The Lord gave this message to Zephaniah when Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah. [Zephaniah 1.1]
The prophecy following the verse above describes absolute destruction and annihilation of every living thing.
This prophecy came during the reign of Josiah, who, in recent day's readings, is on record of having turned to God wholeheartedly and purged Judah of all idols and false religions. I just wonder if the prophecy was before the Book of the Law was found and read to Josiah or after. I am inclined to think before.
The fact that the prophecy of Zephaniah described compete removal of life from earth indicates to me that God reserves the right to do with life as He pleases. And, as I am inclined to think that Zephaniah's prophecy was given before Josiah turned to God, it appears to me that God will, in fact, relent of the severity of His intentions if only we will repent! God is good like that!
Father, forgive me - forgive us - of becoming complacent. Forgive us for our contentment with the world in which we live. We are broken and this world is askew with sin and sinful ways. Let those who are Yours be distinguished as Yours, not by their own doing, but by Your Spirit operating through them!
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