The Lord Dispenses Justice

(Zeph. 1:12, 3:1-5, 11-13)

God’s Lamp

We all sin (Rom. 3:9-19)

Search with a lamp = there is no hiding place from God (Zeph. 1:12)

The Lord brings our sin to light daily, the question is, how do we react to what he has revealed?
(Zeph. 3:5)

The revelation of our sin necessitates a response, from God (Zeph. 3:11), and from us!

How do you respond to correction? (like Zeph. 3:2?)

God’s justice includes mercy for those that demonstrate humility & faith (Zeph. 3:12)

Our Complacency

Like “wine on its dregs” = harsh, callous, indifferent (Zeph. 1:12, Ps. 10:2-11, 94:1-7, Jer. 48:11-12,
Hos. 13:5-6, Amos 6:1-7, 1 Cor. 4:8, 2 Pe. 3:2-7, Rev. 3:15-17)

An ancient story recalls how Satan once summoned his top three aides to plan how to stop a group of
dedicated Christians from effective missionary work. One of the lieutenants, Rancor, said to Satan,
"We should convince them that there is no God." Satan sneered at Rancor and replied, "That would
never work. They know that there is a God." Another of Satan’s aides, Bitterness, spoke up. "We’ll
convince them that God does not really care about right or wrong." Satan toyed with the notion for a
few moments, but rejected it because he knew that too many Christians know that God does care.
Malice, the third satanic helper, came up with his idea. "We’ll let them go on thinking that there is a
God and that He cares about right and wrong. But we will keep whispering that there is no hurry,
there is no hurry." Satan howled with glee. He advanced Malice higher in his malevolent organization.
Satan knew that he would find this stratagem successful with many, many Christians.

Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, told a story about a goose who was wounded and who
landed in a barnyard with some chickens. He played with the chickens and ate with the chickens. After
a while that goose thought he was a chicken. One day a flight of geese came over, migrating to their
home. They gave a honk up there in the sky, and he heard it. Kierkegaard said, "Something stirred
within the breast of this goose. Something called him to the skies. He began to flap the wings he
hadn’t used, and he rose a few feet into the air. Then he stopped, and he settled back again into the
mud of the barnyard. He heard the cry, but he settled for less."

Are the events of 9/11 in any way similar to Zephaniah’s message?

Have you been moved out of your complacency? If so, how?

O.K., God has saved you, but for what purpose(s)? (Eph. 2:10)