They Shall Trust |
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Elder
Mark D. Rowell |
Zephaniah 3:12
“I will
also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor
people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.”
Without going
into too much detail, suffice it to say (based on biblical
cross-references) that Zephaniah, Jeremiah and even Ezekiel
were contemporaries. That is, they lived in or about the
same time frame in history. John Wesley goes so far as to
say that Zephaniah “…foretells what Jeremiah and Ezekiel
did.” I give this short “historical” perspective so that we
might understand what was going on when Zephaniah was given
his prophesy. If we compare to Jeremiah, we understand the
judgement of God against Judah is at hand. With regard to
our text, the historical setting is important to understand
the immediacy of the prophecy and then the extension of the
prophesy to current times.
“I
will also leave in the midst of the an afflicted and poor
people…”
Nearing the end
of his prophecy, Zephaniah brings to light something
wonderful regarding Judah and Jerusalem, or more
specifically, a particular people to be found within
Jerusalem. However, his initial description of this people
isn’t all that pretty…on the surface.
An afflicted
people, according to James Strong, is a people that is
“depressed, in mind or in circumstances” which can be
rendered as brought low. (Psalms 116:6) While a poor people
are those who are left “dangling,”
or by implication, “weak and thin.”
The term “frail” comes to mind with how Strong defines poor.
(Psalms 39:4) So the prophet singles out a specific people
that the Lord will leave, but this people is brought low and
frail - broken. Here are a few references regarding being
broken:
Psalms 34:18 “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a
broken heart; and seventh such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Psalms 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a
broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
Both
speak of those that are of a broken heart and contrite
spirit, but notice the context that shows that the Lord
regards and is “nigh unto them” who are in this condition.
Remember that David penned Psalms 51 when Nathan made him
realize the greatness of David’s sin against God. David even
utters the words “Restore unto me the joys of thy
salvation!” Sounds like perhaps David found himself to be
afflicted and poor.
Isaiah
speaks of the contrite spirit in Isaiah 57:15. He also
references it in 66:2:
“For all
those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have
been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to
him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at
my word.”
Did you
notice how the Lord said “to this man will I look?” God is
looking for the poor, contrite, and ones who “…trembleth at
my word.” God is very clear to show us the position we
should find ourselves in when looking unto the Lord. While
there are so many verses that come to mind that might
summarize our low estate in being an "afflicted and poor
people," my thoughts are drawn to Job 42:1-5, especially
verses 4 and 5 when Job finds himself broken by his
realization of just how awesome God is: I have heard of
thee by they hearing of the ear: but now mine eye teeth
thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and
ashes. Wow! Do we not find ourselves to be in the
same shape as Job when we realize just how awesome our God
is? It’s similar as Isaiah 6:5: Then said I Woe is me!
for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I
dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine
eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. You see,
being afflicted and poor is not a bad thing my friends! For
it’s when we are afflicted and poor (or broken) when we
finally are able to SEE - just like Job, just like Isaiah -
just how undone we are.
Now then, having
seen them, and us, in this state, what is it that Zephaniah
says next in our text?
“…and
they shall trust in the name of the LORD.”
And
there it is! You see, the Lord didn’t just leave in the
midst of all these things an afflicted and poor people just
so that they (we) could be afflicted and poor! Absolutely
not! Rather, he left them (us) afflicted and poor, so that
we SHALL TRUST in the name of the Lord! The word trust here
is defined as “to flee for protection.”
Psalms 61:2 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee,
when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is
higher than I.”
I submit
to you that when we are of a contrite spirit and a broken
heart (afflicted and poor), we find ourselves trusting in
the Lord, and not in ourselves. Paul says it best: “But we
had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not
trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.” 2
Corinthians 1:9
The
immediate prophecy of Zephaniah speaks of a remnant saved
from the captivity of Babylon, and that they would return to
Jerusalem, and build again the temple. However, the
extension of this prophecy is to us, even to this day, as
those who find themselves afflicted and poor in spirit,
trusting in the name of the Lord, as we try to serve Him in
this low ground of sin and sorrow, trusting Him who, thus
far, has lead us on.
“I
will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor
people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.”
“Come
all ye mourning pilgrims dear,
Who’re bound for Canaan’s
land,
Take courage and fight
valiantly,
Stand fast with sword in hand;
Our Captain’s gone before us,
Our Father’s only son,
Then pilgrims dear, pray do
not fear,
But let us follow on.”
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