Scripture Reading : Zephaniah 3
Theme : Day of Judgment and Salvation
Destruction of the Rebellious (1-8). Israel is a stubborn nation that will not accept God’s correction even when God punishes her. The whole society is corrupted because all the leaders, including officials, judges, prophets and priests, are all corrupt. Even when God uses the destruction of the nations around Israel as object lesson of His wrath, Israel still will not listen (6-7); therefore in the end times, God will gather the world and Israel, then punish them all.
Deliverance of the Righteous (9-20). At the end of God’s great wrath in the end times, there will be a great spiritual revival in the whole world (Rev. 20). The whole world will forsake idols and worship God with one accord. God will also cleanse Israel of all rebels (cf. Zech. 13:1-9). In that day, the King of Israel, who is Jesus, will physically be in Jerusalem reigning the world (vv.15-18, cf. Rev. 20). Israel will fulfill God’s purpose and be renown (20).
Praying the Scripture
- In the minor prophets, God repeats over and over again that He will restore Israel and her glory. Yet, many Christians believe that the church has replaced Israel. They say Israel has forfeited God’s promises because of their sins. This is an erroneous interpretation that denigrates the faithfulness of God and weakens our trust in God. If God has replaced Israel with the church and will not revive Israel, then He is not faithful to His promise or to Israel. If God is not faithful, then how can Christians be sure that God will be faithful to forgive our sins through Jesus and to preserve us in the midst of trials? Our trust in God is tightly linked to God’s faithfulness to fulfill all His promises to Israel. The existence of the state of Israel testifies to the faithfulness of God; therefore, we can whole-heartedly trust God with our lives.
- We have to wait until the end to see all the nations of the world worshipping the true, living God. But even now, we are getting a taste of this glorious future. God is already saving many people from many different nations, peoples and languages. This also is a miracle. Praise be to God for His glorious work of salvation. Let us marvel and be thankful for the coming paradise that God has prepared for us. Let us arrange our values and lives according to this eternal, majestic paradise.
经文：西番雅书3
主题：审判与拯救之日
毁灭悖逆者（1-8）。以色列是顽梗之国；即便神惩罚了她，她仍不接受神的更正。整个社会已经腐败了，因为她所有的领袖，包括首领、审判官、先知和祭司都是污秽的。即便神显示了祂的愤怒，除灭了以色列周遭的国家，以色列仍不顺服（6-7）。因此，在末日之时，神会聚集以色列与列国，一齐惩罚。
搭救义者（9-20）。神在末日倾倒了祂极大的愤怒后，世界将有灵命大复兴（启20）。全世界将离弃偶像，一心一意地敬拜神。神也会洁净以色列，扫除她所有的仇敌（参撒13:1-9）。那日，以色列的王耶稣将亲自在耶路撒冷统治世界（15-18；参启20）。以色列会成就神的旨意，名扬天下（20）。
用经文祷告
- 在小先知书里，神一再地重复祂会复兴以色列及她的荣耀。可是，许多基督徒相信教会已取代了以色列。他们说以色列因自己的罪弃权了神的应许。然而，这说法不但诋毁神的信实，也会削弱我们对神的信心，是错误的解释。神若使教会替代以色列，不再兴起她，那么祂对以色列与自己的承诺是不忠实的。神若不是信实的，信徒又怎能确保神会藉着耶稣赦免我们的罪，在患难中保守我们呢？我们对神的信心是与神对祂向以色列许下的一切承诺紧紧相连的。以色列的存在就是对神之信实的见证，所以我们能全心全意地信靠神。
- 我们还需等到末了才能见到万国万民敬拜那位又真又活的神。但即使是现在，我们也尝到了这荣耀将来的滋味。神已经从万邦万族中拯救许多人。这也是个奇迹。我们要为神救人的荣耀工作赞美祂！让我们为神所预备的未来天堂有感惊奇，感谢祂。让我们按这永恒、光荣的天境重新整理我们的价值和生命观。
