Originally posted: 11/18/2021

Gather yourselves together, yes, gather,
O nation without shame,
² Before the decree takes effect—
The day passes like the chaff—
Before the burning anger of the Lord comes upon you,
Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you, (2:1-2).

His Judgment is coming on Judah for her unfaithfulness, but also against the surrounding nations who have taunted and harassed God’s people. And while the enemies of God’s people rejoice in their success and security, convinced they are absolutely untouchable as the master of their fate, their demise is imminent; for the day is near.

“I have heard the taunting of Moab
And the revilings of the sons of Ammon,
With which they have taunted My people
And become arrogant against their territory.
⁹ “Therefore, as I live,” declares the Lord of hosts,
The God of Israel,
“Surely Moab will be like Sodom
And the sons of Ammon like Gomorrah—
A place possessed by nettles and salt pits,
And a perpetual desolation.
The remnant of My people will plunder them
And the remainder of My nation will inherit them.” (2:8-9).

But tragically, rather than trusting in His protection, the people of Judah had betrayed their God in their wanton pursuit of the feckless gods of the nations. But the day is near, when God will starve and reduce to nothing every god in all the earth.

The Lord will be terrifying to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him, everyone from his own place, (2:11).

For the gods of man’s making can offer no security. And the day is near; a day of distress and utter annihilation, which will bring down pride and self-assurance, along with their pagan gods.

This is the exultant city
Which dwells securely,
Who says in her heart,
“I am, and there is no one besides me.”
How she has become a desolation,
A resting place for beasts!
Everyone who passes by her will hiss
And wave his hand in contempt, (2:15).

But one more time, God had called His people together, a people who have no shame, a people brazen in their rebellion. And to this people, He Offers one more chance to Find Shelter from His Wrath Before It Is Too Late.

 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather,
O nation without shame,
² Before the decree takes effect—
The day passes like the chaff—
Before the burning anger of the Lord comes upon you,
Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you, (2:1-2).

While Zephaniah’s prophecy points to the immediate, for God’s judgment is approaching, this prophecy will find its ultimate fulfillment when God will mightily starve out every competing god; and on that day, every knee from every tribe, tongue, and nation will bow down in worship before Him.

so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, (Philippians 2:10-11).

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; ¹⁰ and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” ¹¹ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, (Revelation 7:9-11).

But in His inexplicable mercy, He once again extends His Offer to Find Shelter from His Wrath Before It Is Too Late.

Consider His Offer to Find Shelter from His Wrath Before It Is Too Late

• His Offer to Find Shelter from His Wrath Before It Is Too Late is extended to all, no matter the shame of our past.
  • Gather yourselves together, yes, gather,
    O nation without shame, (2:1).
    • Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (Romans 8:1).

• His Offer to Find Shelter from His Wrath Before It Is Too Late Must Be accepted Before It Is Too Late.
  • Before the decree takes effect—
    The day passes like the chaff—
    Before the burning anger of the Lord comes upon you,
    Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you, (2:2).
    • And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, (Hebrews 9:27).

• His Offer to Find Shelter from His Wrath Before It Is Too Late is found in seeking Him.
  • Seek the Lord… (2:3).

• • •  “and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, ²⁷ that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us,” (Acts 17:26-27).

• His Offer to Find Shelter from His Wrath Before It Is Too Late is found in submitting to Him in brokenness and obedience as we humbly seek His righteousness.
  • Seek the Lord,
    All you humble of the earth
    Who have carried out His ordinances;
    Seek righteousness, seek humility… (2:3).
    • Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you, (James 4:7-10).

• His Offer to Find Shelter from His Wrath Before It Is Too Late is found in trusting in Him alone for our salvation.
  • Seek the Lord,
    All you humble of the earth
    Who have carried out His ordinances;
    Seek righteousness, seek humility.
    Perhaps you will be hidden
    In the day of the Lord’s anger, (2:3).
    • “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12).

How do we respond to His Offer to Find Shelter from His Wrath Before It Is Too Late?

We must accept His Offer Before It Is Too Late! For the day is coming when every knee will bow before Him and confess Him as Lord. But only those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives will have their names recorded in His Book of Life and Find Shelter from the Fire of His Jealousy and Wrath.

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. ¹⁴ Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. ¹⁵ And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire, (Revelation 20:11-15).

The reality of this life is that even when we have placed our faith in Christ, we are not guaranteed freedom from the afflictions of a sin-wrought world. Perhaps, we will be hidden from the fall-out of others’ choices; but then there are also times that we may find ourselves experiencing the consequences of the sins of others.

…Perhaps you will be hidden
In the day of the Lord’s anger, (2:3).

And while we know we will experience suffering and injustice in this life, we must never lose sight of our eternal future. For the day of His restoration is coming for all of us who have accepted through faith in Jesus, His Offer to Find Shelter from His Wrath Before It Is Too Late.

And the coast will be
For the remnant of the house of Judah,
They will pasture on it.
In the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down at evening;
For the Lord their God will care for them
And restore their fortune, (2:7).

Until that day, let us seek to share His Offer with others. Oh, that we would be moved with urgency, for the day is near. May the Lord see fit to use us as His ambassadors, to speak His warning and invitation, that others will accept His Offer to be reconciled to God through Christ and Find Shelter from His Wrath Before It Is Too Late.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God, (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Let’s Grow Together!