Zephaniah

The Book of Zephaniah opens with terrible pronouncements of judgment by the LORD. It seems that all creation is being wiped out, all life swept off of the earth. The Book closes with great outpourings of God's love and comfort, even rejoicing. What could this be about?
When I read this Book, I see the hijacking of creation, and the rescue of it.
In the first verse, we are introduced to Zephaniah, and his previous generations. All of the names listed here are very interesting in the Hebrew meanings:
Zephaniah- "Jehovah has treasured",  treasure meaning: hide, store up, treasure, hide from discovery, protect, esteem, secret place.
This directs me to the thought that there is something valuable here hidden in the secret place of God, that we can search out, which I am eager to do.
Cushi- "black", associated with Ethiopia
Gedaliah- "Jehovah is Great" 
Amariah- "Yah (the LORD) has promised, Yah speaks"
Hezekiah- "Jehovah is my strength"

The king of Judah (praise) during this time is Josiah, "Whom Yah Heals", also meaning foundation, buttress, support, column, who is the son of Amon, "Architect, master, skilled workman, support, confirmation, faithful, pillar". Both names here take us to the beginning, the foundation, the support. To me this is the Creator, and His Son.
In the second verse, the word of the LORD to Zephaniah is that He will utterly consume everything from the face of the land. The phrase "utterly consume" can mean to remove, to perish, to destroy. However, the phrase can also mean "collect, gather, receive, gather in (as a harvest), bring up the rear, rearguard, to assemble, gather and take away, to be gathered to one's fathers, to make an end, to snatch away, to recover another from leprosy."
From these things, I see that some are gathered in for perishing, and some are gathered in for rescue:
"Let both (wheat and tares) grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, "Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn."   Mt. 13:30
So the phrase "utterly consume" used by the LORD is not limited to the idea of destroying, but involves much more than that.
In verse 3, while forms of life described as man and animals, are being "utterly consumed", so are "stumbling blocks" and the "wicked". "Stumbling block" refers to the stumbling block of idols, to bring decay and ruin. They cause people to stumble, bring injury or ruin to, to make feeble, to make weak, to bereave. The "wicked" are criminal, hostile to God, guilty of sin, condemned, vexed, to cause or declare wrong, violate, disturb.
The people mentioned in chapter one are the inhabitants who worship idols, and the counterfeit god, Ba'al, even Milcom, who is Molech, the god who demands child sacrifice by burning.
The LORD will punish those who are supposed to be the children of the king (King), but they wear the strange (foreign) apparel- adulterous, calamity, disaster, misfortune, disguise, dissemble, feign. From God's perspective, they don't belong to Him at all. They "leap over the threshold (serpent, snake)" of the master's house and fill that house with violence and lies (Zeph. 1:9). They should be serving the Master, and were born and purposed to serve Him, but instead, have chosen to be vessels of evil, wreaking havoc in the Master's house.
This is the condition of some today who consider themselves to be the people of God- would God recognize them as His own?

In Chapter 2, who are the ones told to "gather" together that they might be "hidden" before this terrible day of the LORD? Those who seek Him, who are meek, who seek righteousness and humility (v. 1-3):
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."  Mt. 5:5
"LORD, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart, Thou wilt cause Thine ear to hear: to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress."   Ps. 10:17
"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."  Isa. 57:15
"Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  Mt. 18:4
It becomes evident that the qualities of humility and the seeking of righteousness are important considerations at this time of the gathering in. Do we humble ourselves under God, or do we exalt ourselves under the ways of evil? Are we real (wheat) or are we counterfeits (tares) like the serpents in strange apparel that leap across the threshold of the Master's house?
According to this chapter, on that day, the following will be dealt with by the Creator:
Gaza- strong, greedy, harsh, fierce
Ashkelon- : "Fire of Infamy: I shall be weighed"
Ashdod- powerful, spoiler, robber, to destroy, to violently despoil
Ekron-"turn up by the roots", eradicate, exterminate
Cherithites- executioners, cut off, cut down
Canaan- to bring low, to subdue, to humiliate, to vanquish
Philistines- sojourners, immigrants, to roll in ashes, to mourn. The Philistines were descendants of Mizraim, which is Egypt- besiege, siege works, siege enclosure, beset, assault, adversary, bind, distress, show hostility. They were originally from Caphtor: a crown, a circlet at the top of a column, a circlet of adornment on the golden candlestick.
So the Philistines are from  those who had been meant to rule, and adorn the golden candlestick of light, but became an adversary, an oppressor, an assaulter who beseiges.
In these names above, the LORD is dealing against some of the most ancient, darkest, most evil destroyers of man.
The LORD goes on to condemn Moab and Ammon in Ch. 2, likening them to Sodom and Gomorrah. Moab and Ammon were children produced from the incest of Lot and his daughters. While Lot had been delivered miraculously by the angels of God from the destruction of Sodom (Burning) and Gomorrah (A ruined heap, to treat tyrannically, to treat as a slave, to bind for merchandise), he entered right back into them spiritually with the incestuous acts with his daughters. What he produced became enemies of the people of God.
The LORD also condemns and judges Assyria and Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria. Assyria represents that which has been "blessed, prospered, advanced and progressed". It's city, Nineveh, was founded in antiquity by Ninus, its builder. Ninus was said to be the son of Bel (Ba'al). It is a spiritual counterfeit to the city whose builder is God, and comes down from heaven adorned as a bride for the Son (Heb. 11:10, Rev. 21:2). Why would the LORD have anything against this prosperous city and nation? It is because they represent the attitude that they are responsible for their own success, and they have no need of God:
"This is the rejoicing city that dwelt securely, that said in her heart, "I am it, and there is none besides me". How has she become a desolation..."    Zeph. 2:10
We can look back to an ancient city in the plain of Shinar, as they built and built in order to make a name for themselves, set up a defense against the will of God,  and to worship the stars, and the false gods of the earth (Gen. 11:1-9).
The earth, and all of creation upon it, are held captive by these evils described above, killing and destroying the life that YHWH spoke and breathed, and sustains in existence. However, God will not leave this so. The LORD, YHWH (Creator, Behold! Redeemer, Behold!) will not cede His sustaining place over creation to anyone, or anything:
The earth is the LORD's and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein."
                                                                                Ps. 24:1, 1 Cor. 10:26
"The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all its fullness, You have founded them."             Ps. 89:11
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  Jn. 1:1-4

Chapter three, the final chapter, brings us to two groups of people. Considering the conditions of man that the LORD has revealed above, and the evils that men have accepted and exalted over their lives, there are those who will receive His correction, and those who will not. Those are the two choices. If we think we do not need correction, or that correction is for other people, then we automatically fall into the group that will not receive correction, who will not humble themselves. This is how that group is described:
"Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressive city! She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the LORD, she has not drawn near to her God....the unjust knows no shame...I said, "Surely, you will fear Me, you will receive instruction"- so that her dwelling would not be cut off, despite everything for which I punished her. But they rose early and corrupted all their deeds."   Zeph. 3:1-2, 5, 7)
The second group of people, those who will receive correction are described:
"In that day, you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds in which you transgress against Me;...I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
Even the thought of receiving correction causes most of us to turn away from it. We will do great mental gymnastics to twist out of the responsibility or blame, and place it upon someone else. We feel angry and unfairly treated when correction comes our way. I can feel my neck stiffening, and my heart hardening at the idea of correction, and I can recall past corrections with the same resentment as I felt at the time. Though humility seems like a small thing, it would have been a balm to those feelings of anger and resentment. I can see my wrong that resulted in those corrections now, but it still rankles. I can attest that humility is not as easy as it sounds, and I can see why the LORD treasures it so much.
How do these people indicate that they have received His correction?:
"I will gather (this is the same word that is also interpreted as "consume" in Zeph. 1:2) those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, who are among you, to whom its reproach is a burden."
Those who will receive the correction of the LORD, have a feeling of sorrow at the sinful condition of the assembly, including themselves. The shame of the condition is a burden to their souls and spirits. Their hearts mourn for the assembly that is in this condition. God can work with that,  and He does. He removes the reproach from their hearts, as He also removes the judgment from them.
For this sorrow and heavy heart of repentance, God gives them joy:
"Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
The LORD has taken away your judgments,
He has cast out your enemy.
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
You shall see disaster no more...
The LORD your God in your midst,
the Mighty One will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."     Zeph. 3:14-15, 17

I think we can conclude that the Book of Zephaniah is not about the LORD destroying everything that moves. I think the "hidden treasure" here, that is revealed in Zephaniah's name, is a treasure to be found by those whose hearts are searching God. At the end of this search is the joy and beauty of His salvation and deliverance:
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."   Mt. 13:44
 However, we know the story does not end there. The search for His ways, the repentant heart, and the teachable spirit is still an ongoing part of our lives. This desire and repentance in heart is the thing that separates the wheat from the tares, and those who will receive correction from those who won't. It is not about seeking the city of the son of Bel, but about seeking the City of the Son of God. It is about coming out from under the names of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and the like, and being gathered in under the name of the LORD.
The time of being "utterly consumed" is near, even upon us. Into which group do we desire to be gathered?

Our Father will gather us in.

Stature

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."      Eph. 4:11-16
Paul mentions more thoughts similar to those that he expressed in the above Ephesians verses:
"...that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words."   Col. 2:2-4

I am not the first to wonder what this "stature of the fullness of Christ" means in the above Ephesians verses, and how I get it. Whatever it is, the whole structure of the church has been established in order to achieve it. Whatever it is, it will keep us from acting like immature children running after every doctrine that a man can devise for his own benefit, and feeling of self-righteousness. Whatever it is, it achieves unity in its purest form, and the effective working, supplying and growth of the church. So whatever it is, it is important, even vital.
Is the "fullness" about spiritual authority? While spiritual authority is part of the Kingdom of God, Jesus didn't seem to think it was the most important thing. When His disciples came back from a road trip rejoicing because even the demons were subject to them (Lk. 10:17-20), Jesus said, "Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
Is the "fullness" about the working of miracles? While this should definitely be a part of the life of each believer, along with signs and wonders, I don't think this is what is meant in regard to the "fullness". We tend to think that if people only see a miracle, it will change their hearts, but this is not always so. When Jesus performed the miracle of the multiplying of the fish and the loaves which fed thousands, people really didn't understand the significance of it. Even His own disciples didn't understand it because "their heart was hardened" (Mk. 6:52). Of the people in general, Jesus made the comment, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled." Jn. 6:26.
Even the great miracle of raising the dead is not enough. Jesus said that if they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead (Lk. 16:31). So miracles are not all of the fullness. In fact, to many who will claim to have prophesied, cast out devils, and done many wonderful works in Jesus' name, He will say, "...I never knew you, depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." (Mt. 7:21-23).
When the verses from Ephesians above, talk about "the knowledge of the Son of God", are they teaching about studying and knowing the Word? The Word is Jesus. I think that is part of it, but that study that washes and renews our minds is supposed to bring us to a certain result, or conclusion. How do we get to that expected result, or fruit, of the Word?
One teacher in the body of Christ has written that the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ can be found in the items of furniture in the tabernacle of Moses*. We are getting closer for sure, I think. All of those items of furnishing, from the Court to the Holy of Holies, have one thing in common: They are places of sacrifice of one kind, or another. They are places of a dying that gives rise to a living. So, similarly, is this "knowledge of the Son", and this "stature of the fullness of Christ":
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father."     Phil. 2:5-11
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."      Gal. 2:20
"And they overcame him (Satan, the Devil, the serpent of old, who deceives the world, and accuses the brethren) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."    Rev. 12:11
The knowledge of the Son, and the fullness of His stature are found in His dying. It includes not only His physical dying, but His dying to self which came first: He humbled Himself and became obedient even to the death. What impact would the church have on the world if it died to self? There would be unity in the purpose and being of Christ. There would be edifying of one part to another. Every joint has to give a part of itself in order to "supply". The work of the ministry would be accomplished as never before, in ways we can only imagine. There would be no childish chasing after every doctrine that exalts the efforts of men rather than God. There would be the ultimate expression of love, the nature of the Father, and the Son. There would be growth of the body. The seed of our life laid down grows into a harvest of many lives. God put that power into a seed-the power to regenerate and multiply, like unto like:
"Most assuredly, I say unto you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone;  but if it dies, it produces much grain (fruit). He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."  Jn. 12:24-25
"Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive until it dies."   1 Cor. 15:36
As we read further in Ephesians 4, Paul expresses that same death to self:
"...if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus, that you put off (put aside, put away, cast off, lay down), concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on (to sink into to as into clothing, be plunged into, go down into) the new man, which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."    Eph. 4:21-24
If we think we have died to self, we are probably wrong. It seems that it must be a daily renewing of purpose that we impose against our natural thoughts, inclinations, and behaviors. Dying to self is probably like doing an exercise all day long, only to begin again the next day, until it becomes who we are. Once we determine that this is the Father's will for us, and therefore, our will for ourselves, we have the work of the Holy Spirit in us to lead us and teach us, and comfort us when we fail. Dying daily to self (1 Cor. 15:31), allows the Jesus inside of us to live.
If we want to multiply and be effective as believers and as the church, it will require that we determine to lay that seed of self down, and bury it. We do this with the faith of the Son of God that He will not leave us buried there, but that He will raise us up again, in His likeness, in His image, and in the measure of the stature of His fullness.
This is the mind of Christ. This is the knowledge of the Son, and this, I believe, is the measure of the stature of His fullness.


Our Father reveals the measure of the fullness of His Son.


"Wisdom Song"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMnIVe4-QUY

"Crucified With Christ"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0_1jazh454

*B.R. Hicks, "Precious Gem in the Tabernacle"

Abram

Before the LORD began to reveal Abram's future descendants and their inheritance to him in Gen. 15, the LORD allowed Abram to see a special covenant sacrifice. The types of animals used in this sacrifice would also be used as sacrifices by future generations in the Tabernacle, and Temple of God.
The wonderful thing about this revelation to Abram ("The Exalted One is My Father") is that it was the Gospel of Salvation that was revealed. No other man that we know of, ever witnessed this revelation in this awesome manner. It is one of the most amazing events in scripture.
This is the Gospel according to Abram:
"So He (the LORD) said to him, "Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtle dove, and a young pigeon."    Gen. 15:9
The significance of some of these animals being three years old, is that they are the more valuable because at this age, they are grown, or nearly grown, becoming able to produce, or having been trained to work. The meanings of the Hebrew words used to describe the animals are also interesting:
heifer- circular, round, revolve
she goat- strong, prevail, make firm, make secure
ram- sacrifice, a leader, pillar, door frame, door posts
turtle dove- beloved, succession, order, plait or braid of hair or gold, circlet, an ornament
                   worn for the head
young pigeon (nestling)- wounded, flay, strip, to tear away, seize, take away by violence,
                                        galled (make sore) and wounded
In these animals I see the circular, revolving world. I see the strong and prevailing Father, who made the world firm and secure in Himself by offering His beloved successor, or Son, a Leader Himself, as a sacrifice upon a pillar, a frame, a support, a doorway. This Son's Kingship, mocked but declared to all, was seen in the plaited circlet (of thorns) He was given for His head. This beloved successor was taken by violence, wounded, flayed, stripped. I see John 3:16 all over this:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son....."

 

Let us continue with the experience of Abram:

"And when the vultures (fowl) came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him."      Gen. 15:11-12

fowls- ravenous, birds of prey, shrieking, screaming, greedy, swooping, rushing, pressing,

          indignant, wrath

carcass- dead body, exhausted, faint, void of strength

drove away- blow, disperse by blowing

sun- brilliance, battlements, pinnacles, shields

was going down- besiege, come against, stricken

deep sleep- very great inertness, stupefy with sleep or death

horror- terror, dread, terrible, frightful, formidable

great darkness- intense, powerful darkness, misery, withholding of light, hidden

 

As Jesus was losing strength on the cross, and had become exhausted and faint, I can almost hear the shrieking of the demons as they greedily came swooping in to devour in their great wrath. The breath of God, the Ruach ha Kodesh, blew them and dispersed them from touching the Son of God. His holy One would not see corruption (Ps. 16:10). This brilliant Pinnacle, Battlement of defense, and Shield of God was besieged and stricken.

As He was stricken, as this Son died on the cross, Abram experienced the terror, the profound and extremely powerful darkness and misery of death.

However, before we even got to this point, before Abram had even experienced this, the LORD had come in a vision to Abram in the first verse of this chapter, and had told him, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, and your exceedingly great reward (price, compensation, fare, prepared banquet)."

In the middle of this darkness, a smoking furnace, and a burning torch passed between the pieces of the sacrifice. In forming a covenant, men would pass between the divided pieces of the sacrifice together (Jer. 34:18-19). However, this covenant that Abram was witnessing was a covenant that had been made between Father and Son (Ex. 19:15, Jn. 1:4, Isa. 62:1, Ps. 119:105), that the Son was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world (Mt. 13:35, 25:34, Jn. 17:24, Eph. 1:4, Heb. 9:26, 1 Pet. 1:20, Rev. 13:8, 17:8). It was the covenant made to provide atonement, salvation, and everlasting life to man.These forms of smoke, light and fire,  "overflowed/impregnated" these "cut off, separated, destroyed" carcasses. No man, including Abram, who did not walk between the pieces, was involved in this covenant.

In a prophetic promise to Abram in this chapter (v. 13-14), in the same manner that the Gospel of Jesus takes us from a condition of bondage to sin, fear and death into the freedom of life, Spirit, and Truth, the LORD tells Abram that He will deliver Abram's descendants from the affliction of slavery. They would come out of this bondage with great possessions. This prophetic Word, this Light, had been spoken over these future descendants, and would deliver them.

Immediately following this revelation of the Gospel, on this same day, the LORD did make a covenant with Abram (v. 18-21) promising his not-yet-born descendants the physical land from the river of Egypt to the River Euphrates. Again, in this covenant, we can see the Gospel by looking at the Hebrew meanings of the words involved:

The spiritual land from the river of Egypt (besieged place, siege enclosure, entrenchment, distress, confine, adversary, foe)) to the River Euphrates (fruitfulness, to break forth, sweet water, fruit-bearing tree) extends from the waters of "death/misery" to the waters of "abundant life". This is the land of the Son.

"...that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

 

 

 

Our Father is our shield and our very great reward.

 

 



 



"Grace to Overcome"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gia4BYZnP-k

 

Dedicated to, and in remembrance of Jennifer C.