What Does It Mean To Go From Judgment To Hope?

Zephaniah had cautioned the people of Judah that if they would not repent of their transgressions and return to God, all of Judah would be punished. This whole book is filled with the impending correction that was to come from God, but it would come with love. The phrase “the day of the Lord” is stated seven times in the book of Zephaniah and they point to judgment.

In Chapter 1:14-18:

Zephaniah had warned that the day of the Lord was close; the Babylonians would before long come and annihilate Jerusalem. He was promising God’s judgment would come to pass. The people had been warned but refused to listen. The day of the Lord is likewise close to us. God guarantees a last judgment, a day of overall obliteration (Revelation 20:12-15). The Babylonian triumph happened similarly as clearly and frightfully as Zephaniah had predicted. Furthermore, God's last Day of Judgment is likewise certain, however so is his capacity to save. To be saved from judgment, we should perceive that we have trespassed, that our transgression will bring judgment, that we cannot save ourselves, and that it is God alone that can save us (Ezekiel 7:16-18; Joel 2:2; Isaiah 2:12-15; Deuteronomy 28:28-29; Psalm 79:3; Jeremiah 8:2).

Matthew 15:13-14, “But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

For the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Money is not detestable in itself; however, it is pointless in saving us. The lust and greed for money is what is evil. In this life, the love of money can twist our point of view, giving us convictions that all is good and power. It can twist a person’s mind to do stupid and ridiculous things which will only cause pain, grief, and despair. Similarly, as the Israelites' abundance could not save them from the Babylonian invasion, so at the last judgment our wealth will be useless. Just Christ's redemptive work on the Cross of Calvary paid for our sins is what matters for all eternity. He alone will recover us if we put our trust in him. We need not trust in money, yet we should just put our faith, confidence, and trust in Christ (Deuteronomy 32:21-25; Psalm 49:6-9).

Zephaniah 3:8, “Therefore wait ye upon me, saith 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.”

What will it be to our advantage if we were to gain the entire world, yet lose our own souls? (Mark 8:36). We can turn away from the judgment to come by choosing to accept and follow Christ. Only then can we be prepared for what is to come, for nothing shall separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:39, “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In Chapter 2:1-3:

Zephaniah calls the country to repentance. A country that does not set their minds and hearts to God and want to do his will, and look for his grace and mercy, will not prosper. There was still time for individuals to deflect God's judgment. They basically needed to abandon their transgressions, humble themselves, and submit to God. The Old Testament prophets declared insight about obliteration, yet they additionally offered the main method for get out and assurance, which is abandoning sin and living every day with the Almighty (Micah 6:8). True repentance comes from the shame that we feel from our sins, and that we realize that what we have done in our lives condemns us; that is when we seek forgiveness from God (Ezekiel 33:11; Romans 2:4)

2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

God's judgment against Judah accompanied more than an adequate advance notice, so the individuals had no real reason to give excuses. God advised them to pray together (“gather yourselves together”), ask to be saved (“seek righteousness”), and submissively do the right thing (“seek meekness”). As God cautioned Judah, so he additionally cautions us concerning the last Day of Judgment. We should petition God for pardoning, request that God bring us into his magnificent Kingdom, and unassumingly submit to him. At the final judgment seat, when God comes to pass judgment upon us, we cannot say, “but no one ever told me.” We should go to God today for salvation (2 Kings 22:18-19; Psalm 25:8-9).