"Be silent in the presence of the Lord God; for the day of the Lord is at hand, for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests." (Zephaniah 1:7)
The NASB says, "Hush! before the Lord God....He has consecrated His guests." And notice that the call to, "Hush!" is the ever-so-much-closer, "day of the Lord." The Amplified Bible says, ""[Hush!] Be silent before the Lord God, for the day [of the vengeance] of the Lord is near; for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, and He has set apart [for His use] those who have accepted His invitation."
The phrase, "the day of the Lord," is used 19 times in the Old Testament and 4 times in the New Testament. There is a sense of a "day" of judgment, of reckoning in the phrase. It speaks also of the Second Appearing of Jesus. Some believe, furthermore, that it is more than a "day," but a "season" when The Living Triune God Himself will set aside the "works of man," and manifest just Who is in charge (my phrasing).
It isn't often I share from my "Minor (only because of their length, not importance) Prophets, but there is for me a certain sense of urgency in our text today. Christendom has always produced great "talkers," and no more than today. We call some of them preachers, teachers, but there are some Christians who just think that the more they talk, the more people will listen, the more they will convince themselves of what they speak, or some other such thing. I heard very soberingly today, "Hush! Be silent in the presence of the Lord God." You and I do not know the exactness of, "for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice," and should not speculate endlessly on what that may mean. For me, it is enough that we are, "invited...guests," and that Jesus, "has set apart (consecrated) His guests." Notice, "guests." Treat Him as the "Owner."
Anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear knows that these are "accelerated" days. The prophetic timetable is moving at an ever increasing speed. Be prepared by being in, "relying on, and clinging to," and abiding in Jesus and His Words. We are going to see more and more just how empty is religious talk, even of those whom so many have followed, admired, even worshipped. Their words will be empty words; their cliche talk, company words and company songs will no longer strike a beautiful "chord," but rather a dissonant one.
Allow for times of "Hush!" in reading of, "the Words of God," in prayer/communion with and in Jesus, in worship, in, well, everything in our daily lives. When we have a "spirit" of, "Hush!" we will be so much better to hear, see------------ and speak. "Hush!" What a word for you and me. "Hush!" my child, and you will hear--
Jesus.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I don't fully grasp our text, but please write Your Words in my heart. Amen.
***************************
* Please join me in praying for Prime Minister Netanyahu and his visit to the US.
* Please do not forget to prayer for our March Mission, March 9-31.
The NASB says, "Hush! before the Lord God....He has consecrated His guests." And notice that the call to, "Hush!" is the ever-so-much-closer, "day of the Lord." The Amplified Bible says, ""[Hush!] Be silent before the Lord God, for the day [of the vengeance] of the Lord is near; for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, and He has set apart [for His use] those who have accepted His invitation."
The phrase, "the day of the Lord," is used 19 times in the Old Testament and 4 times in the New Testament. There is a sense of a "day" of judgment, of reckoning in the phrase. It speaks also of the Second Appearing of Jesus. Some believe, furthermore, that it is more than a "day," but a "season" when The Living Triune God Himself will set aside the "works of man," and manifest just Who is in charge (my phrasing).
It isn't often I share from my "Minor (only because of their length, not importance) Prophets, but there is for me a certain sense of urgency in our text today. Christendom has always produced great "talkers," and no more than today. We call some of them preachers, teachers, but there are some Christians who just think that the more they talk, the more people will listen, the more they will convince themselves of what they speak, or some other such thing. I heard very soberingly today, "Hush! Be silent in the presence of the Lord God." You and I do not know the exactness of, "for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice," and should not speculate endlessly on what that may mean. For me, it is enough that we are, "invited...guests," and that Jesus, "has set apart (consecrated) His guests." Notice, "guests." Treat Him as the "Owner."
Anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear knows that these are "accelerated" days. The prophetic timetable is moving at an ever increasing speed. Be prepared by being in, "relying on, and clinging to," and abiding in Jesus and His Words. We are going to see more and more just how empty is religious talk, even of those whom so many have followed, admired, even worshipped. Their words will be empty words; their cliche talk, company words and company songs will no longer strike a beautiful "chord," but rather a dissonant one.
Allow for times of "Hush!" in reading of, "the Words of God," in prayer/communion with and in Jesus, in worship, in, well, everything in our daily lives. When we have a "spirit" of, "Hush!" we will be so much better to hear, see------------ and speak. "Hush!" What a word for you and me. "Hush!" my child, and you will hear--
Jesus.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I don't fully grasp our text, but please write Your Words in my heart. Amen.
***************************
* Please join me in praying for Prime Minister Netanyahu and his visit to the US.
* Please do not forget to prayer for our March Mission, March 9-31.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
