Be Silent
Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests. And on the day of the LORD’s sacrifice—“I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire. On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master’s house with violence and fraud. “On that day,” declares the LORD, “a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills. Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar! For all the traders are no more; all who weigh out silver are cut off. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.’ Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.”
Zephaniah 1:7–13
+
Be Silent
The people are commanded to be silent. God’s presence demanded such behavior. When in the presence of the Lord and creator of the universe, the only proper response is reverent silence. We need to remember this as well. Too often, when we are confronted with God’s Law, we want to speak out and argue against it. Declare our innocence. We don’t want to hear it. We become defensive. We deny the charge, claim ignorance, or argue it’s not that bad. At least it’s not like those others sinners who have done so much worse. Yet when the day of the Lord does come, and it will come, our excuses are meaningless. And if not for the love of our gracious Father in heaven, we would face destruction on that day. But He stepped into our lives, into His creation, and changed everything. Christ Jesus took on our flesh and was like us in every way except without sin, so that we have a Savior who knows our struggles, pains, and temptations, yet still fulfills the Law perfectly for us. So now the faith which we have been given draws us to the foot of the cross when we are confronted by the Law and our sins. The Gospel comes to us in our repentance and soothes the hurt and pain, and we can sit in silence as the Words of forgiveness, strength, and life are spoken to us.
Zephaniah 1:7–13
+
Be Silent
The people are commanded to be silent. God’s presence demanded such behavior. When in the presence of the Lord and creator of the universe, the only proper response is reverent silence. We need to remember this as well. Too often, when we are confronted with God’s Law, we want to speak out and argue against it. Declare our innocence. We don’t want to hear it. We become defensive. We deny the charge, claim ignorance, or argue it’s not that bad. At least it’s not like those others sinners who have done so much worse. Yet when the day of the Lord does come, and it will come, our excuses are meaningless. And if not for the love of our gracious Father in heaven, we would face destruction on that day. But He stepped into our lives, into His creation, and changed everything. Christ Jesus took on our flesh and was like us in every way except without sin, so that we have a Savior who knows our struggles, pains, and temptations, yet still fulfills the Law perfectly for us. So now the faith which we have been given draws us to the foot of the cross when we are confronted by the Law and our sins. The Gospel comes to us in our repentance and soothes the hurt and pain, and we can sit in silence as the Words of forgiveness, strength, and life are spoken to us.
Recent
Archive
2024
January
Faith Comes By HearingAll Day LongThe Lord Keeps for HimselfSalvation Has ComeGrafted InStand Fast By FaithKindness and SeverityThe MysteryMercy on AllUnsearchableLiving SacrificesGiftsGenuine LoveThe Meaning of LifeGod EstablishedThe Summary of the Law is LoveThe Armor of LightMade to StandLiving to the LordEvery Knee Shall BowStumbling BlockTrue FreedomServant of the ChurchOur ExampleFellow WorkersAbound in HopeA Good TeacherGod’s WorkTravel PlansThe Fullness of His BlessingStrive TogetherWelcomeGreet One AnotherWatch Out
February
GreetingsAble to StrengthenAuthorityBlessed BeRedemption in His BloodSpiritual BlessingsGive ThanksDead Men WalkingBy GraceImmeasurable RichesBy GraceGod's WorkmanshipSeparatedBrought NearNo More HostilityTotal AccessFellow CitizensFor This ReasonMystery RevealedLeast of AllEternal PurposeFaith in HimSpiritual StrengthAbundant GiftWalk in LoveChrist's MeasureGifts to MenUnity of the FaithTo and Fro
March
Truth in LoveWalking a New PathA New SelfPut Away FalsehoodNew LifeImitators of GodSons of DisobedienceChildren of LightThe Will of the LordOne FleshFilled with the SpiritThe Church SubmitsChrist LovesProfound MysteryChildren of PromiseBring Them UpBondservants of ChristYour MasterStrong in the LordThe Whole Armor of GodStand FirmLove IncorruptibleGrace and PeaceHope Laid UpRedemptionThe Fullness of GodReconciledThe Hope of GloryToilGreat StruggleRooted in Christ