Learning From The Troubles of Others

I’ve heard it said “Misery Loves Company.” Which I recently learned was a quote from the 17th century, but probably made famous by Henry David Thoreau. But the quote itself has a more antique company. The 14th century Italian Historian Dominci de Gravina wrote a phrase in Latin which translated says “It is a comfort to the unfortunate to have had a companion in woe.” How many times I’ve seen this truth played out in my own life, in the lives of others and in the history of the world. I mean, how many times have I heard, “This tastes awful, try it,” “this smells bad, take a whiff,” or something similar.

There is another quote that is important along these lines. In 1790 Edmund Burke said “People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.” In 1905 George Santayana wrote “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” And a few decades later, Winston Churchill probably made the most famous adaptation to the concept, saying “those that fail to learn from the history are doomed to repeat it.”

Then there is the famous mom statement “If all of your friends jumped off of a bridge, would you jump off too?” I’m sure the proper response to that question is “NO.” I am afraid that these three ideas should make more of an impact on our lives, and the history of the world than they do. In fact, I think that in some way, God is asking the people of Judah, and Jerusalem, to think about the same concepts as He speaks through the prophet Zephaniah. (Zephaniah 3:1 – 13)

Zephaniah 3:1–13 NIV84

Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled! She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God. Her officials are roaring lions, her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning. Her prophets are arrogant; they are treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law. The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame. “I have cut off nations; their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. Their cities are destroyed; no one will be left—no one at all. I said to the city, ‘Surely you will fear me and accept correction!’ Then her dwelling would not be cut off, nor all my punishments come upon her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did. Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them— all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger. “Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder. From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings. On that day you will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from this city those who rejoice in their pride. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. But I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will speak no lies, nor will deceit be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”

I. Judgment Against Judah/Jerusalem

A. Jerusalem is deserving

1. Sinful

2. Whole leadership

a. Political

b. Religious

3. Will not repent

B. God is Just

1. Do no injustice

2. He regularly shows injustice

3. Opposite of the leadership of Jerusalem

II. Nations as Warning

A. God was against them

1. Woes of chapter 2

2. Completely cut off the other nations

B. God gave them the opportunity to repent

1. Though devastated they still could seek YHWH

2. They continued

III. Call to Heed the Warning

A. God will call the nations

1. Some will repent

2. Some will face judgment

B. God will deal with Judah/Jerusalem

1. The wicked will be removed

2. Righteous rewarded.

C. Coming Judgment

1. Speaking of Eternal Judgment

2. All people encapsulated in nations

a. evil

b. good

3. Thus, this is:

a. a warning

b. a call to repentance

c. a call to faithfulness

d. a promise of reward

Conclusion: While misery does love company, and Satan does use this truth to encourage people to sin and find others who share in the same sin to encourage one another. God on the other hand is like a parent asking “if all the nations go around worshipping false gods and idols will you too?” with the implied answer “NO” while knowing that they/we will. He encourages His people, then in Judah and us in the church now, to learn from the judgment He pours out on other peoples and people. All with the warning that judgment is coming on all people and that we must be prepared for the day. And, if we are prepared, we will receive a reward.