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Take a breath, find your place, and read deeply. Discover the joy of reading God’s word with the Immerse New Living Translation (NLT) Bible.
This daily Bible podcast will take you through the Bible in a year following the Immerse Bible Reading Experience. So grab your family and small group and go through the Bible in a year together with Immerse. Each of the 6 volumes is available online or at your favorite Christian bookstore.
Nancy: Welcome to immerse: the
daily bible reading experience.
day 200 and 59
immersed in Zephaniah Zephaniah's.
Oracles for the people of Judah were
uttered nearly three quarters of a
century after the days of Micah and
Isaiah in the intervening years,
Hezekiah's successors Manasa and Amman.
Had tried to appease their
Assyrian overlords by serving
Assyrian Gods and suppressing the
Lord's true priests and prophets.
But the power of Assyria eventually
declined and its hold on.
Subject nations weakened.
This allowed nations like Judah to
regain some of their independence,
which enabled the true prophets to
once again speak freely for the Lord.
One of those prophets, Zephaniah
warned the complacent people of Judah
who thought the Lord will do nothing
to us, either good or bad, that they
needed to return to God with urgency.
They had little time left as
the fearsome day of the Lord.
The time when the Lord would come
and punish the unfaithful was fast
approaching Amos, Isaiah, and later
prophets also speak of the day of
the Lord as a time of judgment.
God is a God of justice and peace.
At some point, he must intervene
to judge and set things right.
The flourishing of creation
requires the destruction of evil.
In the New Testament, more light
is shed on the day of the Lord.
As we learn that it also involves God's
breaking into the present creation
to inaugurate his new creation.
Here in Zephaniah's short book, we
already see the Day of the Lord described
as both a warning of imminent disaster
and a vision of future restoration.
By now, king Josiah, who had
begun to reign as a child was
old enough to assert himself.
He carried out extensive religious
reforms, which included wiping
out the worship of pagan gods,
restoring the temple in Jerusalem.
And leading the people to renew
their covenant with the Lord.
We know from the accounts of his
life recorded in Samuel Kings and
Chronicles that he was prompted to
do this largely by the rediscovery
of the book of the law in the temple.
But Josiah was no doubt also influenced
by Zephaniah as warnings, particularly
since the prophet was a direct
descendant of Hezekiah and probably
also a member of the Royal court.
Act now before the fierce fury of the
Lord falls, Zephaniah urged seek to
do what is right and to live humbly.
Perhaps even yet, the Lord will protect
you by heeding this call the people were
spared at least for another generation.
The oracles of Zephaniah are
organized into three groups.
A similar phrase occurs at the end of
the first and second groups marking
off the three parts of the book.
For the whole land will be devoured by
the fire of his jealousy, as in Micah.
The book's ultimate movement is
from ruin to restoration, but in
this case, it takes place over the
course of the book as a whole rather
than within each group of Oracles.
The three groups together predict
judgment on Judah and Jerusalem, then
judgment on other nations, and finally
the restoration of Judah and Jerusalem.
This pattern shapes other prophetic
books as well, such as Ezekiel
Zephaniah is careful to emphasize
that only the lowly and humble
will share in the great renewal.
The book ends with a vision similar to
the one at the end of Isaiah, with God's
holy city rebuilt and thriving once
again addressing Jerusalem directly.
Zephaniah says the Lord himself
will come to live there.
On that day, the announcement to
Jerusalem will be cheer up Zion.
Don't be afraid for the Lord.
Your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you
With gladness, with his love,
he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over
you with joyful songs.
The Prophet Zephaniah.
The Lord gave this message to Zephaniah
when Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah.
Zephaniah was the son of Kuai, son of
Alaya, son of Amiah, son of Hezekiah.
I will sweep away everything from
the face of the earth says the Lord.
I will sweep away people
and animals alike.
I will sweep away the birds of
the sky and the fish in the sea.
I will reduce the wicked to heaps of
rubble and I will wipe humanity from
the face of the earth, says the Lord.
I will crush Judah and
Jerusalem with my fist.
And destroy every last
trace of their Baal worship.
I will put an end to all the
idolatrous priests so that even the
memory of them will disappear for
they go up to their roofs and bow
down to the sun, moon, and stars.
They claim to follow the Lord, but then
they worship Molech too, and I will
destroy those who used to worship me.
But now no longer do.
They no longer ask for the Lord's
guidance or seek my blessings.
Stand in silence in the
presence of the sovereign Lord.
For the awesome day of the Lord's.
Judgment is near.
The Lord has prepared his people
for a great slaughter and has
chosen their executioners on that
day of judgment, says the Lord.
I will punish the leaders
and princes of Judah and all
those following pagan customs.
Yes, I will punish those who participate
in pagan worship ceremonies and those who
fill their master's houses with violence
and deceit on that day, says the Lord.
A cry of alarm will come from
the fish gate and echo throughout
the new quarter of the city.
And a great crash will sound
from the hills well and sorrow.
All you who live in the market
area for all the merchants and
traitors will be destroyed.
I will search with lanterns and
jerusalem's darkest corners to punish
those who sit complacent in their sins.
They think the Lord will do nothing
to them, either good or bad.
So their property will be plundered,
their homes will be ransacked.
They will build new homes,
but never live in them.
They will plant vineyards, but
never drink wine from them.
That terrible day of the
Lord is near swiftly.
It comes a day of bitter tears, a day
when even strong men will cry out.
It will be a day when the Lord's
anger is poured out, a day of
terrible distress and anguish.
A day of ruin and desolation,
A day of darkness and gloom,
A day of clouds and blackness.
A day of trumpet calls and battle
cries down, go the walled cities
and the strongest battlements.
Because you have sinned against
the Lord, I will make you
grope around like the blind.
Your blood will be poured into
the dust and your bodies will
lie rotting on the ground.
Your silver and gold will not
save you on that day of the Lord's
anger for the whole land will be
devoured by the fire of his jealousy.
He will make a terrifying end
of all the people on earth
gather together.
Yes, gather together.
You shameless nation gather before
judgment begins before your time
to repent is blown away like chaff.
Act now before the fierce fury of
the Lord falls and the terrible
day of the Lord's anger begins.
Seek the Lord all who are
humble and follow his commands.
Seek to do what is right
and to live humbly.
Perhaps even yet, the Lord will
protect you, protect you from his
anger on that day of destruction.
Gaza and Ashkelon will be abandoned.
Ashdod and Ekron torn down.
And what Sorrow awaits you,
Philistines, who live along the
coast and in the land of Canaan for
this judgment is against you too.
The Lord will destroy you
until not one of you is left.
The Philistine coast will become a
wilderness pasture, a place of shepherd
camps and enclosures for sheep and goats.
The remnant of the tribe of
Judah will pasture there.
They will rest at night in the
abandoned houses in Eschelon.
For the Lord, their God will
visit his people in kindness and
restore their prosperity again.
I have heard the taunts of the Moabites
and the insults of the Ammonites mocking
my people and invading their borders.
Now, as surely as I live says the Lord of
heaven's armies, the God of Israel, Moab,
and Amman will be destroyed, destroyed
as completely as Sodom and Gomorrah.
Their land will become a place of stinging
nettles, salt pits in eternal desolation.
The remnant of my people will
plunder them and take their land.
They will receive the wages of their
pride for they have scoffed at the
people of the Lord of Heaven's armies.
The Lord will terrify them as he
destroys all the gods in the land.
Then nations around the world will
worship the Lord each in their own land.
You Ethiopians will also be
slaughtered by my sword, says the Lord.
The Lord will strike the lands
of the North with his fist
destroying the land of Assyria.
He will make its great capital Nineveh, a
desolate wasteland, parched like a desert.
The proud city will become a pasture
for flocks and herds, and all sorts
of wild animals will settle there.
The desert owl and Screech Owl
will roost on its ruined columns.
Their calls echoing
through the gaping windows.
Rubble will block all the
doorways and the cedar paneling
will be exposed to the weather.
This is the boisterous city.
Once so secure, I am
the greatest It boasted.
No other city can compare with me.
But now look how it has
become an utter ruin.
A haven for wild animals.
Everyone passing by will laugh in
derision and shake a defiant fist.
What sorrow, awaits, rebellious, polluted
Jerusalem, the city of violence and crime.
No one can tell it anything.
It refuses all correction.
It does not trust in the
Lord or draw near to its God.
Its leaders are like roaring
lions hunting for their victims.
Its judges are like ravenous
wolves at evening time.
Who by dawn have left
no trace of their prey?
It's prophets are arrogant
liars seeking their own gain.
Its priests defile the temple by
disobeying God's instructions.
But the Lord is still there in
the city and he does no wrong.
Day by day, he hands down
justice and he does not fail.
But the wicket know no shame.
I have wiped out.
Many nations devastating their
fortress walls and towers.
Their streets are now deserted.
Their cities lie in silent ruin.
There are no survivors.
None at all.
I thought, surely they will
have reverence for me now.
Surely they will listen to my
warnings, then I won't need to
strike again destroying their homes.
But no, they get up early to
continue their evil deeds.
Therefore, be patient, says the Lord.
Soon I will stand and
accuse these evil nations.
For, I have decided to gather the
kingdoms of the earth and pour out
my fiercest anger and fury on them.
All.
The earth will be devoured
by the fire of my jealousy.
Then I will purify the speech
of all people so that everyone
can worship the Lord together.
My scattered people who live
beyond the rivers of Ethiopia will
come to present their offerings.
On that day, you will no longer
need to be ashamed for you will
no longer be rebels against me.
I will remove all proud and
arrogant people from among you.
There will be no more
haughtiness on my holy mountain.
Those who are left will be the
lowly and humble for it is they
who trust in the name of the Lord.
The remnant of Israel will do no wrong.
They will never tell lies
or deceive one another.
They will eat and sleep in safety
and no one will make them afraid.
Sing o Daughter of Zion.
Shout aloud, O Israel.
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart.
O daughter of Jerusalem.
For the Lord will remove his hand of
judgment and will disperse the armies
of your enemy and the Lord himself.
The king of Israel will live among you.
At last, your troubles will be over
and you'll never again fear disaster.
On that day, the announcement to
Jerusalem will be Cheer up Zion.
Don't be afraid.
For the Lord, your God
is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you.
With gladness, with his love,
he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you With
joyful songs, I will gather you who
mourn for the appointed festivals.
You will be disgraced.
No more.
And I will deal severely with
all who have oppressed you.
I will save the weak and helpless ones.
I will bring together
those who were chased away.
I will give glory and fame to
my former exiles wherever they
have been mocked and shamed.
On that day, I will gather you
together and bring you home again.
I will give you a good name, a name
of distinction among all the nations
of the earth as I restore your
fortunes before their very eyes.
I, the Lord have spoken,
immersed in naham.
Very little is known
about the prophet Naham.
We are given no details
of his personal life.
Other than that he lived in Osh, a city
whose location is unknown today since he
shows brilliant skill with words, we do
know that he was educated and literate.
The historical situation he refers
to in his messages is also clear.
Ham's five.
Oracles describe the fall of the city
of Nineveh Capital of the Assyrian
Empire, an event that happened in 612 bc.
The messages celebrate this event
as an expression of God's just rule
over the world, specifically his
judgment against an oppressive people.
Nahm highlights the Assyrian
oppression by asking.
Where can anyone be found who has not
suffered from your continual cruelty?
The first Oracle in the book is most
likely a song because its lines begin
with the consecutive letters of the
first half of the Hebrew alphabet.
This literary device appears
in several of the Psalms.
The Oracle praises God as both just
and merciful echoing the language.
God used to describe himself
to Moses at Mount Sinai.
The Lord is slow to get angry, but he
never lets the guilty go unpunished.
This provides the context for
what's said in the other four
oracles in the book, which describe
God's judgment against Nineveh.
The second Oracle draws a
series of contrasts by speaking
alternately to Assyria and Judah.
For example, the temples and gods
of Assyria will be destroyed while
Judah will be free once again to
celebrate its own religious festivals.
Here we get a brief glimpse of
an essential truth of the gospel.
When the messenger is coming over the
mountains with good news, a crucial
part of the announcement is that
God's enemies have been defeated.
The third Oracle is a poetic depiction of
the battle in which Nineveh was conquered.
It's here that the prophet
Naham particularly exhibits
his special ability with words.
He first develops an extended
image of bright colors and gleaming
light to portray a formidable
coalition of nations on the attack.
He then alludes to the way Nineveh's
river floods and destroys part of
its wall, creating a breach that
allows the siege forces to enter.
He uses the image of receding floodwaters
to represent the Assyrian army and
population fleeing the onslaught.
When Naham says at the end that the
city is plundered, empty and ruined,
he begins with a short Hebrew word,
adds a letter to make the next word
and adds another letter for the third.
Thus using the lengthening
sound in each successive word to
represent the spreading disaster.
The fourth Oracle details
the crimes for which Assyria
has been judged and punished.
Like a den filled with young lions.
It has been cruelly violent and like
a prostitute or mistress of deadly
charms, it has enticed the nations
forcing subject peoples to worship.
Its false gods the last Oracle in
the book, which probably comes from
a time shortly before Nineveh fell.
Warns the Assyrians not to be
complacent and think that their
capital cannot be conquered.
It reminds them that 50 years
earlier, their own emperor went all
the way to Egypt and captured the
supposedly impregnable city of thieves,
which was protected by the river
on all sides, walled in by water.
This final oracle is a
fitting end to the book.
It serves as a caution to any other
nation, including Judah, that might
think it can never be conquered.
The implied warning is that only
fidelity to the God of justice and
mercy will keep a nation secure.
The supposed strength of any
empire cannot stand in the face
of God's judgment when it comes
the prophet namm.
This message concerning Nineveh came
as a vision to Naim who lived in Osh.
The Lord is a jealous God
filled with vengeance and rage.
He takes revenge on all who oppose him
and continues to rage against his enemies.
The Lord is slow to get angry, but
his power is great and he never
lets the guilty go unpunished.
He displays his power and
the whirlwind and the storm.
The billowing clouds are the dust
beneath his feet at his command, the
oceans dry up and the rivers disappear.
The lush pastures of basin and
caramel fade and the green forests
of Lebanon wither in his presence.
The mountains quake and
the hills melt away.
The earth trembles and
its people are destroyed.
Who can stand before his fierce anger,
who can survive his burning fury, his
rage blazes forth like fire and the
mountains crumble to dust in his presence.
The Lord is good.
A strong refuge.
When trouble comes, he is close
to those who trust in him, but
he will sweep away his enemies.
And an overwhelming flood.
He will pursue his foes
into the darkness of night.
Why are you scheming against the Lord?
He will destroy you with one blow.
He won't need to strike twice his
enemies tangled like thorn bushes
and staggering like drunks will be
burned up like dry stubble in a field.
Who is this wicked counselor of yours
who plots evil against the Lord?
This is what the Lord says though.
The Assyrians have many allies, they
will be destroyed and disappear.
Oh my people.
I have punished you before, but
I will not punish you again.
Now I will break the yoke of bondage
from your neck and tear off the
chains of ass Syrian oppression.
And this is what the Lord says concerning
the Assyrians In Nineveh, you will have
no more children to carry on your name.
I will destroy all the idols
and the temples of your gods.
I am preparing a grave for you
because you are despicable.
Look, a messenger is coming over
the mountains with good news.
He is bringing a message of peace.
Celebrate your festival
so people of Judah.
Fulfill all your vows for your wicked
enemies will never invade your land again.
They will be completely destroyed.
Your enemy is coming to crush
you, Nineveh, man, the ramparts.
Watch the roads, prepare your defenses.
Call out your forces.
Even though the destroyer has destroyed
Judah, the Lord will restore its honor.
Israel's vine has been stripped
of branches, but he will
restore its splendor, shields,
flash, red, and the sunlight.
See the scarlet uniforms of the valiant
troops watch as their glittering
chariots move into position with a
forest of spears waving above them.
The cherry hits race recklessly
along the streets and rush
wildly through the squares.
They flash like firelight and
move as swiftly as lightning.
The king shouts to his officers.
They stumble in their haste, rushing
to the walls to set up their defenses.
The river gates have been torn open.
The palace is about to collapse.
Nineveh's exile has been decreed, and
all the servant girls mourn its capture.
They moan like doves and
beat their breasts in sorrow.
Nineveh is like a leaking water reservoir.
The people are slipping away.
Stop.
Stop.
Someone shouts, but no
one even looks back.
Loot the silver, plunder the gold.
There's no end to nineveh's treasures.
It's vast uncounted wealth.
Soon the city has plundered empty and
ruined hearts melt and knees shake.
The people stand aghast, their
faces pale and trembling.
Where now is that great?
Nineveh, that den filled with young lions.
It was a place where people like lions and
their cubs walked freely and without fear.
The lion tore up meat for his cubs
and strangled prey for his mate.
He filled his den with prey,
his caverns with his plunder.
I am your enemy, says the
Lord of heaven's armies.
Your chariots will soon go up in smoke.
Your young men will be killed in battle.
Never again will you.
Plunder conquered nations,
the voices of your proud
messengers will be heard no more.
What?
Sorrow, awaits Nineveh, the
city of murder and lies.
She's crammed with wealth
and is never without victims.
Hear the crack of whips, the
rumble of wheels, horses, hooves,
pound and chariots clutter.
Wildly see the flashing swords
and glittering spears as
the charioteers charge past.
There are countless casualties,
heaps of bodies, so many bodies
that people stumble over them.
All this because Nineveh, the
beautiful and faithless city
mistress of deadly charms.
Enticed the nations with her beauty.
She taught them all her
magic enchanting people.
Everywhere I am your enemy says
the Lord of heaven's armies.
And now I will lift your skirts and show
all the earth your nakedness and shame.
I will cover you with filth and show
the world how vile you really are.
All who see you will shrink back
and say, nine lies and ruins.
Where are the mourners?
Does anyone regret your destruction?
Are you any better than
the city of Thebes?
Situated on the Nile River
surrounded by water, she was
protected by the river on all sides.
Walled in by water, Ethiopia and the
land of Egypt gave unlimited assistance.
The nations of put and
Libya were among her allies.
Yet Thieves fell and her people
were led away as captives.
Her babies were dashed to death
against the stones of the streets.
Soldiers threw dice to get
Egyptian officers as servants.
All their leaders were bound in chains.
And you, Nineveh will also staggered
like a drunkard you will hide
for fear of the attacking enemy.
All your fortresses will fall.
They will be devoured, like the
ripe figs that fall into the mouths
of those who shake the trees.
Your troops will be as
weak and helpless as women.
The gates of your land will be opened wide
to the enemy and set on fire and burned.
Get ready for the siege.
Store up water, strengthen the defenses.
Go into the pits to trample clay
and pack it into molds, making
bricks to repair the walls.
The fire will devour you.
The sword will cut you down.
The enemy will consume you like
locusts, devouring, everything they see.
There will be no escape.
Even if you multiply like swarming
locusts, your merchants have multiplied
until they outnumber the stars.
But like a swarm of locusts,
they strip the land and fly away.
Your guards and officials are also like
swarming locusts that crowd together in
the hedges on a cold day, but like locusts
that fly away, when the sun comes up,
all of them will fly away and disappear.
Your shepherds are asleep.
Oh, Ayn king.
Your princes lie dead in the dust.
Your people are scattered
across the mountains with no
one to gather them together.
There is no healing for your wound.
Your injury is fatal.
All who hear of your destruction
will clap their hands for joy.
Where can anyone be found who has not
suffered from your continual cruelty?
This concludes today's
immerse reading experience.
Thank you for joining us.