[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during December 2024]
Are there aspects of the Christian faith that you do not understand? Of course there are, but I suspect that many of us think that we have a good grasp of our faith and are content with our current knowledge. However, even King David admitted that he did not understand the full extent of God’s relationship with mankind:
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
Psalm 139 v6 [ESVUK]
Although it is still possible to be blessed in our complacency, there may be gems of wisdom that we are missing out on or warnings from history that escape our attention. Many generations of believers have left us a rich heritage of their experiences when studying the Scriptures and waiting upon God for enlightenment but one thing stands out – walking with God requires an investment of time.
In our contemporary society we often complain that we do not have sufficient time, yet we can always find time for those things that we consider important. Modern technology can relieve us of many of the time-consuming chores that our predecessors faced so, in theory, we ought to have more time available. Does our use of time tell us something about the priority that we give to our relationship with God?
In the ecclesiastical calendar of some Christian denominations the 3rd December is designated as a commemoration day for the prophet Zephaniah. Do we need to know that fact in order to be confident in our faith? No. However, since the divinely inspired process by which the canon of Scripture was compiled has included the prophecy of Zephaniah, we would benefit by becoming familiar with what he said.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3 v16 [NKJV]
The words of Zephaniah do not make for easy reading but that is not a valid excuse for discarding them. Zephaniah lived during the reign of Josiah, one of the good kings of Judah who re-established the worship of the Lord in the nation of Judah. However, Zephaniah could foresee how the nation would backslide into idol worship and then be taken into exile in Babylon. His warning was not heeded.
Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.
Zephaniah 2 v3 [NIVUK]
How can people who have been blessed by the Lord turn away from him? Was it complacency, thinking that the Lord would overlook the sins of his chosen people? Why did they ignore the warnings that successive prophets had spoken?
The events that Zephaniah describes may be history now but that does not make them irrelevant to us. Are we at risk of becoming complacent in our faith? Are we unwilling to heed the warnings?
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?
2 Peter 3 v10-11 [NIVUK]
External References: (these links open new tabs)
Introduction to the Book of Zephaniah (video)
The Message of Zephaniah: an Urgent Echo
Jesus in Zephaniah: Restoring the Faithful
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Last week’s reflection: Black Friday
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys