Book of the Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3

Book of Small Prophets 

Zephaniah 

Chapter 

3

 

¹ Ah soiled, defiled, oppressing city ² It has listened to no voice; it has accepted no correction. It has not trusted in the LORD; it has not drawn near to its God.

 

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verses 1 to 2)

 

Oh God, my beloved Father when we do not obey Your voice we end up in a state of exile, so much that we bring judgment onto our own selves. I pray that such bitter experiences of life act as stepping stones to draw us near to You instead of away from You Amen.


³The officials within it are roaring lions; its judges are evening wolves that leave nothing until the morning.

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verse 3)

Oh God, my beloved Father, I pray that You tame the lion and educate the judge in me, for they are both still immature and lacking in self-control. I pray that You make me a better person Amen.


⁴ Its prophets are reckless faithless persons; its priests have profaned what is scared, they have done violence to the law.

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verse 4)

Oh God my Father as Christians we are all prophets because You can give us by giving us words of knowledge and insights for ourselves and even for others at any given time. I pray that You always find me available for You as a worthy tool to help others and also to receive help and support from You and others, for even the helper at times needs help Amen.


⁵ The LORD within it is righteous; he does no wrong. Every morning he renders his judgment, each dawn without fail; but the unjust knows no shame.

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verse 5)

Oh God my Father the world is like an apple that is beautiful from the inside because You are that which makes it beautiful, however from the outside it is bad sinful and corrupt Amen.


⁶ I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets so that no one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate, without people, without inhabitants.

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verse 6)

Oh God my beloved Father, You have the power and authority to raise a nation to reach its glory, and You have the same power to bring it down to earth. You have full power over my life, therefore may Your will be done and not mine Amen.


⁷ I said, "Surely the city will fear me it will accept correction: it will not lose sight of all that I have brought upon it." But they were the more eager to make all their deeds corrupt.

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verse 7)

Oh God, my Father, You intervene in my life because You love me, and You want me to change my life and not because You hate me. I pray that You help me to overcome the temptation of the evil one that weakens my defences like a virus in the immune system and causes me to become sinful Amen.


⁸ Therefore wait for me, says the LORD, for the day when I arise as a witness. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all the heat of my anger; for in the fire of my passion all the earth shall be consumed. 

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verse 8)

Oh brothers and sisters of all nations, let us wait and hope on God, before taking serious or trivial decisions in life. Let us feel assured that He always gives us a reply in some way or another Amen. 


⁹ At that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verse 9)

Oh God my Father in the readings of today You have spoken of a positive time in my life, where people who may have spoken negatively about me, will finally experience the truth which will clear me of all negative false accusations. You have also given me messages of unity among the nations, I pray for such time, my God and Father Amen.


¹⁰ From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, my scattered ones, shall bring my offering.

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verse 10)

Oh God, my Father, the day will surely come when all Your people scattered around the world, will unite as sheep under one shepherd and there will be one flock. What a day that would be my God and Father Amen.


¹¹ On that day you shall not be put to shame because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verse 11)

 

Oh God, my beloved Father blessed be this day of our final deliverance from the forces of evil of this world so that we can be reunited with You. I thank You for Your forgiveness for we have greatly sinned against You and each other and we cannot do without Your forgiveness Amen.

 

¹² For I will leave in the midst of you a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD- ¹³ the remnant of Israel; they shall do no wrong and utter no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. Then they will pasture and lie down and no one shall make them afraid.

 

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verses 12 to 13)

 

Oh God, my Father, I pray that I will be one of that remnant my God and Father that I will be worthy to seek comfort in Your presence Amen.

 

 ¹⁴ Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!

 

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verses 14)

 

Rejoice brothers and sisters of all nations for the Lord our God is with us, even though our situations may not be that positive, let us rejoice for we are not alone. Let us sing and give praise and worship to God who is able to deliver us out of any situation any sin any problem any family crisis, any financial crisis! Amen.

I invite you all to click on this link and join me in this song credited to us by Kari Jobe. Amen

¹⁵ The Lord has taken away the judgements against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verses 15)

Oh brothers and sisters throughout the world, in the name of God, the highest, I pray that you experience the forgiveness of God our father. We are no longer slaves to sin, we are free of the clutches of sin and can live freely, we can now worship God our father without no restraints whatsoever. I also pray that now that we have been forgiven our sins, we be more than ready to forgive those who sinned against us. We are free to apologize to whom we sinned against. God is giving us the strength to go against our rebellious nature and say sorry and plead for forgiveness Amen.

¹⁶ On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion: do not let your hands grow weak. ¹⁷The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival. ¹⁸ I will remove disaster from you so that you will not bear reproach for it.

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verses 16 to 18)

Trust in God my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ and You will never feel depressed abandoned or alone, for with Him on our side we are always victorious. Therefore let us pray to change the F of fear into the F of faith Amen.

¹⁹ I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verse 19)

God is our champion, He will fight our battles He will overcome our greatest enemies, He will conquer our addictions and immoral behaviour. God will put to shame our weaknesses and turn them into strengths Amen.

²⁰ At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your eyes says the LORD.

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 3 verse 19)

Oh God my blessed Father that day will be the greatest of days, when we are reunited together for ever if this is Your will. I do not wish for fame or popularity, but to be a signpost on this earth that leads others to You Amen.

Oh God, my blessed Father, I wish to end this meditation on the last chapter of the book of the prophet Zephaniah with the following prayer. I invite you to click on the following link which takes you to the Book of the Prophet Haggai

The Book of Small Prophet Haggai

Brothers and sisters this is the day of repentance, humble yourselves and turn to Jesus, open your hearts to Him and share Your misgivings by means of the priests that he consecrated for this very purpose. Pray and read the Word of God and do not judge it but let it transform you.

Amen.

Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 2

Book of Small Prophets 

Zephaniah 

Chapter 

2

¹ Gather together, gather O shameless nation, ² before you are driven away like the drifting chaff, before there comes upon you the fierce anger of the LORD, before there comes upon you the day of the LORD's wrath.

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 2 verses 1 to 2)

Oh people of the earth, let us repent of our ways, let us gather as one nation and pray for the mercy of God' our  Father, for we have gone against His ways many times and we are entitled, for the penalty of hell. Mercy oh God even though we deserve all we get in consequences of our sins amen.



³ Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his commands; seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the LORD's wrath.


(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 2 verse 3)



Oh God what a great gift it is to be humble and to be obedient and ready to obey instruction than to be proud and always in control or as we think we are. I pray that I always aim for humility and never seek to dominate others Amen.



⁴ For Gaza shall be deserted, and Ashkelon shall become a desolation; Ashdod's people shall be driven out at noon, and Ekron shall be uprooted.


(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 2 verse 4) 



Oh God my Father, when You want something to happen, You will make all things possible, You are able to remove people who are of trouble and opposition to the reaching of the goals that You planned for us and give rise to those people who will be of opportunity to us Amen. 


⁵ All inhabitants of the seacoast, you nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan land of the Philistines; and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left.



(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 2 verse 5)

Oh God my Father, the last thing I need right now id that You be against me.  I am willing to take on the yoke of the sacrifice, however, I  pray on You to speak to me like You once did Amen. 


⁶And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures, meadows for shepherds and folds for flocks. ⁷ The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah, on which they shall pasture, and in the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the LORD their God will be mindful of them and restore their fortunes.   


(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 2 verses 6 to 7)



Oh God, my beloved Father, I thank You for being so caring and sensitive to my needs and that of my family. I know that I am always on Your mind because You genuinely love me. Even before I declare a need, wish or want, You are already aware of it, and if it's for my own good, You will make it possible to be Amen. Thank You, God my Father. When I needed the assistance of an interpreter, You not only sent me one, but also a person with a background in psychiatry whom You sent at the right moment, and whom I am proud to call a friend. Although he is of another religion by means of this person You showed me who the real Christian is and I felt really ashamed on one hand and grateful to You on the other Amen.


⁸ I have heard the taunts of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts against their territory.



(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 2 Verse 8)



Oh God my beloved Father, You are more than aware of the persecution that Christians are experiencing during the present times. People are being killed simply for being Christians. On the one hand may Your will be done, because You had made us aware that we would be persecuted because of Your Name, but on the other hand innocent blood is being shed. I pray that You have mercy on this targeted group of Christians Amen.


⁹ Therefore as I live, says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Moab shall become like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land possessed by nettles and salt pits, and a waste forever. The remnant of my people shall plunder them and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.


(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 2 Verse 9)



Oh God my beloved Father, this is an issue that is really on my mind. You took the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, so seriously so much that You mention it in different chapters of the Bible, however the Roman Catholic Church is changing its attitude toward people with homosexual tendencies, people who were not accepted by You. When You destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah You did not discriminate the sin from the sinner, because both were present and therefore both were given the same penalty Amen.  


¹⁰ This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they scoffed and boasted against the people of the Lord of hosts.


(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 2 Verse 10)



Oh God my beloved Father, at times I do not understand the Roman Catholic Church of which I am a member. You strongly emphasize the penalty of being like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah and their ways and our Church has a completely opposite attitude towards such a social group. please have mercy on us oh God my Father Amen.



¹¹ The LORD will be terrible against them; he will shrivel all the gods of the earth, and to him shall bow down, each in its place, all the coasts and islands of the nations.


(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 2 Verse 11)



Oh sisters and brothers, we all in some way or another may have personal 'gods' and ambitions, may we not be controlled by our careers, plans, families, jobs and even by the same technology that has become so advanced. May we including myself, place our Lord God and Father in the centre of our lives and give Him full control Amen because none of these 'gods' can withstand the power of God Amen. He deserves the centre place of our lives. He is the rock of our salvation. 



¹² You also, Ethiopians, shall be killed by my sword.


(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 2 Verse 12)



Oh God my Father, The Good News is really like a sharp sword, because when I reflect on it it's message penetrates my soul and makes me aware of both Your love, and even the issues that are still pending in my spiritual and psychological self Amen. I pray that You not only raise my awareness but even continue the healing process Amen.



 ¹³ And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and he will make Nineveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert.



(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 2 verse 13)



Ohy God my Father, You are able to stretch Your mighty hand and raise us out of our pit of misery and You are also able to keep us in a state of humility and submission until You consider as proper the days of our deliverence. Either or Oh God my Father, I respect Your decision Amen. 
 

¹⁴ Herds shall lie down in it, every wild animal; the desert owl and the screech owl shall lodge on its capitals; the owl shall hoot at the window, the raven croak on the threshold; for its cedar work will be laid bare. ¹⁵ Is this the exultant city that lived secure, that said to itself, "I am, and there is no one else"? What a desolation it has become, a lair for wild animals! Everyone who passes by it hisses and shakes the fist. 



(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 2 verses 14 to 15)



Oh God my Father I also feel like a barren field that is dry full of weeds and a dwelling place for wild animals. Going back in time I was really happy so much that happy was one of my passwords but now I have lost my happiness. I feel abandoned and betrayed by the world and at times even by You. People will look at me, and say "Look at him he who always placed his trust in God he is no better than us who live  according to the ways of the world, and I tend to agree with them.


Oh God my beloved Father, I would like to end this second chapter of the book of the prphet Zephaniah with the following prayer:





Oh God my beloved Father, I thank You for this time of tribulation and desolation. All hell is breaking lose around me. My marriage is in a desperate crisis, my work is in a desperate crisis and moreover I am on treatment for depression. I pray that you have mercy on me my God and Father, because I  do not know how much more I can take. Gradually You are stripping me off my securities one by one until I am totally dependent on You which is ok for me but please help me before I loose my mind. Amen. Thank You God my Father.

 

 






 
 




 
 


 

Book of Small Prophet Zephaniah Chapter 1

 

Book of Small Prophet 

Zephaniah 

Chapter 

1

 

 

1. The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi son of Gedaliah son of Amariah son of Hezekiah, in the days of King Josiah son of Amon of Judah. 

(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 1 verse 1) 

Oh God, my Father may we all be prophets, may we all be used by You to pass on Your message of redemption Amen. May we all be a family of prophets and a channel of Your love Amen.




2. I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth, says the LORD. 3. I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. I will make the wicked stumble. I will cut off humanity from the face of the earth, says the LORD. 4. I will stretch out my hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests; those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens; those who bow down and swear to the LORD but also swear by Milcom; 6. those who have turned back from following the LORD, who have not sought the LORD or inquired of him.




(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 1 verses 2 to 6)




Oh God my Father, I understand how much You would feel like pressing the reset button of the world and start fresh again, especially when You look on the world, and focus on the hypocrisy that we are driven by. People such as myself, who proclaim to believe in You and then become stressed and anxious every time something extraordinary happens. Others who also proclaim to love and adore You and have given their life for You are abusing children, and even more, others who have given their word under oath to lead the state have also not been free from dishonesty and corruption. I also feel hurt by the situation of the world I pray oh God for mercy for we do not know what we are doing Amen. 




7. Be silent before the LORD GOD! For the day of the LORD is at hand; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests.




(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 1 verse 7)


Oh God my Father how much I pray for the day of deliverance. Today on this day, my friend who I was proud to call a friend is leaving work in order to start a new job. The only person in the world, with whom I could honestly share my faith with and grow with even on a holistic level as a person. I pray oh God Almighty that my day of deliverance is also not far away. I wish to die and be worthy of spending the rest of my life in Your presence Amen.


8. And on the day of the LORD's sacrifice, I will punish the officials and the king's sons and all who dress themselves in foreign attire. 9. On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill their master's house with violence and fraud.




(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 1 verses 8 to 9)


Oh God my Father I pray for those whom You have invested with authority and power so that they will be responsible and accountable for their actions both towards You and towards the citizens whom You have placed in their care Amen.



10. On that day, says the LORD, a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills.



(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 1 verse 10)


On reflecting oh God I wonder what our last times will be like, maybe with the whistling of missiles and the cloud of radiation of death that destroys all existing life. It is terrifying even to imagine let alone to endure. Let us all remain firm in our faith in You my God and Father and we will always feel secure Amen.





11. The inhabitants of the Mortar wail, for all the traders have perished; all who weigh our silver are cut off. 12. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and I will punish the people who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, "The LORD will not do good, nor will he do harm".



(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 1 verses 11 to 12)




Oh God my Father You do not like it when we rest on our own devices and not on You, for as a loving Father You wish that we trust and depend on You without experiencing shame fear or doubt. Amen.




13. Their wealth shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.


(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 1 verse 13)



Oh God my Father even though we may have many, property we may not live to gain its full of potential. For our own good God may have given us that property so that after we leave this earth others may reap its full potential. Therefore let us not be tied to our possession but use them for the good of ourselves as much as for our own purposes. Amen.





14. The great day of the LORD is near; near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter the warrior cries aloud there.



(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 1 verse 14)




Oh God my Father Your day may be closer than we think it is, therefore as You advised us many times we are always to be ready. This means keeping a watch over ourselves in order so that we remain in Your ways oh Gid my Father. When considering our weaknesses as sinners it may also help to confess our sins weekly in order to remove the stain of sin from our being. If I could oh God I would do it every day to make sure that there is nothing that keeps me away from You Amen. 



15. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16. a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.



(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 1 verse 14)



Oh God my Father, indeed Your day will be one of terror and anguish, especially for those who still after being given many chances still choose to live a life that violates the rules and commandments that You left us before You reunited with Your Father. It will be a day of anguish for those whom pretend to life a good life that is better than that of others whom one had judged. Oh what a surprise when the latter are admitted in heaven and those holding a judgemental attitude will be driven to hell.


15. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a say of clouds and thick darkness, 16. a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.


(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 1 verse 15)




Oh what a day this will be my God and Father, who could stay alive in such a situation. Although in Syria, there is already devastation and great fear of loss of life and pending doom. I pray oh God my Father, that You reverse the scenario so that peace will reign. However, Your will be done and not mine Amen.




16. a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. 17. I will bring such distress upon people that they shall walk like the blind; because they have sinned against the LORD, their blood shall be poured out like dust. and their flesh like dung.




(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 1 verses 16 to 17)



Oh God my Father nobody can stand against You. Nobody can stand Your might and power. Sin is powerless against You, therefore I pray that we all repent. It is better for us to repent than experience the judgment of God my Father Amen.




18. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD'S wrath; in the fire of his passion the whole earth shall be consumed; for a full, a terrible end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.



(Book of Small Prophets Zephaniah Chapter 1 verse 18)




Oh God my Father even though we have advanced in technology and science nobody can escape Your judgement and ultimately death. Nobody is able to live forever, the end will come for all, even though we do our utmost to live a healthy life, adopt a healthy diet, practice sports and relaxation techniques, this will amount to zero value, for we are not to invest in the world and the carrots that it dangles before us, as choices or options to take in order to invest in a better future. This is all an illusion in order to mask our sinful reality and alienate us from the fact that one day we are going to leave it all behind us for our successors to benefit from all our efforts, over time, struggles, stressors and hardships. What a waste my God and Father, what a sorrowful waste.


In order to raise our awareness of such a reality please click on the following link:-


The Rapture and the Bible


Oh God my Father I would like to end the first chapter of the book of Zephaniah with the following prayer:-


Oh God my Father many of us are living alienated lives that are dominated by materialism and a culture of selfishness, destruction which dictates that as in material or expired goods, marriage is not forever it becomes expired and can be disposed of. People such as elderly who can also be termed as being expired according to the values of the world can also be subject to euthanasia for they are no longer of value since they no longer can produce materially. Oh God I pray that You save us from this world of illusion and deceit Amen.