Divine Call to Safety10/7/2024 ![]() Zephaniah 2:1-3 ~ “Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation, before the decree takes effect—before the day passes away like chaff—before there comes upon you the burning anger of the LORD, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the LORD. Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.” There is a day coming, a day of God’s vengeance and wrath, a day of disaster upon those who have rejected the LORD. We read in the Zephaniah 1:18, “Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the LORD. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.” There will be no escape for the inhabitants of the earth. This Day of the LORD will consume creation in the fire of His wrath. Many may try to hide in order to deliver themselves from His all-consuming fire, but it will reach around the earth. Does this cause you to tremble with fear? If you have ever been in a natural disaster, suffering the unstoppable condition like an earthquake or hurricane, had you received warning prior to the calamity, would you have fled to a safe refuge? I have known many who endured such tragedies, and looking back upon the moment, had they been able to find safety before the danger fell, they would have run to the chance. Our text today is God giving warning again, and showing the way to safety so that when the Day of the LORD comes upon the whole earth, they will have found the only safe place—secured in the LORD Jesus. Our text today begins with God’s call upon the nation to “gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation, before the decree takes effect—before the day passes away like chaff—before there comes upon you the burning anger of the LORD, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the LORD.” There are direct moments expressed in this text, all indicating one great cataclysm of God’s anger--the decree, the day, the burning anger, the day of anger. And God is calling upon all who might care to listen to gather before that dreadful moment takes place. There are two reasons to “gather.” The first reason is to stand against the LORD and defy His rule. Psalm 2:2-3 exposes the “kings” of the earth, “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.’” They take counsel together to stand opposed to Christ, to try and break themselves free from God’s rule. The other reason to gather is to stand before the LORD in humility and submission to Him. Joel 2:15-16 is the called assembly of those would repent, “Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.” All are called upon to cry out to the LORD who would repent and receive His mercy. And yet, our text today is God’s merciful kindness giving those who are rebellious and “shameless” to seek the LORD, “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility.” The Almighty is sending His judgment against mankind, but still He calls to those who dwell on the earth to “seek the LORD.” Consider the words of Isaiah 55:6-7, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Let the lost man or woman not grow dull of hearing when the Word of God speaks so loudly to turn away from sin and return to the LORD Jesus. And, dear Christian, let us not grow so comfortable in this world that we would be surprised at the day of God’s wrath (see 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6). We come to the final statement of our text today, the promised deliverance of Christ, “perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.” As the ark kept hidden Noah and his family (see Hebrews 11:7), as the blood on the door posts kept hidden the children of Israel (see Exodus 12:22-23), so all who are in Christ will be hidden in that day as well. Consider Colossians 3:3-4, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Let us heed the warning and spread the word for all the inhabitants of the earth. The Day is coming, and soon only those who are hidden in Christ will be spared from God’s ultimate judgment. In His Grace, Pastor Michael
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