Zephaniah began his prophesy speaking of a cosmic judgment. Next he narrowed the judgment down to Judah. Now he addresses the members of the Royal Court. Given that Zephaniah was, himself, a member of the Royal line, it is commendable that he was willing to obey God and speak forcefully. He was not willing to dilute or alter God’s Word in order to keep his position and status or to gain favor. He unashamedly spoke the hard truth even though it could have cost him everything, respect, status, social standing, livelihood, and even his life. He was a faithful watchman.
Zephaniah 1:8 “Then it will come about on the Day of the Lord’s sacrifice: That I will punish the princes, the king’s sons And all who clothe themselves with foreign garments.
The princes were assigned the task of leading the nation in the ways of righteousness. Israel was supposed to be a people set apart. Deuteronomy 7:6 However, instead, ignoring God’s commands, Numbers 15:38, Deuteronomy 22:11-12, they had adopted foreign customs.
There is a story in 1 Kings 10 about an attempt to purge the land of the priests of Baal. A trap was set using foreign garments... Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, bring robes for all the servants of Baal. So he brought out robes for them. All of the priests were then instructed to put on their robes. Not suspecting anything unusual the priests of Baal put on their robes. Once they were dressed in their robes they were easily identified and easily slaughtered.
Christ made reference to this wearing of foreign garments in the parable of the wedding feast. In Matthew 22, the king, representing God the Father, invited everyone to a feast for his Son, representing Christ. However, a guest who was not wearing wedding clothes tried to enter the feast. Because he was an imposter, not clothed in the righteousness of Christ, he was thrown out into the darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Are you beginning to get the idea that God is serious about His followers being faithful in all things and not being willing to compromise the truth with the hollow and ultimately bankrupt practices of unbelievers?
Zephaniah 1:9 “And I will punish on that day all who leap over the temple threshold, Who fill the house of their Lord with violence and deceit.
In 1 Samuel 5:1-5 the Israelites did a stupid thing. In disobedience to God they removed the Ark of the Covenant from the Holy of Holies in the Temple and took it into battle, superstitiously believing that it would assure them victory. (Remember the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark when the fictional Germans were searching for the Ark believing that it would assure them victory in WW2?) Anyway, the Ark was captured by the Philistines. After they had captured the Ark of the Covenant they placed it in the temple of their god Dagon. However, the idol Dagon fell over before the Ark of the Lord. The priests of Dagon found the idol bowing down, laying across the temple threshold. Ever since that incident the priests of Dagon superstitiously avoided stepping on the threshold of their temples. Just like the priests of Dagon, the false priests of Judah followed the superstitious practice of leaping over the temple threshold.
This might sound strange to our ears but how many Christians follow superstitious practices today; horoscopes, astrology, enneagrams, consulting spiritists, knock on wood, 666, fingers crossed, 13th floor, cross my heart hope to die, etc?
Christ condemned the religious leaders of His day for their superstitions. They even make a big show of wearing Scripture verses on their foreheads and arms, and they wear big tassels. Matthew 23:5
They observed senseless pagan superstitions while ignoring the Covenant that God made with them. They fill the house of their Lord with violence and deceit. Jeremiah, who was prophesying at the same time as Zephaniah, accused the priests of turning the temple into a den of robbers. Jeremiah 7:11 Violence, deceit, robbers, does that sound familiar?
Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. It is written, he said to them, My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers. Matthew 21:11-13
God’s people are slow to learn. We always require His loving, fatherly, discipline.
Why are we so easily enticed by unbelievers and their ways; ways that cannot bring life? Why are we quick to ignore the source of life?
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot
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