With all that is going on in society today, it does not seem that God gives justice at all, let alone daily. Yet, that is what the Bible says. This daily devotional looks at God’s justice – and His generous call for people to repent.
Nuggets
- God never leaves us but will fight our battles for us.
- God is holy and righteous.
- Because God hates sin, He exacts justice daily.
- If God promises something, it will come to pass.
- Even though non-believers have hardened their hearts toward Him, God still loves them and calls them to repentance.
There are some days that are harder than others. There are times we feel that God has left us all alone. We feel like a failure. We feel like those who do not put their faith in God are being rewarded.
That may be how we feel — but that is not reality. Let’s take a look at reality.
Let’s Put It Context
Zephaniah was a minor prophet who prophesied when Josiah was king. Josiah was one of the few good kings, but the Israelites still worshipped the false gods in secret. So, Zephaniah was sent by God to warn them of impending punishment.
Zephaniah started out with the standard Your-relationship-is-not-right-with-God warning. Then he gave to usual But-there-is-still-time-to-repent offer.
By the time we get to the third and last chapter of the book, Zephaniah was fixing to switch to the promise of the future blessing. However, the first eight verses of the chapter are still part of the time-to-repent offer.
It is very encouraging to us while it doesn’t pull any punches. Let’s dig in.
Not Gonna Leave
“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 wicked know no shame” (Zeph. 3: 5 NLT).
Zephaniah started out Chapter 3 stating that Jerusalem was not above reproach. The people, leaders, and even prophets and priests had turned from God. The proud would not escape the coming judgment, but the humble people would be spared.
Isn’t it so comforting that God — even though we are disobedient — still loves us? Even when doom is imminent, He is our hope.
We’ve talked on many occasions on how God will never leave us. He will also go before us, with us, and behind us. He will fight for us.
- “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” (Deut. 31: 6 ESV).
- “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1: 9 ESV).
- “For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage” (Ps. 94: 14 ESV).
- “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head” (Ps. 139: 5 NLT).
- “For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard” (Isa. 52: 12 ESV).
- “’Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.’ And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah” (II Chron. 32: 7-8 ESV).
- “But the LORD says, ‘The captives of warriors will be released, and the plunder of tyrants will be retrieved. For I will fight those who fight you, and I will save your children’” (Isa. 49: 27 NLT).
Holy and Just
“… and he does no wrong …” (Zeph. 3: 5 NLT).
We serve a God that is holy. God is holy because He is above all other gods (Ps. 95: 3; Ps. 96: 4) and created things (Col. 1: 16).
Holy means to be set apart — because of our devotion to God — to become perfect, and morally pure while possessing all virtues.
- Perfection means we reach a state of maturity because the combination of the spiritual graces form, when all are present, spiritual wholeness or completeness — holy, sanctified, and righteous.
- Spiritual graces are worldly morals that have been submitted to God to further His kingdom instead of enhancing this world.
- Sanctified means to be set free from sin.
- Righteous means we are free from sin because we are following God’s moral laws.
- Pure means not being sinful or having the stain of sin.
- Virtues are standards of moral excellence.
God is righteous. “The LORD is good and upright; therefore he shows sinners the way” (Ps. 25: 8 CSB).
God does not do wrong. “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
” (Num. 23: 19 NIV).
Daily Justice
“… Day by day he hands down justice …” (Zeph. 3: 5 NLT).
Most often, we don’t tend to notice God being judge. Instead, we see all the bad things happening in the world, and we think He has forgotten about us.
The Bible tells us differently. “God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day” (Ps. 7: 11 NIV). Every day — not just in the end times.
Yes, Jesus will be sent to judge us in the end. “Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness” (Ps. 96: 13 NIV).
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
God hates sin. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” (I Cor. 6: 9 ESV).
If God hates sin, we question how non-believers can be so successful. Doesn’t the Bible say, “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy” (Prov. 28: 13 NLT)?
We have to remember that God’s interest doesn’t lie in our lives on this earth. This life is temporary, and this earth is controlled by Satan. God is focusing on our eternal lives.
God Is Reliable
“… and he does not fail …” (Zeph. 3: 5 NLT).
If God promises something, it will come to pass. “None of the good promises the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed. Everything was fulfilled” (Josh. 21: 45 CSB). God does not fail.
People Have Hard Hearts
“… But the wicked know no shame” (Zeph. 3: 5 NLT).
Sometimes, it seems like non-believers are totally opposed to even listening to anything that has to do with God. Their hearts are so hardened that they do “… know no shame” (Zeph. 3: 5 NLT).
God has called them to repentance. He is the One “who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2: 4 CSB).
Making the Connections
It is easy to take our focus off God and put it on this world. We start comparing ourselves to others and, in our minds at least, find ourselves as lacking.
We get so mired in the concerns of our day-to-day lives that we think God has left the building. He hasn’t. He is still watching over us.
God loves everyone — believers and non-believers. He wants all to repent (I Tim. 2: 4). He has given us time — just as He did the Israelites — to repent. This shows how deeply God loves us.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
We need to keep our focus on God. We need to live the way that He has called us to live.
Gracious Lord. You give us so many chances to turn to You. You warn us when You are going to punish us. You call us to repentance. You promise us future blessings when we turn back to You. Help us, Lord, to see You working in our lives. We pray that we take the focus off of this world and its temporary attractions. We want to live lives that are pleasing to You. Amen.
What do you think?
Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
If you don’t understand something and would like further clarification, please contact me.
If you have not signed up for the email daily or weekly providing the link to the devotions and the newsletter, do so below.
If God has used this devotion to speak with you, consider sharing it on social media.
Pingback: Walking the Ways of Righteousness through Wisdom – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: The Law of the Future – Seeking God with Elaine