous God and we are no better. We must remain Your humble obedient children. Blessed and loved because we have a Saviour.
In Jesu name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 27th June 2026
Saviour
He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever
Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
Repeat chorus
Everyone needs compassion
A love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The hope of nations
Chorus
So take me as You find me
And all my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender
Chorus
Shine Your light and let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory of the risen King,
Jesus shine Your light and let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory of the risen King
Repeat . . .
Lyrics: Reuben Timothy Morgan and Benjamin David Fielding