KBM Let Not Your Hand Grow Weak

I’m so very thankful for all of you that take time out of your day to study with me. This podcast continue to grow and get more people listening almost every week. Thank you all for making this study a success. Today, we are continuing series on “Impact 3:16” by looking at Zephaniah 3:16. We have come to yet another prophet that has a little bit more information about him than some but far less than others. We find something rare when it comes to the heritage of Zephaniah in Zephaniah 1:1 wherein we find four generations given. From this, and some other passages we can narrow down the timeline to somewhere close to 625 BC. during the reign of Josiah (2 Kings 21:24-2 Kings 23:29). Zephaniah’s great-grandfather was King Hezekiah the last faithful king before Josiah became king meaning there has been several generations of Israelites that have not known what a righteous kingdom looked like. In fact, God’s word had been lost until Josiah’s reign if that gives you any indication of how corrupt the Southern Kingdom had become. This makes since when you study the book of Zephaniah then. Even though Josiah was trying to “bring the people back” to God their heart was not in it. The people were worshiping Jehovah as if he were an idol.

Zephaniah 1:4–6 ESV

4 “I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, 5 those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom, 6 those who have turned back from following the Lord, who do not seek the Lord or inquire of him.”

God’s people were unteachable, the rulers violent and oppressive, the judges merciless and corrupt, the prophets were traitors, and the priests were profane (Zephaniah 3:1-4). That is what we find to start our chapter of study, but that wasn’t everyone. There were some there like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To them God says…

Zephaniah 3:8 (ESV)

8 Therefore wait for me...

And then God, through Zephaniah, makes known that those that are scattered when judgment comes to Judah, this remnant, will one day “sing aloud, rejoice, and exult with all their heart” (Zephaniah 3:14) but why? Let’s read Zephaniah 3:15-17.

Zephaniah 3:15–17 ESV

15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. 17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

When the LORD is in our midst and he is rejoicing over us with gladness, quieting us with his love, and exulting over us with singing it is good to be in the midst of our LORD because we are made strong by his love and our hands will not grow weak. When God is for us no one can stand against us because we are made strong by his strength. As the great apostle Paul would put it…

Ephesians 6:10 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.