The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Zephaniah 2:4-6,
"Gaza will be abandoned
and Ashkelon left in ruins.
At midday Ashdod will be emptied
and Ekron uprooted.
Woe to you who live by the sea,
you Kerethite people;
the word of the Lord is against you,
Canaan, land of the Philistines.
He says, 'I will destroy you,
and none will be left.'
The land by the sea will become pastures
having wells for shepherds
and pens for flocks."
This prophetic utterance, proclaiming the Lord's coming destruction of Philistia is but a part of the destruction the Lord prophesied through Zephaniah. Judah was showcased as the prime target of the Lord's judgment coming to the area, but other nations are identified as well. Along with Philistia Moab, Ammon, Cush, Assyria are all identified as falling under the destruction of nations the Lord is bringing to the area.
We tend to recognized a nation for its prominent religious identification, or for its political establishment, as in Iran is "an Islamic nation" or North Korea is a "Communist country", Thailand is "a Buddhist nation", America is "a Republic", etc.
However, from Zephaniah, I am reminded that all nations are the Lord's. They are all his. All his to do with what he sees best, how they may play a part in advancing his agenda in the world. Each and every nation, no matter how they have aligned themselves politically, or religiously, or whatever category label may be applied, all exist for the Lord's purposes and all are at his disposal.
"From one man he [the Lord of heaven] made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us." Paul, speaking at the Areopagus, Acts 17:26-27.
The Lord spoke these words to Moses concerning Israel, "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Exodus 19:5-6. The Lord chose Israel from among all nations to be his selected covenant people because of Abraham's faith. However, as he says here, all the nations belong to him, "the whole earth".
Paul cautions us, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." Romans 13:1-2. This is written for people in Rome. Paul points out that whatever authorities there may be, anywhere, they have been established by the Lord, not just Israel.
Jehoshaphat acknowledged the Lord's rulership over all nations: "Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations." 2 Chronicles 20:6.
Peoples can identify any way they want, they can subscribe to anything they want, however, every nation under the sun belongs to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and despite any kind of identity any group wants to claim, all peoples, all nations of the earth belong to God and are at his disposal.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"Gaza will be abandoned
and Ashkelon left in ruins.
At midday Ashdod will be emptied
and Ekron uprooted.
Woe to you who live by the sea,
you Kerethite people;
the word of the Lord is against you,
Canaan, land of the Philistines.
He says, 'I will destroy you,
and none will be left.'
The land by the sea will become pastures
having wells for shepherds
and pens for flocks."
This prophetic utterance, proclaiming the Lord's coming destruction of Philistia is but a part of the destruction the Lord prophesied through Zephaniah. Judah was showcased as the prime target of the Lord's judgment coming to the area, but other nations are identified as well. Along with Philistia Moab, Ammon, Cush, Assyria are all identified as falling under the destruction of nations the Lord is bringing to the area.
We tend to recognized a nation for its prominent religious identification, or for its political establishment, as in Iran is "an Islamic nation" or North Korea is a "Communist country", Thailand is "a Buddhist nation", America is "a Republic", etc.
However, from Zephaniah, I am reminded that all nations are the Lord's. They are all his. All his to do with what he sees best, how they may play a part in advancing his agenda in the world. Each and every nation, no matter how they have aligned themselves politically, or religiously, or whatever category label may be applied, all exist for the Lord's purposes and all are at his disposal.
"From one man he [the Lord of heaven] made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us." Paul, speaking at the Areopagus, Acts 17:26-27.
The Lord spoke these words to Moses concerning Israel, "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Exodus 19:5-6. The Lord chose Israel from among all nations to be his selected covenant people because of Abraham's faith. However, as he says here, all the nations belong to him, "the whole earth".
Paul cautions us, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." Romans 13:1-2. This is written for people in Rome. Paul points out that whatever authorities there may be, anywhere, they have been established by the Lord, not just Israel.
Jehoshaphat acknowledged the Lord's rulership over all nations: "Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations." 2 Chronicles 20:6.
Peoples can identify any way they want, they can subscribe to anything they want, however, every nation under the sun belongs to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and despite any kind of identity any group wants to claim, all peoples, all nations of the earth belong to God and are at his disposal.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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