Tag: Zephaniah 1:1-7

Saturday 27th June 2026

“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

Friday 15th August 2025

“The word of the Lord which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

“I will utterly consume everything From the face of the land,” Says the Lord; 3 “I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, the fish of the sea, and the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land,” Says the Lord. 4 “I will stretch out My hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, the names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests—5 those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; those who worship and swear oaths by the Lord, but who also swear by Milcom; 6 those who have turned back from following the Lord, and have not sought the Lord, nor inquired of Him.” 7 Be silent in the presence of the Lord God; for the day of the Lord is at hand, for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.” Zephaniah 1:1-7 NKJV

Lord God of the future,

Another clear voice reminding Judah and Jerusalem that they will not get away with idolatry and ignoring worship of their own true God. He warns them that a great day will come when nothing can be hidden or covered over.

Yes. You, Lord had prepared a sacrifice. Since before time began,  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind . . . The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. (John 1:1-4,9) Jesus.

Jesus spoke in a parable about giving invitations to a feast and that many would give excuses and not come. But His servants would go out to the highways and byways inviting others to come. (Luke 14:15-24). What a beautiful picture of the church going out to the streets around them inviting people to come and feast with You. Zephaniah was speaking to his present and our present and our future. God’s message is truly timeless. There is still to come a day of the Lord. When Jesus returns coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. (Revelation 1:7).

So we humbly bow before You our God and Saviour and look to that awesome terrible day when You will come again. And we need not be afraid to see You face to face.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 15th August 2025
We had this just a month ago – but it bears repeating endlessly.

Lo! he comes with clouds descending,
Once for favored sinners slain!
Thousand, thousand saints attending,
Swell the triumph of his train.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
God appears on Earth to reign.

Ev’ry eye shall now behold him,
Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold him,
Pierced and nailed him to a tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
Shall the true Messiah see.

The dear tokens of his passion
Still his dazzling body bears,
Cause of endless exultation
To his ransomed worshipers;
With what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture
Gaze we on those glorious scars.

Yea! Amen! let all adore thee
High on thine eternal throne!
Savior, take the pow’r and glory,
Claim the kingdom for thine own.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Everlasting God come down.

Lyrics: Charles Wesley