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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Zeph. 1
God declared, “I will completely sweep away everything from the face of the earth” (Zeph. 1:2a). This prophecy makes it quite clear that God’s judgment will come and that no one will escape it.
Zeph. 2
God then says, “Gather yourselves together…before the decree takes effect…Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth…Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be concealed on the day of the LROD’s anger.” (From Zeph. 2:1-3). There it is – the only escape from God’s all-consuming judgment. Only God’s righteousness can conceal us from His judgment.
Zeph. 3
God’s declaration harkens back to the days of Noah. Only this time, instead of water, “the whole earth will be consumed by the fire of [God’s] jealousy.” (Zeph. 3:8c). However, as in the days of Noah, God will spare a remnant. He says, “I will leave a meek and humble people among you, and they will take refuge in the name of the LORD.” (Zeph. 3:12).
The Bible mentions water and fire a lot. Interesting that water cleans the outside of an object but cannot purify what the object is made of. Only fire can do that. So, cleanse the earth with water = external and temporary. Cleanse the earth with fire = internal and permanent. God’s old covenant by the law = external and temporary. His new covenant in Jesus = internal and permanent. Our baptism with water = an external sign of our desire to be clean. And that begins God’s permanent work of internal cleansing in us – our baptism by fire.