Through-the-Bible Thursday: ZEPHANIAH (3.5 mins)

Man had become obnoxious in the sight of God, polluting the land with his idolatry and violence, defiling the whole creation. There was nothing but for him to disappear under God’s judgment. Yet, in the midst of corruption, there has always been a remnant that fears God. Such are called on to seek Jehovah so that in the day of His anger they may be hidden: “Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth…it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger” (2:3). This brings us to the heart of the prophecy. Zephaniah means “hidden of the Lord,” and he foretells how the “hidden ones” will be brought through the storm of the last days into the joy and glory of the millennial world. Who but Christ could be the hiding-place of these godly Jews? From Him will come the resources to sustain them in their faithfulness to the truth. He will be their protector until the land is purged of the ungodly. At length God shows Himself mighty, not to judge, but to save. Instead of mourning over His wayward people, He will rejoice over them with joy. Whose singing? Ours? Israel’s? No: the Lord Himself “will joy over thee with singing” (3:17). — From Uplook (May 1997).