Northeast Presbyterian Church

One commentator points out that vss. 11 and 12 slip into prose where the rest of Zephaniah is in poetry. It is noted, too that in vs. 12 the Lord slips into the 1^st person from the 3^rd person: “You, too, O Cushites, will be slain by My sword!” What is the sword that God has? Hebrews 4:12 says this: “The Word of God is living and active.

Sharper than any two-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him who whom we must give account!” What happens is that Zephaniah, in speaking a word against the pride of Moab and Ammon on the north and east slips into the universal notion of the Lord. So, the Word of God takes him in the opposite direction to Cush or Ethiopia to the south and west in the opposite direction.

Pride and arrogance taken in local gods; false gods in every direction will be exposed and attacked and destroyed! Not only will the Lord “be awesome” to Moab and Ammon “when He destroys all the gods of the land” there. It will happen in Cush, too! Verse 13 continues Zephaniah’s expansion: “He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria, leaving Nineveh utterly desolate and dry as the desert!”

The notion of monotheism is creeping into Zeph’s thoughts and proclamation; well, it’s not creeping; it’s exploding through his mind! Malachi 1:11 picks this up, too: “My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because My name will be great among the nations, says the Lord Almighty!” The sovereignty of God and the oneness of God will finally be proclaimed and realized.

It will happen even if we fail to be witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth; it will happen even if we don’t carry out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to make disciples of all nations! What will happen in the failures of our faith expression to love our neighbors and to forgive and pray for our enemies will be taken up in the very hand of God. The pride of Babel in Genesis has to be taken on; the confusion of Babel has to be addressed. The Lord God Almighty is an awesome God in His love; His redemption; His steadfastness; His forgiveness; and in His judgment! But, what goes for Israel that “you shall have no other gods before me,” goes for all the earth!

Lord, may we rejoice that one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! May our lives convey this by the way we live and love today.