Zephaniah 2:1-7 - God's care, even in discipline

Scripture:

Zephaniah 2:1-7
1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather,
O nation without shame,
2 Before the decree takes effect —The day passes like the chaff —
Before the burning anger of the Lord comes upon you,
Before the day of the Lord's anger comes upon you.
3 Seek the Lord,
All you humble of the earth
Who have carried out His ordinances;
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
Perhaps you will be hidden
In the day of the Lord's anger.

4 For Gaza will be abandoned
And Ashkelon a desolation; Ashdod will be driven out at noon
And Ekron will be uprooted.
5 Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast,
The nation of the Cherethites!  The word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines;
And I will destroy you
So that there will be no inhabitant.

6 So the seacoast will be pastures,
With caves for shepherds and folds for flocks.
7 And the coast will be
For the remnant of the house of Judah,
They will pasture on it.  In the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down at evening;
For the Lord their God will care for them
And restore their fortune.
NASU


Thoughts:

These judgments against Israel (verses 1-2) and their neighbors (verses 4-5) had their initial fulfillment as Babylon conquered the region roughly 20 years later.  These judgments are against Israel and the other nations for their rejection of God, but in these verses, we also see how He takes care of His own.  Even amidst a book of judgment against Israel, we see His care for them (verse 7).  God would not forget His promises to the nation, even providing for them through the possessions of their neighboring enemies.

What a great God who never forgets His love even when He must discipline His children!  Just as His compassion is seen in dealing with His chosen nation, it is seen in the lives of His followers, today.


Prayer:

Thank You Father, that even in the times You must bring discipline into my life, I can trust in You.  You still care for me, even when You must correct me.  You truly are a God of  love.

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.