One of the most tragic events in human history occurred when people chose to build a tower into heaven. They said to one another, “Come, let’s make a name for ourselves” (Genesis 11.4).
Human arrogance encountered the might of God, who responded by confounding their language and dispersing them across the earth. Zephaniah prophesied that this dreadful moment in history would, through God’s grace, eventually be undone.
At that time I will change the speech of the peoples
to a pure speech,
that all of them may call on the name of the Lord
and serve him with one accord. Zephaniah 3.9
When Isaiah experienced a vision of God, he proclaimed himself to be doomed, recognizing his unclean lips as a sign of speech not aligned with a heart in harmony with God. Aware that beholding God placed him in significant peril due to his imperfections, he acknowledged his own unworthiness.
And I said, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Isaiah 6.5
God’s grace sent a seraph to purify Isaiah’s lips, transforming his speech to the pure speech as described in Zephaniah’s prophecy.
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.
The seraph touched my mouth with it and said, “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Isaiah 6.6-7
In his commentary on Isaiah, John Oswald states that he believes the goal of Isaiah’s message was to provide the people of Israel with an experience similar to his own. This would allow them to undergo a life transformation through God’s grace, which would then be reflected in their speech.
Acts 2 describes the event where God transformed human speech. People with different languages could now hear the Gospel message in a single voice. The appropriate response was to repent and turn away from living without God, choosing instead to unite with Him.
By immersing ourselves in God’s life through baptism and calling upon the Lord’s name for His mercy, we can fully embrace this change.
Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” Acts 2.38-39
Blessed are the poor in spirit
In the first Beatitude, Jesus stated, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5.3). It’s possible that Jesus was thinking about Zephaniah’s message when he stated that Beatitude.
These verses convey God’s intention with the phrase “I will,” highlighting that the work to be done is His, not ours. When God declares, “I will do this work,” it emphasizes that the actions are carried out by Him alone.
Consequently, we cannot claim pride in the outcomes, as they are the result of His efforts, not our own.
On that day you shall not be put to shame
because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
in my holy mountain.
For I will leave in the midst of you
a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord—
The remnant of Israel;
they shall do no wrong
and utter no lies,
nor shall a deceitful tongue
be found in their mouths.
Then they will pasture and lie down,
and no one shall make them afraid. Zephaniah 3.11-13
I don’t know about you, but I view myself as a first-place finisher in life. I have had so many advantages that many people have not had.
To be on the right side of this passage and others in the Bible, I need to pay attention to what is said here and to care for those who are humble and lowly, and who need refuge in the name of the Lord.
Today, we can rejoice that God has touched our lips through the power of His Spirit and that He has allowed us to join Him in caring for those He loves. Those whom He says are blessed.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 