December 19, Reading Notes

Zephaniah 1-3

Because of the limited information God has given us, a cursory reading only gives us a one-dimensional view of the great men of the Bible. In Zephaniah we get a view of the hard road that King Josiah walked. It was already told him that the sins of his grandfather, King Manasseh, would fall upon Judah and Jerusalem. Yet, driven by his passion for God and his love for his people, he bravely fought to renew his Israel. He fought with all the power God gave him to hold back the night.

Somewhere in those 31 years there came a dark night when I think Josiah realized that it wasn't working. He knew nothing of the effect this revival had had on the parents of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He could only see his family and those close to him, and their disinterest must have made him heartsick.

So how do you encourage such a brave and weary warrior? God sent His Word through Zephaniah. There are aspects of the coming storm that would have renewed Josiah's sense of urgency, but woven into this prophecy, Josiah received a picture of millennial glory. Josiah wasn't working just for his generation, and certainly not just for his children. He was working for the coming king, the Messiah, the one who was mighty to save, who would lead Judah and Jerusalem into eternal glory and offer salvation to the nations.

Zeph. 1

Vs. 1-7 Notice that the scope of this is both universal, to all the earth, and to Judah. Apparently, although Josiah had removed the monuments, some people's hearts still sought these gods. This is evidenced in that after Josiah's death few of the leaders, including his three sons, sought God.

V. 7 The "day of the Lord" is mentioned or referred to more in this book, in these three short chapters, than in any other book of the Bible. You get some insight into how God knew He could revive Josiah's heart and passion. What renews your heart and passion for following Jesus in the harvest?

Vs. 8-13 These are those the Lord will punish in the near "day." Notice how each of these sections begins with some reference to that day.

V. 8 Josiah's sons were more interested in dressing like the Assyrians, Egyptians and Babylonians than in following Yahweh. We don't know about Jehoahaz, because Pharaoh Neco took him to Egypt after only two months on the throne; but we know both Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. Both were worthless men. All three of Josiah's sons were punished. I'm sure Josiah saw their lack of understanding and love for God.

Vs. 9-11 Looks like it is talking about people who live for stuff.

V. 9 The threshold thing was superstition from 1 Sam 5:4 and is mentioned in Malachi.

Vs. 12-13 Sounds like people who are complacent about following the Lord. This is also the attitude that implies, that the things God says are wrong or says are important, are just not worth getting worked up about. If God is silent, apparently things are OK. Silence doesn't mean God doesn't care. God won't be complacent about punishing them. Comfort can be taken away in a moment.

Vs. 14-18 Notice how God is telling Josiah about a future day of judgment. We are reading about this in Revelation. I think this gave Josiah a shocking view of the judgment coming upon all men. God's judgment was bigger than just Judah and Jerusalem. Josiah might have been discouraged about standing in the gap for this little country that somehow had a connection to a bigger purpose, but now Josiah is seeing that the gap he is standing in has something to do with the salvation of the entire world. This would have motivated a man like Josiah.

Zeph. 2

Vs. 1-2 God calls the nation to repent before He unleashes His wrath.

V. 3 This reminds me of the 144,000 in Revelation. They are hidden and protected during the tribulation. Josiah would have understood this as hope to all who came to the Lord. Every individual mattered.

Vs. 4-15 God is predicting the humbling of the surrounding nations and the glory of the remnant of the people who seek Him. Notice that interspersed in all of this is the greatness of God and the hope for those who seek Him.

Zeph. 3

Vs. 1-5 This is judgment against Jerusalem. What would you say is the key verse here? I think this is the verse that gave hope to Josiah. His reforms had one focus, to get people to put their trust in the Lord and to draw near to Him. There were some people doing that.

Vs. 6-7 God had humbled the nations, like the Assyrians and some of the neighboring countries, to show Israel that they should hope in Him. But, the result was that Israel didn't take it to heart.

Vs. 8-10 In that day, God will summon all the nations together and humble and purify them. This is definitely for the end times.

Vs. 11-13 And at that time God will save a godly remnant of Judah. Again, this confirms to Josiah that the number will be small, so to keep on working.

Vs. 14-20 And God will save and exalt Zion. Notice that the Lord will be the king in their midst. This is what Josiah was working toward. God will eventually cleanse the remnant, humble the nations and come and reign in Jerusalem.

V. 16 I'll bet this helped strengthen Josiah's hands too.

V. 17 I hope that Josiah personalized this verse, "Josiah, the Lord your God is with you. He rejoices over you with gladness and His love will quiet your heart. He exalts over you with loud singing." I think we can personalize this verse for ourselves too, because of the victory of Christ.

I'd like to think that Josiah was given strength and courage by this prophecy. Seeing the end, the glory of Israel, seeing Zion with her King, the Lord God reigning in her, must have given him hope. Josiah couldn't lose if he kept following, because God was still in control and would win the day.

Just as Zephaniah 3:17 must have moved Josiah to renew his heart and passion before the Lord, it also inspired Reuben Morgan and Ben Fielding to write this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-08YZF87OBQ

Revelation 10

Chapter 10 begins a pause in the declaration of judgments from Jesus. This is not to say that there is no activity on earth or in heaven. Actually, there is a lot going on in both places. The seals and the trumpets (there is still one remaining) of the first 3.5 years have set the stage for the next 3.5. The events from now until chapter 16 will happen during this final 3.5 years. Chapter 16 will unleash the final judgments that are very close to the end of the tribulation and the second coming of Christ.

Vs. 1-8 This mighty angel is declaring a hidden, but very solemn, situation that will be fulfilled. The mention of the rainbow should make us think about God's promise to Noah never to fully destroy mankind as He did there. The loud voice gives this mystery a special measure of importance. There will be ominous consequences.

One question here is "what is the meaning to be kept hidden by John?" It was something announced or mentioned by the prophets that will be fulfilled. Obviously this mystery isn't the incarnation or death and resurrection of Christ, or even the existence of the church.

Vs. 8-10 John is told to eat this small scroll. That the scroll tasted sweet is similar to what we saw in Ezekiel 3:3. But that didn't make him sick. Daniel was made sick when he saw his visions. Daniel became preoccupied with the visions of the little horn, because it was able to make war with the saints of God and prevail. This would be a good time to look at Daniel 7:18-27 and particularly Daniel 8:24-27. Notice that in Daniel 8:26, Daniel is told to seal up the vision just as John was. Notice that Daniel became sick at the content of this vision.

I think that what is being announced here is that God is about to give the Jews and anyone who believes in Him (possibly with the exception of the 144,000) into the hand of the Antichrist. The world stage has been set. The 144,000 have scattered throughout the earth, and many have come to Christ, and they too have been sharing. The world is wrecked, but the Antichrist is rebuilding and creating order. He has made a treaty of peace with Israel, but in spite of that, the two witnesses have been a public threat to him. They have been untouchable. People in the world understand that God is behind what has happened, and now their hearts are beginning to be revealed both in hate toward these witnesses, and also toward God and anyone who names His name.

Time wise, the first 3.5 years are coming to an end. The army of the north spoken of in Ezekiel is coming toward Jerusalem. It appears that the disaster that will happen to this army encamped near the Dead Sea will come from those witnesses. The Antichrist will approach Jerusalem with his army, and armed with satanic power and he will kill the witnesses. He will take his place in the temple and desecrate it, and all the believing Jews in Jerusalem will flee to the hills around the Dead Sea. Satan will be thrown out of heaven and we'll read about Satan's pursuit of the Jews who will be saved in the desert. The Antichrist will then reveal spiritual power. The persecution of Christians and believing Jews will encompass most of the last 3.5 years of the tribulation.

God will defeat Satan through weakness. His own sheep will conquer Satan "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."( Rev. 12:11) These disgusting, weak humans will wreck him. This I think is the mystery. God will give His people into the enemy's hand and it will destroy him. The more Satan rages, the more he loses, and mankind judges itself by how it treats His disciples.

Look at what God said through Paul. Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

V. 11 So, John is told that in spite of this, the Word still needs to go out to all the people of the earth.

We are weak, but Christ is stronger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I7PgXteyC8

Psalm 138

What an interesting psalm for today. We go from a discouraged Josiah, to a great movement in the tribulation that will prove God's wisdom and strength through His suffering saints, to David, praising God in the midst of his troubles.

Vs. 1-2 Doesn't it strike you that David thanked God not only for His love but because He had exalted His name and His Word? When David was in trouble and close to God's Word, he was invincible.

V. 3 What a great testimony of hope to us.

Vs. 4-5 David speaks of all the kings of the earth. This is future and it will be true in the Millennium. Even here, David saw beyond his life to the salvation of all peoples.

V. 6 This is what God said through Zephaniah, that the lowly who seek Him are regarded before God.

Vs. 7-8 David was still living a troubled life, but he knew God's presence and preservation. He knew God had a purpose for him and he knew God's steadfast love. Is it worth facing hardship to know the reality of God's steadfast love and to know His presence? I think it is and it is built into following Christ in the harvest. I think it is one of those "rewards" you only get a certain way.

Proverbs 30:11-14

There is something for everyone here. There are kinds of "people" or "sins." How would you describe or title them?

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comment or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.