"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 18 May 2014, from Cindi, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords"
Today's Blogs Title: "The Great Day of the Lord"
Today's Blogs Scripture Reading: Zephaniah 1:1-18
Today's Blogs Key Verse: Zephaniah 1:14
In verse 1, "The word of the Lord came," means that the messages of the Old Testament prophets did not arise from the prophets "own will," but from God Himself, 2nd Peter 1:20-21. Zephaniah means "Hidden in the Lord," a name that relates to the principle message that the prophet presented, Zephaniah 2:3. The names of the prophets were often significantly associated with the message that God gave them to present to the people.
In verses 2-6, six groups are singled out for judgment:
(1) The remnant of Baal
(2) The idolatrous priests
(3) Them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops
(4) Them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and swear by Malcham, devotees of a syncretistic worship system
(5) Them that are turned back from the Lord
(6) Those that have not sought the Lord
Baal was the Canaanite storm god often worshiped by idolatrous Israelites, Jeremiah 7:9. "Chemarim" was an honorable Canaanite term for their priests but may translate "idolatrous priests" in Hebrew, and is used here to designate non-Levitical priests. "Worship" of the stars of heaven "upon the housetops" refers to Sabaism here identified with Malcham. This practice was introduced by the ungodly king Manasseh, 2nd Kings 21:3-5 and was associated with the "queen of heaven," Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17.
In Zephaniah 1:7-8, "the day of the Lord" refers to the impending Babylonian invasion of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem. He pictures the victims of this conquest as the princess (nobles), the kings son (royalty), and the wealthy who wear imported garments. Zephaniah's prophecy was fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B.C., slew the sons of Zedekiah (Josiah's youngest son), blinded Zedekiah, and led him captive to Babylon, 2nd Kings 25:7.
In verses 9-13, "those that leap on the threshold" probably are the priests of Dagan, who would not step on the place where he had fallen, 1st Samuel 5:5. They may also be creditors who crossed over the threshold of their debtors, Deuteronomy 24:10-11. The "fish gate" was situated on the northern side of the city. It may have derived its name from nearby fish markets, that sold catches from the Sea of Galilee.
In verse 14, "the great day of the Lord" is a familiar prophetic image to what God has prepared to take place at history's end. But it is also used to identify events or periods of time in the flow of history when something "similar" takes place.
Here the description of the dark and bitter to fall on ALL mankind at history's end is appropriate in Zephaniah's warning to Judah, for when the Babylonians invade the land what they experience will be very similar to the terrors of the judgment that will strike ALL in the end times.
There is a brighter aspect to the Day of the Lord. After judgment purifies God's people, survivors will be welcomed in His Glorious and Peaceful Kingdom. This PROMISE is conveyed later in Chapter 3, but it also forms the background for the invitation God extends in Chapter 2:1-3.
Click on the link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for Scripture Reading from Psalm 38:8.
Jesus Reigns, and He Is, Has Been, and ALWAYS Will Be In Complete and Total Control!!! May we as Christians reach to heaven with one hand and with the other reach out to the lost and dying of this world. May like John at the close of the Book of Revelation say, "Come, Lord Jesus, Come."
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
Today's Blogs Title: "The Great Day of the Lord"
Today's Blogs Scripture Reading: Zephaniah 1:1-18
Today's Blogs Key Verse: Zephaniah 1:14
In verse 1, "The word of the Lord came," means that the messages of the Old Testament prophets did not arise from the prophets "own will," but from God Himself, 2nd Peter 1:20-21. Zephaniah means "Hidden in the Lord," a name that relates to the principle message that the prophet presented, Zephaniah 2:3. The names of the prophets were often significantly associated with the message that God gave them to present to the people.
In verses 2-6, six groups are singled out for judgment:
(1) The remnant of Baal
(2) The idolatrous priests
(3) Them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops
(4) Them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and swear by Malcham, devotees of a syncretistic worship system
(5) Them that are turned back from the Lord
(6) Those that have not sought the Lord
Baal was the Canaanite storm god often worshiped by idolatrous Israelites, Jeremiah 7:9. "Chemarim" was an honorable Canaanite term for their priests but may translate "idolatrous priests" in Hebrew, and is used here to designate non-Levitical priests. "Worship" of the stars of heaven "upon the housetops" refers to Sabaism here identified with Malcham. This practice was introduced by the ungodly king Manasseh, 2nd Kings 21:3-5 and was associated with the "queen of heaven," Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17.
In Zephaniah 1:7-8, "the day of the Lord" refers to the impending Babylonian invasion of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem. He pictures the victims of this conquest as the princess (nobles), the kings son (royalty), and the wealthy who wear imported garments. Zephaniah's prophecy was fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B.C., slew the sons of Zedekiah (Josiah's youngest son), blinded Zedekiah, and led him captive to Babylon, 2nd Kings 25:7.
In verses 9-13, "those that leap on the threshold" probably are the priests of Dagan, who would not step on the place where he had fallen, 1st Samuel 5:5. They may also be creditors who crossed over the threshold of their debtors, Deuteronomy 24:10-11. The "fish gate" was situated on the northern side of the city. It may have derived its name from nearby fish markets, that sold catches from the Sea of Galilee.
In verse 14, "the great day of the Lord" is a familiar prophetic image to what God has prepared to take place at history's end. But it is also used to identify events or periods of time in the flow of history when something "similar" takes place.
Here the description of the dark and bitter to fall on ALL mankind at history's end is appropriate in Zephaniah's warning to Judah, for when the Babylonians invade the land what they experience will be very similar to the terrors of the judgment that will strike ALL in the end times.
There is a brighter aspect to the Day of the Lord. After judgment purifies God's people, survivors will be welcomed in His Glorious and Peaceful Kingdom. This PROMISE is conveyed later in Chapter 3, but it also forms the background for the invitation God extends in Chapter 2:1-3.
Click on the link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for Scripture Reading from Psalm 38:8.
Jesus Reigns, and He Is, Has Been, and ALWAYS Will Be In Complete and Total Control!!! May we as Christians reach to heaven with one hand and with the other reach out to the lost and dying of this world. May like John at the close of the Book of Revelation say, "Come, Lord Jesus, Come."
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
