Year 6, Day 256: Zephaniah 2

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Discipleship Focus: Forgiveness

• Forgiveness: Forgiveness is when our sins are absolved by God.  We do not deserve this forgiveness, but God grants it to us anyway.  We cannot earn forgiveness, but God gives it to us anyway.  As we are forgiven by God, He also asks us to forgive others.  In fact, Jesus Himself teaches us to pray for our forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer when He says, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Zephaniah just gave us a scorching prophesy in the last chapter.  He spoke at length about the problems of the Hebrew people and how they have earned the judgment that is coming.

In chapter 2 we hear Zephaniah prepare to give prophecy against the nations around the Hebrew people.  They, too have earned God’s wrath.  They are like the Hebrew people and care more about establishing themselves and their own passions.  For this, they will find judgment.

Do you hear the change in tone with respect to the Hebrew people, however?  Today he is pleading for them to repent.  He is pleading for the Hebrew people to turn around and seek righteousness. Zephaniah begs them to seek the Lord.  He asks them to live humbly.  He asks them to do as the Lord commands.

Zephaniah knows something about God.  While His wrath is certainly great, His grace and mercy is far greater.  Zephaniah knows that if the people repent and turn to the Lord that He will forgive.  Zephaniah’s desire is not to see other people punished, in spite of what he said yesterday.  He wants repentance for the people so that they can live in relationship with a forgiving God.

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