Zephaniah follows a pattern set by many of the other prophets. After examining the nations surrounding Judah, he turns his attention to the region and the city of Jerusalem.
Woe, soiled, defiled,
oppressing city!
It has listened to no voice;
it has accepted no correction.
It has not trusted in the Lord;
it has not drawn near to its God. Zephaniah 3.1-2
The evangelist Billy Sunday used to tell his audiences not to pop up their spiritual umbrella, allowing the message to fall on other people. Let’s take Zephaniah’s words to heart and ask ourselves some penetrating questions.
Are we listening to God’s voice? Are we willing to take His correction? Are we willing to trust Him and draw near to Him? If not, repentance is certainly in order.
One of the ways we could listen to God’s voice and take correction from Him is to read the gospel message. There, Jesus is speaking to us, telling us what He expects, and showing us by His behavior how to live.
By reading the Gospels daily and reflecting on its teachings with prayer, we can better align ourselves with the righteous conduct God desires, moving away from the wrongful behaviors highlighted in Zephaniah.
God’s Standard for Leaders
The Catholic Church teaches that God has a special love for the poor and marginalized, a concept often referred to as God’s “preferential option for the poor.” It emphasizes that in the eyes of God, the needs of the poor and vulnerable must be given priority.
The Church calls on its members to embody this principle by advocating for justice, providing for the needs of the less fortunate, and working to create social conditions that respect the dignity of all people, especially the poor.
This care for the poor is not seen as optional or secondary but as an integral part of living out the Christian faith.
Unfortunately, powerful people today do to the poor what the leaders of Judah did in Zephaniah’s day. The Prophet identifies individuals in positions of power who should be looking out for the less fortunate. However, they use their authority for personal gain, to the detriment of those in need.
The officials within it
are roaring lions;
its judges are evening wolves
that leave nothing until the morning.
Its prophets are reckless,
faithless persons;
its priests have profaned what is sacred;
they have done violence to the law.
The Lord within it is righteous;
he does no wrong.
Every morning he renders his judgment,
each dawn without fail,
but the unjust knows no shame. Zephaniah 3.3-5
Judah’s officials, princes, judges, prophets, and priests are greedy, profane, and treacherous. But God is righteous; He is true to His covenant and does no wrong. What He does is in the light, in contrast to the judges who do what they do in the dark.
The transgressions of God’s people are particularly egregious compared to those of other nations because God communicated with them uniquely, attempting to guide them. Despite His efforts, they chose rebellion, failing to place their trust in God or worship Him as they should.
I recently learned that the Pope urged his audience to actively care for the poor. While it’s easy to lament the impact of the powerful on the impoverished, what’s truly necessary is our proactive effort to mitigate the challenges faced by the poor around us.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 