"This
is the Word that the Lord spoke to Zephaniah" (Zephaniah 1:1).
Straightaway, our attention is drawn away from the prophet to the Lord -
"The Lord spoke His Word" (Zephaniah 1:1). How are we to hear the Word
of the Lord? - "Be silent in the presence of the Almighty Lord"
(Zephaniah 1:7). How can we hear what the Lord is saying to us, if we're
too busy speaking? We must listen to God, if we are to hear what He is
saying to us. What we hear from the Lord may not be what we want to
hear. It will be what we need to hear. He speaks to us His Word of
judgment so that we might see ourselves as sinners and come to Him for
salvation.
“At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem”, the keynote of the service was joyful thanksgiving. They gathered together “to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving” (Nehemiah 12:27). “On that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy” (Nehemiah 12:43). They sang “songs of praise and thanksgiving to God” (Nehemiah 12:46). This joyful thanksgiving is only a foretaste of the greater joy and thanksgiving of heaven: “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). In the city of God, “the glory of God” will be shining with everlasting brightness (Revelation 21:23). The Church of God will be “prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). The beautiful picture of the godly wife in Proverbs 31 gives us an outline of what God is seeking to do in His people. It is summarized in Proverbs 31:30: “A woman who fears the Lord is to be
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