TOPIC: Apostasy; Self-examination
TITLE: Examine Thyself!
TEXT: Zephaniah 3:1-2
Verse 1 says they had become an oppressive, rebellious, and defiled (blood-stained) society [the Hebrew says: filthy and polluted].
In verses1-5, Israel is judged according to the privilege granted her … as are all nation before and since. Her ruling classes had rejected any critique of their behavior or beliefs.
Israel trusted in her wealth, her military, and her alliances.
In verses 2:1-3:8, we see the earth and all her nations judged according to her privilege.
The verbs in verse 2 are participles, and carry the sense of present and continuous practice.
TRUTH CLAIM:
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What does God hate to find in his people ... what really grieves Him?
CONCISE OUTLINE:
Each of the following phrases is negative …
The ultimate question is “Will any nation which behaves in this way survive God’s wrath!” But today's question is simply -
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What does God hate to find in his people ... what really grieves Him?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:
I. He hates to find a people who will not listen!
Why? Because ...
The leaders of Israel were not God-fearers. Only in name! A violation of the commandment not to take the name of God in vain.
I personally fear Western Civilization (and most of the church) has fallen into a declining spiral just as Israel did … I fear she –
The final discipline of God, the one which has brought the true promise of peace to all men, fell on the shoulders of the Lamb of God, His “suffering servant” our Savior.
TITLE: Examine Thyself!
TEXT: Zephaniah 3:1-2
“Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, The tyrannical city! She heeded no voice; She accepted no instruction. She did not trust in the LORD; She did not draw near to her God.”CONTEXT: After the reigns of David and Solomon, the nation Israel fell into a declining spiral of arrogance, apostasy, intrigue, idolatry, collapse, lamentation, searching, revival, and restoration … only to repeat the process.
Verse 1 says they had become an oppressive, rebellious, and defiled (blood-stained) society [the Hebrew says: filthy and polluted].
In verses1-5, Israel is judged according to the privilege granted her … as are all nation before and since. Her ruling classes had rejected any critique of their behavior or beliefs.
Israel trusted in her wealth, her military, and her alliances.
In verses 2:1-3:8, we see the earth and all her nations judged according to her privilege.
The verbs in verse 2 are participles, and carry the sense of present and continuous practice.
TRUTH CLAIM:
"Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, 'I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now My eyes shall be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.'"The value of Zephaniah for the church is prophetic ... remember - God is unchanging (immutable)!2 Chronicles 7:12-16
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What does God hate to find in his people ... what really grieves Him?
CONCISE OUTLINE:
Each of the following phrases is negative …
I. He hates to find a people who will not listen!Notice the first two are indicative of Israel’s stubbornness; while in the second two the Hebrew is reverse, implying a particular kind of rebellion.
II. He hates to find a people who will not learn!
III. He hates to find a people without an eternal foundation!
IV. He hates to find a people who do not fear Him!
The ultimate question is “Will any nation which behaves in this way survive God’s wrath!” But today's question is simply -
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What does God hate to find in his people ... what really grieves Him?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:
I. He hates to find a people who will not listen!
Who are independent and self-reliant; who have misunderstood His blessings as a sign of their own cleverness!II. He hates to find a people who will not learn!
Israel was that kind of people!
Consider our present post-Christian Era.
Who have no desire to learn or grow.III. He hates to find a people without an eternal foundation!
Israel was that kind of people! Refusing the Lord’s discipline!
Consider our present post-Christian Era.
Who have a foundation of sand, who are not built upon The Rock. [Matthew 7:24-27]IV. He hates to find a people who do not fear Him!
Israel was that kind of people!
Consider our present post-Christian Era.
Who will not draw near to Him in awe and reverence!APPLICATION: Israel, especially her leaders, didn’t see the relationship between their current problems and God’s displeasure … thus they did not see their actions or philosophies as sin. Kind of like a pharaoh who did not know Joseph [Exodus 1:8].
Who will not humble themselves before their Creator.
Israel was that kind of people!
Involves the acts of worship and service, prayer and praise.
They took the Lord's name in vain … in an irreverent or dishonoring way.
Consider our present post-Christian Era.
Why? Because ...
“[the righteous man’s] delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.”... and ours is not! No wonder our righteousness is like a filthy rag.Psalms 1:2
The leaders of Israel were not God-fearers. Only in name! A violation of the commandment not to take the name of God in vain.
I personally fear Western Civilization (and most of the church) has fallen into a declining spiral just as Israel did … I fear she –
1) no longer heeds the voice of God or anyone else; heeding only its own voice
2) is no longer educable in the sense of receiving instruction“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”God’s word has become anathema to them.2 Timothy 3:17
3) no longer has a rock foundation ...
You see we’ve always known that we can’t expect every American to have saving or even living faith in God; but if the nation herself, meaning the majority of the people and the “ruling class,” were to have a solid moral and God fearing foundation … well??)
4) no longer fears God or even accepts His existence, and will not draw near to Him.
It can be said: “Any ship of state manned by a blind crew will certainly end up on the rocks but not on the Rock.” [quote me on that]“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”James 4:8
CHALLENGE: We must focus on things above, not on things of this world.
The final discipline of God, the one which has brought the true promise of peace to all men, fell on the shoulders of the Lamb of God, His “suffering servant” our Savior.
“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.”Isaiah 53:5
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