Settled On Their Lees Zeph. 1:12

“And it will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit [that are settled on their lees - KJV], Who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good or evil!'” (Zeph. 1:12)

Pictured here is undisturbed wine. The dregs (lees) have precipitated out, and have not been disturbed for a very long time. When bottles of wine are not rotated in their racks or casks of wine that are not turned, the wine becomes thick and it’s flavor is unchanged. So good wine becomes great and bad wine simply becomes worse. Wicked men, too long undisturbed, sink into sin and degradation that it is impossible to recover from. 

Their indifference caused them to think that the Lord cares, rewards or punishes. As the prophet Amos said, they are “at ease in Zion.” (Amos 6:1) It wasn’t they they didn’t know, but that they didn’t care. These are not atheists in profession; yet they are atheists in practice. They don’t take the time or effort to deny God in thought and work out a philosophy of it, they just live like He doesn’t matter, with complete disregard for the Creator who showers them with life and all blessings. So they rest at complete ease in their evil.  

Rather than be complacent, and let your sins stack up, continually have the attitude of David: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” (Ps. 139:23,24) You know that God will examine everything concerning our lives anyway, so invite Him in to cleanse and perfect it, rather than just waiting until He comes and give punishment for the sin that we’ve all committed.

The Good Life 1 Pet. 3:10-11

Peter quotes Ps. 34 in his instructions on how to conduct live so that you will be pleasing to God and so you will can enjoy the best life here on earth. Peter states, “Let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. And let him turn away from evil and do good;  let him seek peace and pursue it.”

There are three instructions to those who wish to “love life and see good days.” Men have always sought a life on earth. God wants us to have a good life here on the earth. God did not create us to come here and suffer. He intended for this earth to be a good place to live. (Rf. Gen. 1:31)

To have this, first instruction is to control the tongue.  James calls the tongue is a fire, hard to control (Jas. 3:3-8).  As Proverbs notes that the tongue can quickly get us in or out of trouble, Prov. 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” 

Second, to turn from evil and do good. The good man will not be troubled as the evil one is. The evil man must always be worried about being caught in his lies and deceptions and watching out for the retaliations of and recriminations from those whom he has harmed.“‘There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked,’” (Isa. 57:20,21).   

Third, “seek peace and pursue it.” Peace with your neighbors is paramount to a good life.  This peace is to be sought and pursued, it is to be hunted for and actively looked for.  It is not an easy thing to find or maintain in a world full of malice, envy, strife, and murders. But we, as Christians, are to pursue it though prayers (1 Tim. 2:1-3), and reconciliation (Matt. 5:23-25).

But Now Brought Near Eph. 2:13

What a horrible and hopeless condition the heathens in before being called by the gospel.  They did not have Christ, where all spiritual blessings and forgiveness of sin are found, (Eph. 1:3) nor did they have the Law that would lead them to Him. The Jews were also lacking the fullness of these blessings, but they had the hope of the expected Messiah. The Gentiles were excluded from both the blessings and the hope. The Messiah was coming through the nation of Israel and very few Gentiles had even heard of it.  

They were “strangers to the covenant of promise.” Abraham was promised a descendant who would be a blessing to all nations. Moses promised a prophet like him that all should listen to. The prophets promised the Messiah. The Jews had a school master preparing and bringing men to Christ. But the Gentiles were ignorant of all of this and excluded from the hope. The whole Gentile world was outside of these promises and blessings. They had nothing to look forward to, just as they no conciliation in this life. 

Without God, the heathens had no hope, only blind groping because what witness God had given them was ignored or forgotten.  God was still there, but their lives did not reflect it. Paul described the gloominess of this spiritual “blind man’s bluff” search for God to the Athenians: “that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.”  (Acts 17:27) 

But then, thanks be to God, Christ came and offered His blessings to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph. 2:13) Reconciliations and forgiveness were found in Christ form them too.

Grace From God

A quandary of the salvation is, “How does God, who is so merciful and loving that He will go to any length to save his creation, BUT is also so just and holy that sin cannot be allowed in His presence, reconcile sinful man back to Himself?” The answer lies in a system of salvation that 1.) will allow man to be justified and 2.) satisfies God’s mercy and graciousness, and His holiness and justice. To accomplish this man could be saved by a legal system. A man would be required to keep the law, without sin or fault and so be justified. This would satisfy the justice and holiness of God. So the a law was given, revealed, and accessible to the Jews; and all they had to do was keep it (Deut. 30:8-14).  The problem was that no one kept it, Rom. 3:9,23. This was the fault of man, not the Law which was good, Ps. 119.

A System of Grace is what we need. With all under the penalty of sin, we need someone to do us a favor, to show us some grace. We need someone to pay the debt we owe, which would satisfy the demand of justice. The problem is that all men same debt. All men are equally debtors, so none can pay for his own sins nor the sins of anyone else. We need someone to pay the debt, we need a willing and equal substitute. To unwillingly take from one to give to another is robbery, so the one who pays the price for our sins has to be willing to pay the price for us (Rf. Jn.10:17,18). We needed in this system of grace is one who can pay the price for us.  So the substitute must be debt free, sinless, without moral scar or blemish. This satisfies the holiness and justice of God and shows his marvelous grace. Here is the great grace of God — salvation in Christ, the sinless, willing and equal substitute. He paid the price for our sins! By grace are we saved, Rom. 4:4; 11:5,6.

Nine Reasons Not To Fornicate 1 Cor. 6:9-20

1.) Those who practice sin will not inherit the kingdom of God. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (vss. 9,10)   

2.) You were washed, sanctified and justified from such sin. “And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” (vs. 11) 

3.) Don’t under the control of anything outside Christ. “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” (vs. 12)

4.) The body is for the Lord, not fornication. “Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body.” (vss. 13,14)   

5) You are joined to the body of Christ. “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? May it never be!” (vs. 15) 

6.) We are commanded to flee from it. “Flee immorality.” (vs. 18)   

7.) It is sin against the body. “Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.” (vs. 18)   

8.) You are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (vs. 19)  

9.)  “You have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (vs. 20)

He Served God In His Own Generation

Acts 13:35-27“Therefore He also says in another Psalm, 'THOU WILT NOT ALLOW THY HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.'

36For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers, and underwent decay;

37but He whom God raised did not undergo decay.”

What a marvelous epitaph that would be for any of us, that we “served God in our own generation.” While we know that Christian duty and faithfulness is an unchanging standard, we recognize that each generation faces unique challenges and problems that test our faithfulness and devotion to God.  

The only thing that will guarantee our faithfulness in the future is faithfulness day by day until we get to and through it. Standing firm on the troubles of today does not necessarily mean that we will stand firm on the troubles of tomorrow. 

If we are to attain to the stature of David, that we “serve the purpose of God in [our] own generation,” we must be faithful to the end.  The old king faced much different temptations after 40 years in the royal palace than he did when hiding in desert caves from Saul as the anointed, though as yet uncrowned king. But David stayed faithful through each transition, or repented and was restored when he did not. Let us recognize that times change, new issues come, and troubles shift as the years roll by. And, like David, let us always have the humble mind to repent when, through the tides of time, we inadvertently drift off course.

Pray 2 Thess. 3:1–4

The Thessalonian brethren faced continual persecutions from the time that the gospel was preached to them (Acts 17:1-9; 1 Thess. 1:6,7; 2:14-16; 2 Thess. 1:4-7). How could they cope with such continual troubles and prospects for only more trouble in the immediate future? As Paul began to close the second letter to them, he enjoined them to pray: 

2 Thess. 3:1-4 “Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.”

1.) Pray For Others. Paul said, “pray for us.” When facing troubles we aretempted to say, “I'm just going to pray for ME.” But people with selfish thoughts seldom pray much anyway. No, they should pray for Paul and those who helped bring them the gospel. 

2.) Pray For Spiritual Progress.  They were also to pray “that the word of the Lord may spread.” If the gospel has conquered our hearts for Jesus it can do the same for others also. Pray that it does so. 

3.) Have Confidence In The Lord.  Know that the “Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you...” He is stronger than our troubles. 

4.) Have Confidence In Your Brethren. Sometimes we are disappointed with our brethren. But Paul said, “we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.”  Have faith in the faith of others.

Resurrected Or Not?

What are the evidence and arguments for and against the resurrection? The main objection to the resurrection today isn’t even verifiable evidence at all; rather it’s a philosophical argument.  It is argued that since no miracles are scientifically observable today, no miracles have ever happened. This is not sound logic, but rather materialistic, naturalist presumption. This is no stronger proof against the resurrection that the simple assertion that, “We don’t believe it.”  Still, this is the strongest and most common argument that is used today.  

On the other hand, the evidence for the resurrection is strong and multifaceted.  The direct evidence includes the predictive prophesies of the Old Testament and by Jesus in the gospels. There were the many witnesses who saw Jesus after there resurrection and the miracles worked by the apostles as they preached that Jesus was raised. Then there is the circumstantial evidence of the changed character of the apostles after the resurrection, the rapid spread of the church and its continued existence to this day.  

Christians can, and should, face with confidence any challenge to the historical proof of the resurrection. The apostle Paul did so in 1 Cor. 15. He considered whether or not Jesus was raised and argued with convincing proof that He was. Paul affirmed the inspiration of the gospel message, listed the witnesses, presented the effects of resurrection not taking place, then told what the results of the resurrection will be and quoted a predictive prophecies concerning it. Study the scriptures, consider the proof of the resurrection, consider the alternatives, consider its effects and believe.

Jesus Questioned On Taxes

The of the four gospels record that Jesus was questions about paying tribute (tax) to Caesar. (Matt. 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26) The Pharisees did this after taking counsel together on how to trap Him, even including the Herodians in on the plan. 

They sent people pretending to be honest seekers to ask the question. Their hope was that he would play to the crowd and denounce the Roman governance (an easy thing to do) and then they could accuse Him of fomenting rebellion. 

Jesus easily saw through their ruse but still fully answered the question. He said that we should give the rulers of our land (whoever they are, and whatever land we’re in) what is rightfully due them. They have the power to tax us. The fact that the Jews were using Roman coins showed who was in charge, as did their armies in Jewish cities. 

But Jesus also acknowledged a higher and more important duty – the duty to God that we have wherever we are and no matter who civil authority does. So “Give to Caesar’s what’s Caesar’s, and to God what’s God’s.” Caesar is our king. God is our God. 

Those determined to condemn Jesus ignored His answer and told the authorities what they’d wished Jesus had said. “And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” (Luke 23:2They lied about His answer because truth was not their goal.

Jesus’ Love, Sickness, Death and Hope

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. And it was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. The sisters therefore sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” But when Jesus heard it, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”  Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.  (John 11:1-5)

Even though the Lord loved Him, He still was sick. Righteousness protects the soul — not the body from all infirmity. Yes, even though Jesus loved him — he still became sick and died. This is not what the love of Jesus protects of from. This is what the love of Jesus gets us through.

So never think that sickness and death mean that Jesus doesn’t love you — know in the comfort of the hope of the resurrection that Jesus l loves you!

Jesus went to His grieving friends. He cried with them at the cemetery. Then He made a great hopeful promise that all believers ever since have shared:

Jesus said to her, “Your brother shall rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world. (Jn. 11:23-27)

And then He raised His friend from the dead. 

Doctrine

Matt. 16:6,12Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

12Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 

Jesus condemned the Pharisees for what they taught. Not that they taught. He was concerned about the content of their teaching (as well as their personal sins) because they greatly harmed other people.  

Jesus taught an awful of doctrine as well. “And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine...” (Mark 4:2) “And they were astonished at his doctrine.” (Luke 4:2) “When Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.” (Matt. 7:28)

We teach these same doctrines because it is the word and will of God.  “Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (Jn. 7:16,17) Today many are surprised to see such doctrinal teaching, but the true gospel has always been taught and advanced by teaching its precepts. 

So Timothy was taught, “charge some that they teach no other doctrine.”  (1 Tim. 1:3) Speak against all “that is contrary to sound doctrine.” (1 Tim. 1:10)  “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Tim. 4:16)

Jesus Walked On The Ice?

“Jesus may not have walked on water as the Bible claims but rather skated on ice formed through a freak cold spell, a scientific study has suggested.”  (BBC News, “Did Jesus walk on water - or ice?” April 5, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4881108.stm). 

A few years ago, in a silly attempt to give a naturalistic explanation for a miracle, a professor at Florida State made news by “seriously” proposing that Jesus’ miracle of walking on the water was really just Him shuffling along on ice. The professor made got lots of press with this for a few weeks. 

Many “scientific,” “rational,” cynical, and skeptical men look down on people who still take their faith seriously enough to believe in miracles.  They view believers as gullible simpletons of the same type as those who fear or use magic spells and witch doctors. Yet it is the folly of unbelief that leads men to the acceptance of truly fantastical things.

What would it say about Jesus’ moral judgment if He chastised Peter for lack of faith when he merely fell off the ice?  (How well would you do walking on ice at night in a storm?)  And what would it say about the character of Jesus if He accepted worship as the Son of God on the basis of being able to walk on water and calm the storm when He really just skated out to the boat?  

The “scientific” explanation removes the stumbling block of the miracle for the skeptic, but it attacks the credibility and character of Jesus and the inspiration of the scriptures. The folly rationalists is apparent even as they look down on us for believing in miracles.

“Judge Not, Lest You Be Judged”

These words from the sermon on the Mount (Matt. 7:1-5) turn out to be some of the most famous words Jesus said, but unfortunately not always for the right reasons. These words are often used as a bludgeon against those who are raising concerns about objectionable or sinful conduct. These is obviously a misuse, since some judgement is required as we go through life. 

While this passage is commonly misused, it does have a true use and Jesus’ words are to be carefully considered for what they do mean, not just what they do not. The lesson here is to judge fairly, rightly, and with a generous spirit since that is how we will be judged as well.  The whole teaching of Jesus on the sermon on the mount is to be generous in our giving and helping of others, and our treatment of them even if they are different from us or have done us harm. 

This generosity of spirit is to extend to the way that we judge them as well. Think of how unfair it is the judge people based on standards that they do not know, or to excuse our friends and family (and especially ourselves) but to never excuse faults in others. The Pharisees were especially known for finding all faults in others but never finding faults in themselves. Or, as Jesus brings up with the log (beam) and the speck, making much of small faults in others while overlooking large faults in those that we favor. 

“The commandment is leveled at rash, censorious and uncharitable judgments, and that fault-finding spirit or disposition which condemns upon surmise without examination…forgetful that we also shall stand in the judgment and shall need mercy.  (McGarvey, Fourfold Gospel.”)

Jesus Healed The Man Let Down Through The Roof Mark 2:1-12

After the shock of a man being lowered through the ceiling, every eye was on Jesus, the man the sick man was trying to get to, waiting to see what He would do. He spoke of the only thing that matters: Faith! Verse 4 says that Jesus “saw their faith.” (Oh, that we all had a faith that could be seen!) Because of this show of faith Jesus granted forgiveness immediately. 

The forgiveness that comes by faith is the thing we need above all else. Of all our problems spiritual ones are the most important and should be taken care of first. This is what the gospel is about. Not self-help, therapy, counseling, etc. but salvation. From the beginning of the gospel we are told of Jesus’ priority: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). Sadly, all through theministry of Jesus, the scribes complained about how Jesus was forgiving sins, rather than celebrating that people were being forgiven. 

Jesus did also heal the man of his physical problems. This was necessary, but it was secondary. Jesus healed the man to prove that He had to power to forgive sins. The visible (healing) was the proof that the invisible (forgiveness) had actually happened. Isn’t that true today as well? How do we know one is saved today except that they act like it? The gospel solves so many of our personal and social problems, but that’s a secondary effect of it, not its purpose. The secondary benefits of the gospel are undeniable, but that is not its purpose. Forgiveness and salvation are the point and purpose.

The Hand Of God Was With Ezra

In Ezra 7 & 8, Ezra successfully a led great caravan of thousands of returnees and a vast treasure given by the king for the temple at Jerusalem on a dangerous four month journey across a wilderness to go home. He credited God for the achievement. He attributed God being with him to his conscious decision to know, follow and teach God’s law.  As he explained:

Ezra 7:9,10“For on the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him.

10For Ezra had set [prepared – KJV, NKJV] his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.”

The safe passage of the caravan was far from the only success Ezra had. He was successful in accomplishing great and lasting things in every incident recorded of him, and in other tasks where his name is not directly mentioned. He always attributed his success to God, repeatedly saying that it was “because the good hand of his God was upon him.”  (Ezra 7:9,28, 8:18,22)

Ezra understood the basic principle that success and victory belong to the Lord. As the wisdom writer said, “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD” (Prov. 21:31; Ref. 2 Sam. 23:10,12; 1 Chron. 29:11; 2 Kings 5:1; Ps 98:1).  God gives victory and success to those who are with Him.

Overtaken By God’s Word Zech. 1:6

Zechariah told those who returned from exile, “The LORD was very angry with your fathers.” (Zech. 1:2)  This was obvious in the ruined city and destroyed Temple. “Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Return to Me," declares the LORD of hosts, "that I may return to you," says the LORD of hosts. Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’”  But they did not listen or give heed to Me," declares the LORD.” (vs. 3,4) They had been told and told, yet they never did. They received the wrath of God instead of His welcome because they would not repent.  

Men think that there is “time, time enough yet.” But the longer we postpone repentance the more difficult it becomes, and finally we are out of time.  “Your fathers, where are they?  And the prophets, do they live forever?” (vs. 5)  Their fathers were gone, perished by the sword or gone to captivity. Also gone were great men like Jeremiah who had preached to them. 

The father’s time to repent and change was gone.  But God’s word still remained.  “But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers?  Then they repented and said, 'As the LORD of hosts purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us.” (vs. 6)  God told them what He would do then did it.  Later, when they repented, they acknowledged that it was just. There aretwo great truths in this verse: 1.) God’s word overtakes all men and 2.) God does as He purposed (and predicted) with sinful men.

We Remember The Ones Who Are Different: Daniel 1-3

The early chapter of the book of Daniel tell what happened when four of the Hebrews captured and exiled by Nebuchadnezzer are sent to Babylon. We don’t know how many other youths from the noble and priestly parts of Israel’s society were taken captive, but since 2 Kings 24:14 says 10,000 captives in all were taken, it must have a large number.

How many of them do we know about? Four. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. 

We know of them as youths at the special royal academy that Nebuchadnezzer had set up to train young men from all over the empire in service to his empire. When these four alone made it a point to keep the restrictionsthat the Law of Moses gave for eating foods. And we know of three of the four years later, when as Imperial officials, they alone would not worship the idol that Nebuchadnezzer had set up.

Had Daniel and his friends eaten pagan food there would have been nothing left to distinguish them from the rest. Had they bowed down to worship the idol, they would have just been part of the crowd. 

Modern thought says to go along, accommodate and convert by overtime by coexisting. But God wants us to be different in regard to the things that He commanded. This is not odd for the sake of being odd, but different in the things that God has decided. (Rf. 2 Cor. 6:17,18

Settled On Their Lees Zeph. 1:12

Zephaniah 1:7-11 describes the judgments that were going to come on the city of Jerusalem. Vs. 12 tells reason for its judgment.  

Zeph. 1:12 “And it will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit [that are settled on their lees - KJV], Who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good or evil!'” 

They were in such a poor spiritual condition because they were “men that are settled on their lees” (in the King James and American Standard Versions).  The New Revised Standard Version updates the figure, giving it as “people who rest complacently on their dregs.” 

Pictured here is undisturbed wine. The dregs (lees) have precipitated out, and have not been disturbed for a very long time. When bottles of wine are not rotated in their racks or casks of wine that are not turned, the wine becomes thick and it’s flavor is unchanged.  For a cask of wine to sit for so long undisturbed implies prosperity and affluence. As a result, good wine becomes great and bad wine becomes worse.  

Some of the newer translations simply give the meaning of Zephaniah’s figure of speech. The New American Standard speaks of the people being “stagnant in spirit” and the New King James says that they “are settled in complacency.” Speaking either literally or figuratively, it is obvious that the conscience of these people has not been exercised for a long time.  They are wicked men long set in evil who forgot that God will examine everything. 

Destruction By False Prophets Lam. 2:14

In the second Lamentation of Jeremiah we find him in inconsolable anguish.  Jerusalem was under siege and the suffering of the people, for least to greatest, was profound.  Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, could hardly cry enough for the suffering of the people. The great city was being destroyed. Even the littlest children in the streets and at their mothers’ breasts were dying for lack of food.  Jeremiah cried for these helpless and innocent of victims of the great destruction. How did it come to this?  

14Your prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions; 

And they have not exposed your iniquity So as to restore you from captivity, 

But they have seen for you false and misleading oracles.

Most of the prophets of Jeremiah’s time (Jeremiah himself being almost a singular exception) refused to do their job. They would not expose sin.  This is the only work that would have saved the people from calamity, but they refused to live up to the demands of their profession. The Lord said, “[T]he prophets...prophesy falsely in My name...Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the deception of their own heart?” (Jer. 23:25,26) And again, “Behold, I am against the prophets... [who] led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit,’ declares the LORD.” (Jer. 23:31,32)

So James warned, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.” (James 3:1)

Are You Living Up To The Vision?

Many of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the church are of the “all is right with the world” variety. Prophecies of “lions laying with lambs,” “the exile is set free” and “the sun will not beat down on them” are familiar and common.  

Zephaniah adds to this a wonderful vision describing the repentant and converted under the new system. The prophet does not see the establishment of a physical, conquering kingdom, as so many mistakenly read many prophecies. But He sees a grand vision of pure, moral and spiritually minded saints.

READ ZEPHANIAH 3:9-12 and see the what he saw as coming:

“Purified Lips” (vs. 9)  

“Serve Him Shoulder To Shoulder” (vs. 9) 

“Feel No Shame Because of Your Deeds” (vs. 11) 

“Never Again Be Haughty” (vs. 11) 

“They Will Take Refuge In The Name Of The Lord” (vs. 12) 

“Do No Wrong, Tell No Lies” (vs. 13)  

Result: “Secure and Well Pastured” (vs. 13) 

Does this wonderful vision describe you and the Christians you know? If not, why not? It is a predictive prophecy; does prophecy fail? Or are we failing prophecy? Are we really, fully living up to our calling?