Today, in Zephaniah, we see the word that there will always be a remnant. God will bring judgment against those who stand against Him. He will always, always have His remnant. It’s tempting for us to think it’s just us. We are Elijah; we are all that God has left. But remember the Lord told Elijah that He had thousands reserved for Himself. God always has something up His sleeve. As one of my professors told us years ago, we are never God’s last hope.

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Good morning. It’s good to be with you on this Tuesday as we continue our journey through Zephaniah. Yesterday, we discussed what idolatry looked like in Jerusalem and Judea during Zephaniah’s time, noting that it wasn’t just about worshiping handmade images but about trusting in anything more than God. Our modern idols might not be carved figures but can be anything we place our trust in over God.

Today, we move on to Zephaniah chapter two. While chapter one focused on the judgment against Judah, today’s passage extends that judgment to the nations that opposed God’s people.

In this chapter, Zephaniah turns his focus to the enemies of God’s people. Nations like Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, Moab, Ammon, Ethiopia, and Assyria face God’s judgment for their pride and for boasting against the people of the Lord.

God’s message to these nations is clear: they will face destruction because of their arrogance and their mistreatment of God’s people. Even though God disciplines His own people, He does not tolerate the oppression and mockery from other nations. Verse 10 highlights this: “This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they scoffed and boasted against the people of the Lord of hosts.”

The judgment against these nations serves as a reminder that God is sovereign over all. He disciplines His people out of love, just as a parent disciplines their child to teach and guide them. But He also defends them against external threats. The Bible tells us that God disciplines those He loves. This discipline isn’t just about punishment; it’s about teaching and guiding us back to righteousness.

Interestingly, in the midst of these judgments, we see a glimmer of hope for the faithful remnant of Judah. Verses 3 and 7 speak to the promise of restoration for those who seek righteousness and humility. “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his commands; seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the Lord’s wrath.” And, “The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah, on which they shall pasture, and in the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the Lord their God will be mindful of them and restore their fortunes.”

God never abandons His people. Even in judgment, He remembers and preserves a faithful remnant. This is a powerful reminder for us today. No matter how dark the times may seem, God always has a plan and a people. We might feel alone, like Elijah did, thinking we’re the last hope. But God reassured Elijah that He had preserved a faithful remnant. Similarly, we must remember that we are not alone and that God has a larger plan in place.

So, let’s be encouraged today. Trust in God’s sovereignty and His unfailing love. Know that He disciplines us out of love and protects us against those who oppose us. Our job is to remain faithful, trusting that God is at work, restoring and redeeming.

I hope you have a great rest of your day, and we’ll continue with Zephaniah chapter three tomorrow. Have a great day!