The Day of the Lord: A Study in ZephaniahSample

What does it say?

Zephaniah warned those in Judah who thought the Lord would do nothing, either good or bad. The prophet urged them to seek righteousness and humility.

What does it mean?

Zephaniah’s prophecy begins with a strongly worded warning for the people of Judah regarding areas in which they had failed to follow the Lord. They were more interested in pursuing wealth and personal pleasure than hearing about the bleak future foretold by the Lord’s prophet. Many believed God was not concerned with their lives, thinking He would do neither good nor bad to them. Such mass complacency caused worship of the Lord and seeking His ways to stop virtually. There was hope, however, for the people still obeying God’s commands. The remnant who humbly sought the Lord and righteousness were spared and found shelter, albeit in Babylonian exile.

How should I respond?

The telltale sign of complacency is reaching a place of self-satisfaction while unaware of glaring issues. The question arises, “How do I know if I’m complacent if I don’t even realize that there’s a problem?” Take a moment to assess your spiritual temperature. Have you become “lukewarm” like the church at Laodicea (Rev. 3:16)? Just as with Judah, they were satisfied with being materially wealthy but were utterly unconcerned about being rich spiritually. Was there a time when your passion for Christ burned hotter than today? The remedy for complacency hasn’t changed since the days of Judah: seek the Lord, pursue righteousness, and seek humility.