Zephaniah 2
Time to act is now verse 1- 2
Gather yourselves together – yea – gather together
O nation not desired – before the decree bring forth
before the day pass as the chaff
before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you
before the day of the LORD’S anger – come upon you
Time to seek the LORD verse 3
Seek you the LORD – all you meek of the earth
which have wrought HIS judgment
Seek righteousness – seek meekness
it maybe you shall be hid
in the day of the LORD’S anger
Judgment against the Philistines verse 4- 7
FOR Gaza shall be forsaken – and Ashkelon a desolation
they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day
and Ekron shall be rooted up
WOE unto the inhabitants of the sea coast
the nation of the Cherethites
the word of the LORD is against you
O Canaan – the land of the Philistines – I will even destroy you
that there shall be no inhabitant
And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds
and folds for flocks
And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah
they shall feed thereupon
in the houses of Ashkelon
shall they lie down in the evening
FOR the LORD their God shall visit them
and turn away their captivity
Judgment against the Moabites & Ammonites verse 8- 9
I have heard the reproach of Moab
and the revilings of the children of Ammon
WHEREBY they have reproached MY people
and magnified themselves against their border
THEREFORE as I live – says the LORD of hosts
the God of Israel
Surely Moab shall be as Sodom
and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah
EVEN the breeding of nettles – salt pits – perpetual desolation
the residue of MY people shall spoil them
the remnant of MY people shall possess them
Scoffers will be worshipers of the LORD verse 10- 11
This shall they have for their pride
BECAUSE they have reproached and magnified themselves
against the people of the LORD of hosts
The LORD will be terrible unto them
FOR HE will famish all the gods of the earth
and men shall worship HIM – everyone from his place
EVEN all the isles of the heathen
Judgment against the Ethiopians verse 12
You Ethiopians also – you shall be slain by MY sword
Judgment against the Assyrian verse 13- 15
AND HE will stretch out HIS hand against the north
and destroy Assyria
and will make Nineveh a desolation
and dry like a wilderness
AND flocks shall lie down in the midst of her
all the beasts of the nations
BOTH the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge
in the upper lintels of it
their voice shall sing in the windows
desolation shall be in the thresholds
FOR HE shall uncover the cedar work
This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly
that said in her heart
I am – and there is none beside me
how is she become a desolation
a place for the beasts to lie down in
every one that passes by her shall hiss
and wag his hand
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come on you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come on you. (4671 “chaff” [mots] means always as driven by wind, or the worthless husk material that surrounds the ripe seed of a plant)
DEVOTION: The Bible continually warns of a day of the LORD when HE will release HIS judgment on the nations. It is only happening to a few nations at a time at present. When the day of the LORD comes it will be judgment on all nations at once.
The LORD is warning the people to gather BEFORE the judgment begins. HE would like everyone to realize that HE is serious. They don’t and therefore will not gather together to worship the LORD in spirit and in truth. They will continue on their merry way.
There is still time to day to repent. It can happen before you are blown away like worthless grain. We seem to think that we are more important than those around us and the LORD would never do anything to us.
The Bible gives us the truth. The truth is that the fierce anger of the LORD is going to fall in the future. It is going to be a terrible day. Once it begins it will not end until all those who have rejected Jesus Christ are judged and stand before the LORD for their final judgment.
Those who are followers of the LORD should be prepared for HIS return before the fierce judgment of the LORD begins. There are warning signs that our days are getting more and more like the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Our sins are the same. The judgment is sure.
Christians should be standing for marriage as that which is between one woman and one man. Anything different is against the commands of the LORD.
CHALLENGE: There is a difference between sinning and living in sin. If you don’t know the difference, study the Word of God or ask a good Bible teacher.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger. (1245 “seek” [baqash] means require, request, enquire, ask, to find, to secure, desire, demand, to strive after, call to account or exact)
DEVOTION: Wouldn’t it be great if we always thought before we acted? It would keep us from sinning and facing the consequences of our sins. Thinking is a great activity. Problem is that most of us act out of emotion rather than using our head to think.
The children of Israel were acting the same way. They were just acting or going along with the crowd without thinking of the consequences. They had been getting away with it so long that they thought that the LORD didn’t care about their actions. The thought that HE was giving them time to repent never crossed their minds or at least not long enough for them to do something about it.
This verse follows a verse that uses the word “before” many times. It is a warning to act “before” the consequences of their actions come to fruition. The warning signs were there but they were looking in the wrong direction. Things seemed to be going right.
This is true in our life as well. We think everything is going well or at least things are livable. The prophet uses a word three times to encourage them to strive after a couple of things that would put them back in good graces with the LORD.
They were to first of all find the proper relationship with the LORD through repentance. Second they were to seek right living. Thirdly they were to seek humility before the LORD.
This formula is the same today. We need to see the warning signs that the LORD is sending our way. They study the Word of God to find out how to live our life more correctly and finally to do it all with a humble spirit.
We are not noted for our humble spirit today. We are arrogant. We think we can do whatever we please whenever we please and no one can stop us.
CHALLENGE: Stop thinking wrong thoughts. We have to be thirsty for the refreshing water of the LORD through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our life.
Are you thirty for the LORD today?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 11 The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, everyone from his place, even all the isles of the heathen. (7812 “worship” [shachah] means bow down, prostrate oneself, reverence, or obeisance)
DEVOTION: This chapter is about the LORD’S people commanded to seek the LORD. They are to seek the LORD with righteousness. They are to seek the LORD with meekness. Why? So that, they can be HID on the Day of Judgment.
The rest of the chapter informs us of the judgment the LORD that HE is going to impose on those around nation of Israel. It is not a nice judgment. These nations are the ones who throughout the history of Israel have given them a hard time. They have conquered them when they were out of tune with the LORD. The LORD has used them as instruments to get the attention of the children of Israel. Now they were to confess their sins and seek the LORD.
This verse instructs us that the false gods are going to be shown for what they are: false. Every nation is going to bow down before the LORD. People from all nations whither they believe in HIM and not. The day of the LORD is coming.
It is a day of judgment on the nations who contain those who have chosen not to follow the LORD. Remember that in heaven we see a great multitude that has individuals from every nation that worship the LORD. There seems to be a remnant of every nation that obeys the LORD.
We have a responsibility before the day of the LORD to share the truth of the word of God with those who are bowing down to false gods. Are we visiting those around us with this truth????
We presented a message to a church of about seventy people. We challenged them to take one bulletin with a tract in it and share it with one person a week for a year. That group of people would reach 3,640 homes in one year. Imagine if only one percent of the homes responded to the good news. We could pray that it would be ten percent.
Even more recently I spent three weeks at a church of about a hundred to encourage them to reach their neighborhood for the LORD. They would be able to reach their whole town for the LORD with each one giving one bulletin a week for fifty weeks for two and a half years. Only about ten percent of the people responded. And some are still doing it now.
Most church members never invite one person to church a year. The Bible instructs us in the fact that there is ONLY one way to become a follower of the LORD and that is through Jesus Christ. There is no other name under heaven that will do. No other religion will be represented in heaven. ONLY CHRISTIANITY!!!
Not even some of the churches that claim to be Christian will be there. It is not the name on the door but the message from the pulpit. The Bible is exclusive. The LORD is exclusive. The question will be asked: What did you do with the message of the cross of Jesus Christ???
CHALLENGE: Even after you know your responsibility to your neighbor are you doing anything about it. Remember just leaving a bulletin with a tract in it is better than doing NOTHING until Jesus comes to reach them for the LORD. Worship includes being a witness for the LORD.
_____________________________________________
: 15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! Every one that passes by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. (5750 “beside” [‘uwd] means still, again, continually, no more, duration, or remainder.)
DEVOTION: Nineveh thought that they would last forever. They thought they were a strong nation that no one could conquer. They were wrong.
They lived as if they didn’t need to worship the true God of the Israelites. They said in their hearts that there was none beside them who could conquer the world without the help of the God of Israel.
God said they were wrong. They were going to become an desolation. There were going to be a resting place for only the beasts of the field. There were going to be people walking by their city who would make fun of them because they made fun of other nations.
This can come true here and now as well. We sometimes think that our nation will never fall but that is not true. Our nation started on Biblical principles in spite of what is being said and taught here.
There is about half of our nation that doesn’t want anything to do with the God of the Bible. Some of those who say they do are being taught false teachings by men who call themselves pastors. They are not honoring the LORD.
CHALLENGE: We will live to see other nations hiss and wag their hand at us.
Will there be other nations that will laugh at us?
___________________________________________________________
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
All nations with worship the LORD verse 11
_______________________________________________________________
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD verse 5
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 2, 3, 5, 7, 9- 11
Fierce anger of the LORD verse 2
Day of the LORD’S anger verse 2, 3
Word of the LORD verse 5
LORD their God verse 7
LORD of hosts verse 9, 10
Terrible verse 11
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man,
Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign, Plural name) verse 7, 9
God of Israel verse 9
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Nation verse 1, 14
Gaza verse 4
Ashkelon verse 4, 7
Ashdod verse 4
Ekron verse 4
Cherethites verse 5
Canaan – land of Philistines verse 5
Moab verse 8, 9
Ammon verse 8, 9
Sodom verse 9
Gomorrah verse 9
Isles of the heathen verse 11
Ethiopians verse 12
Assyria verse 13
Nineveh verse 13
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Not desire verse 1
Chaff verse 2
Pride verse 10, 15
Reproached self verse 10
Magnified self verse 10
False gods verse 11
Heathen verse 11
Dwell carelessly verse 15
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Seek the LORD verse 3
Meek verse 3
Seek righteousness verse 3
Seek meekness verse 3
Remnant verse 9
Worship the LORD verse 11
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
House of Judah verse 7
God’s people verse 8, 9
Israel verse 9
People of the LORD of hosts verse 10
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Day of the LORD’S anger verse 2, 3
_____________________________________________________________
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
______________________________________________________________
QUOTES regarding passage
15 The city complacent and carefree at the time of Zephaniah’s prediction—would become a lair for wild beasts and an object of contempt for every passerby. She boasted in her self-sufficiency, “I am, and there is none besides me.” But the inspired prophet predicted that she would become a ruin and a habitat for the creatures of the fields. This same claim of self-sufficiency is found in reference to Babylon (Isa 47:8) and Laodicea (Rev 3:17). (Walker, L. (1986). Zephaniah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, pp. 555–556). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
__________________________________________________________
2:15. The picture of Nineveh’s destruction is completed as the prophet reiterated that the city, though apparently quite secure, would be shamed. Its king was arrogant (cf. Isa. 10:12) because of its supposed impregnability. It was known as the carefree city, as its populace felt it lived in complete safety. The city was quite large, having with its suburban areas a circumference of 60 miles and a population of at least 120,000 (cf. comments on Jonah 3:3; 4:11). In addition to an extensive outer wall there was an inner wall with an 8-mile circumference, 50 feet thick and 100 feet high. Between the two walls was enough farmland to support the huge population. Nineveh’s claim (there is none besides me) was no idle boast! For approximately 200 years she was superior in strength to any other city of her time.
An attack on the outer wall, begun in 614 b.c. by the Medes and Babylonians, was initially withstood by the Ninevites, but a combination of trickery by the attackers, carelessness by the attacked, and a natural disaster, finally brought victory to the attackers (cf. Nahum 1:10; 2:3–5; 3:11). The great inner wall collapsed because of an unexpected deluge that swelled the Tigris River in a normally dry season of the year and inundated the wall. Thus the city was unexpectedly defeated (cf. Nahum 1:8; 2:6–8; 3:12). The carefree boasting of the city was hushed by her enemies, and all who later saw its ruins scoffed at her former haughtiness (cf. Nahum 3:19). To scoff and to shake their fists were signs of contempt. God reduced the city miraculously and gave it to the wild beasts! (Hannah, J. D. (1985). Zephaniah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1531). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
__________________________________________________________
Since the predictions about the destruction of these nations have all come true, isn’t it reasonable to assume that Zephaniah’s other predictions will also be fulfilled? Each of these local invasions and conquests was a precursor of the end times Day of the Lord, which will come upon the whole world. But when the Day of the Lord has run its course, Israel will be delivered, and the Lord will establish His glorious kingdom on the earth. In the last chapter of his prophecy, Zephaniah explains how the Day of the Lord will relate to this promised kingdom.
Before we leave Zephaniah 1 and 2, we must note some practical truths that apply to believers today. First, God judges His people when they deliberately disobey His law. His people are to be different from the other nations and not imitate their ways or worship their gods (Num. 23:9; Ex. 33:16; Deut. 32:8). “Be not conformed to this world” is an admonition for all believers today (Rom. 12:2; see 2 Cor. 6:14–7:1).
Second, God’s promise to Abraham still stands: Those who bless Israel, God will bless; those who curse Israel, God will curse (Gen. 12:1–3). The nations that have sinned against God by mistreating the Jews can expect Him to judge them.
Finally, God’s Word is true and will be fulfilled in its time. God’s people can claim His promises and know that their God will be faithful, and God’s enemies can be sure that His words of warning carry costly penalties. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be concerned (pp. 128–129). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor.)
_________________________________________________________
The true significance of Nineveh is given in verse 15: “This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me.” It is man all-sufficient in himself, utterly indifferent to God, living in pleasure on the earth, and nourishing his heart as in a day of slaughter. But the hour of his doom is about to strike, when he will learn that power belongs to God alone. (Ironside, H. A. (1909). Notes on the Minor Prophets. (p. 313). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
___________________________________________________________
Ver. 15. This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, &c.] Once exceeding populous, and the inhabitants full of mirth and gaiety, abounding with wealth and riches, and indulging themselves in all carnal delights and pleasures; and, being well fortified, thought themselves out of all danger, and were careless and unconcerned, not fearing any enemy that should attack them; imagining their city was impregnable and invincible: these are the words of the prophet, concluding his prophecy concerning the destruction of this city, and having, by a spirit of prophecy, a foresight off its ruin and desolation; or of passengers, and what they should say when they saw it lie in its ruins: that said in her heart, I am, and there is none besides me; or, is there any besides me? there is none, no city in the world to be compared to it for the largeness of the place, the strength of its walls, the number of its inhabitants, its wealth and riches: at least so she thought within herself, and was elated with these things; and concluded it would never be otherwise with her; I am, and shall always continue so: how is she become a desolation! what a desolate place is this! its walls broken down, its houses demolished, its wealth and riches plundered, its inhabitants destroyed; and now the hold and habitation of beasts of prey, and hateful birds: a place for beasts to lie down in! and not for men to dwell in: this is said, either as wondering, or as rejoicing at it, as follows: every one that passeth by her; and sees her in this ruinous condition: shall hiss, and wag his hand; in scorn and derision, as pleased with the sight, and having no pity and compassion for her, remembering her cruelty to and oppression of others, when in her prosperity; see Nah. 3:19. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 655). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
___________________________________________________________
2:15 Nineveh prided itself in its security and wealth. For generations the Assyrian army brought goods to Nineveh. The city enjoyed the spoils of war brought from conquered peoples. No one could remember a time of trouble, poverty, or insecurity. The city that would be destroyed and inhabited only by the beasts of the earth was this same city—a city of pride, one that dwelt securely. In pride the inhabitants of Nineveh said: “I am and there is none else.” “These words claim a status of absolute power and complete independence that in no way properly characterizes finite humanity.… Such arrogant, self-centered blasphemy can only lead to ruin.” The people of Judah must have thought of the words of the Lord when they heard these words. Repeatedly in the books of Deuteronomy and Isaiah we are told that, “the Lord is God; there is no other besides him” (Deut 4:35; see also Isa 45:5).
In the days of Isaiah, God had promised to punish the arrogance of Assyria. Though the Lord used the Assyrian as the rod of his anger, he also promised to punish Assyria because of such arrogance. “When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, ‘I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and haughty look in his eyes” (Isa 10:12).
Assyria would become a city of desolation, suitable only for wild beasts. Zephaniah spoke about Assyria’s future as if it had come to pass already (using the perfect “tense”). Nineveh’s future held only pain and desolation. All who passed by the ancient city would shrink back in horror. Scoffing and shaking the fists (lit., “hand,” echoing the word’s use in v. 13 and thus framing these verses) were gestures indicating revulsion, scorn, and horror.85 Those who saw the ruin of Nineveh would feel shock that such destruction could occur as well as relief that the “city of blood” (Nah 3:1) had been removed from the scene.
The Lord is sovereign over the land of Israel and over the entire world. No one and no nation can stand before the Lord. Zephaniah promised that the Lord would punish the wicked in Judah, but he also would punish the nations as well. The city built on the blood of oppressed peoples would become a lair for the beasts of the field. “Because this nation exalted itself to the highest heaven, it must be brought to the lowest hell.” (Barker, K. L. (1999). Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (Vol. 20, pp. 467–468). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
__________________________________________________________
FROM MY READING:
In the Presence of My Enemies, describing the events and emotions of those harrowing 12 months. But one of the most haunting was one she shared with us one day in a radio interview. As their hostage odyssey neared Easter, Martin and Gracia were told by their captors that a sizable amount of ransom money had appeared in the camp. Gracia’s family had collected it, hoping against hope that it would be sufficient to satisfy the terrorists’ demands. But in the typical fashion of irrational diplomacy, the leaders of the group called the couple over and made this curt pronouncement: “There is a ransom that’s been paid for you, but we’ve decided it’s not enough.” That really struck me, especially with “Easter” and “ransom” being mentioned in such close proximity. How tragic would it be to go through life, not knowing for sure whether Christ’s payment—His ransom for us—was enough. What if our lives, instead of being safe and secure in the arms of His forever provision, were still teetering in limbo, subject to the changing whims of an unpredictable, unjust God? Thankfully, we won’t have to worry. His ransom has already been declared complete and acceptable on our behalf. (Gracia Burnham)
_______________________________________________________________
Why it’s hard to love JESUS by Joseph M. Stowell
Those of us who find ourselves in this class live lives fueled by the energy of a deeply indebted desire to express our gratitude through acts of adoring love for Christ. Genuine love for Him is always a response to His extreme grace extended to us. (p. 42)
Unlike what she had been taught all her life, she heard that God offers mercy and grace and delights in forgiving those who come to Him seeking forgiveness and restoration. (p. 44)
_______________________________________________________________
Taking GOD Seriously by D. Stuart Briscoe
As a boy I remember hearing Campbell McAlpine, the preacher, affirm this: “God said of his people at one time that they turned their backs on him but not their faces.” Such people continue looking in one direction, but they are all headed in the opposite direction. The Bible calls them “stiff-necked,” for obvious reasons! Such people turn their backs on God but not their faces. (p, 139)
In my judgment there is no more powerful verse in Zephaniah than this: “ Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day fo the Lord is near” (1:7). IN the midst of all the clamor and confusion, God calls his people to reality. (p. 140)
If I were to try to pinpoint the area of major unbelief in so-called “Christian America.” I would emphasize this – we don’t really believe in a holy righteous God. We don’t believe in a God whose love is tough. (p. 141)
_______________________________________________________
TOZERSPEAKS (volume two) by A. W. Tozer
Are you among those who have read the account of the New Jerusalem, The City of God, and have wondered if it will be just a haven for the lazy and an endless gathering of bored and listless beings? (p. 342)
You cannot talk for five minutes about mankind without coming to the ugly, hissing word we call sin. It is sin, the disease of the human stream, that ruined everything. It is sin that has made us greedy, sin that has made us hate. Sin makes us lust for power, sin creates jealousy and envy and covetousness. (p 344)
When our Lord looks at us, He saw not only what we were – He was faithful in seeing what we could become! He took away the curse of being and gave us the glorious blessing of becoming. Scoffers say a man can only be what he is, but Jesus Christ said, “No, he is not what he is – but what he can become.” (p. 346)
It is impossible to talk to people about blessedness and holiness and heaven without talking about God’s provision of spiritual transformation. (p. 349
Many church groups seem to have joined forces with the political and social reformers in the dream that the effective way to bring about a perfect society is to reform and redeem society itself – rather than the redemption of the individual human natures which compose society, so-called. (p. 349)
I think in that sense Kipling was right – heaven is not going to be a haven for lazy bums. Heaven is going to be a place where men released from tensions and inhibitions, released from prohibitions from the outside, released from sin, and made in the image of God can go to work like the young gods they are. For He said, “Ye are gods” – He didn’t mean you are God, but “You are little images of mine, born to do the kind of work I do, creative work.” (p. 353)
_________________________________________________________
Second, he keeps his life open to God and His truth. Arthur F. Holmes reminds us that ‘all truth is God’s truth,” so the opportunities for learning and growing are infinite and no doubt will continue when we’re in eternity. People who grow read widely and aren’t afraid to read authors they disagree with, for maturing people realize that in this life “we know in part” (I Cor. 13: 9). When it comes to understanding God’s truth, nobody has a corner on the market.
So, what should we do? How aobut tackling a tough book and working your way through it as though you had to pass an exam? That means taking notes, thinking about what’s written, and examining your own ideas in the light of what the book says. Your choice may be a classic you’ve always wanted to read, or perhaps a new book on theology or some other aspect of ministry. Just be sure it’s a book with meat and bones so your mental muscles will have something nutritious to chew on.
(10 Power Principles for Christian Service by Warren W, & David W. Wiersbe)
_________________________________________________________
Daniel 6
God miraculously delivers Daniel from the lions’ den.
INSIGHT
Daniel is a man of prayer. He loves God deeply and God in turn shows Daniel mercy. We are told several interesting things about Daniel’s prayer life. Verse 13 says that he prays “three times a day.” His prayers included giving thanks (v. 10) and “supplication” (v. 11)—that is, Daniel asks God for things for himself and others. If our prayers reflect the commitment and balance of Daniel, our relationship with the Lord will grow.
_______________________________________________________
ORDAINED TO ETERNAL LIFE
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48
The salvation of men and women, and of certain of them in particular, was determined by God before the foundation of the world. He does this entirely according to His own good will and His grace. Read Matthew 11:25-26: “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.” And in John 6:37 we read, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me.” In verse 44 our Lord says, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” In Acts 13:48 we read, “And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”
Above all, realize that if you are a child of God, it is because God has determined it, and what He has determined about you is certain and safe and sure. Nothing and no one can ever take you out of His hands or make Him forego His purpose in respect to you. The doctrine of the eternal decrees of God before the foundation of the world has decreed this! He knew me. He knew you. And our names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the world was ever made, before you and I or anybody else ever came into it.
Let us bow before His Majesty. Let us humble ourselves in His holy presence. Let us submit ourselves to the revelation that He has so graciously been pleased to give.
A Thought to Ponder: Nothing and no one can ever take you out of God”s hands or make Him forego His purpose in respect to you. (From God the Father, God the Son, pp. 101-102, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
_________________________________________________________
|
Delight in the Lord (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research) |
|
__________________________________________________________
We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.