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Day 3 Zephaniah 3 Zephaniah 3:1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! 2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God. 3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. 4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. 5 The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he fails not; but the unjust knows no shame. 6 I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passes by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. 7 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings. 8 Therefore wait ye upon me, says the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. 9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. 10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. 11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. 12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. 13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15 The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. 17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. 18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. 19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halts, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. 20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, says the LORD. Hope is powerful. Without hope we sit in despair and desolation. God gave Israel something to hope for. He told them their enemies would be destroyed and they, Israel, would no longer be deceitful, tell lies, nor be wicked before the Lord. God told them he would rejoice over them with singing because he was in their midst, he was mighty, and he would save them, and he would rest in his love for his people. He would also take their captivity from them. As Christians, God is in your midst. He rejoices over you. He rejoices in his love for you. He set you free from the chains Satan bound you with, making you his captive. Jesus’ blood broke those chains of captivity, and you are free. You no longer hope for salvation. However, you hope for the soon return of Jesus when he comes back to destroy all the works of Satan and send him to his final destination in the Lake of Fire and Brimstone. Your faith gives substance to your hope, and with it you can go through your day with joy on your lips, knowing you are free. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV) Do you have hope? Do you have faith? Is your salvation secured by the blood of Jesus Christ? Are your chains broken? Let’s pray: Father, thank you for the hope you gave me and the assurance to know Satan will be sent to the Lake of Fire and Brimstone and I am free of the chains he bound me with. Thank you for rejoicing over me with singing, for rejoicing over me with your love. Help me look forward to the day you return for your church and evil will no longer be found on the earth. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 4 April 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay