Week 32 Zephaniah
The prophets are relentless.
That’s one reason bible-readers avoid reading Isaiah-to-Malachi start-to-finish. It’s one reason some bible-reading plans split up the prophets so I can, let’s say, read Zephaniah then catch a break by adding psalm 23.
The prophets are relentless.
The prophets realized it. They knew they weren’t publishing best-sellers. But they were kind of stuck with saying what they had to say.
One of the things I’ve noticed is that they use an on-the-other-hand style of composing quite a bit. I think I first saw this technique in Jeremiah. He makes bleak, gloomy, depressing, troubling, unsavoury, scary projections. I don’t know how many. A lot. But along the way he keeps inserting the-other-side comments, things about the Lord’s interest or care or patience or he’ll-give-you-another-chance-if-you-come-around guarantees. Relentless maybe, but Jeremiah knew he couldn’t just play the blues.
Anyway this practice shows up in Zephaniah. Chapter one is as dark as an eclipsed sun, and then: beg the Lord to save you…Walk humbly and do what is right. Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.
And better yet: Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid. For the Lord your God has arrived to live among you…He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears.
Note: an example in Jeremiah of light-following-dark is 12:7-14 & 12:15. Quotes are from Zephaniah 2:3 and 3:16-17 (NLT)