SACRIFICED!

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated those He has invited.”

“On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all those clad in foreign clothes. On that day I will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit.”

“On that day,” declares the Lord, “a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, wailing from the New Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills. Wail, you who live in the market district; all your merchants will be wiped out, all who trade with silver will be destroyed. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.’ Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. Though they build houses, they will not live in them; though they plant vineyards, they will not drink the wine.”

Zephaniah 1:7b-13

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In yesterday’s devotion, we found the Lord condemning the Israelites for adopting the pagan worship practices of other nations to include the sacrificing of children to the Canaanite god Molek (also spelled Molech). As we see in today’s devotion, the Lord was preparing to sacrifice His own people in response to their sinful actions. Look again at this passage as we continue to study from Zephaniah 1:

“The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated those He has invited.”

“On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all those clad in foreign clothes. On that day I will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit.”

“On that day,” declares the Lord, “a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, wailing from the New Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills. Wail, you who live in the market district; all your merchants will be wiped out, all who trade with silver will be destroyed. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.’ Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. Though they build houses, they will not live in them; though they plant vineyards, they will not drink the wine.”  Zephaniah 1:7b-13

It was common practice to consecrate (or make holy) oneself before worshiping the Lord. In this case, the Lord was consecrating the Babylonians who He would use to carry out His judgment on the Israelites.

In other words, God was getting ready to sacrifice His people, offering them up to Babylon, the mighty pagan empire.

As we read today’s text, we find the Lord pinpointing specific wickedness within Judah and Jerusalem. Those who adopted pagan worship practices and filled “the temple of their gods with violence and deceit” would pay the price for their transgressions. Ditto for the merchants who engaged in dishonest trade practices, reaping a bounty of wealth illegally. They would have their wealth plundered and their houses demolished. No one would be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor in the vineyards as the people would eventually be hauled away into captivity, leaving Canaan a desolate wasteland. Finally, note that no one was going to be spared from God’s punishment as even the officials and sons of the king would be counted in that number. All would pay the price when the great sacrifice came.

I don’t know about you but the message here is pretty harrowing if you ask me. For the God of infinite might and power is letting us know through His word that He is willing to sacrifice any nation who chooses to live separate from Him in sin, even His beloved chosen people of Israel.

He did it in the days of Zephaniah and you better believe He can and will do it again. Let’s just pray it isn’t your nation who will be next.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark
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