Gather together, yes, gather,
O shameless nation, 2 before the decree takes effect —before the day passes away like chaff-- before there comes upon you the burning anger of the Lord, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the Lord. 3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord. 4 For Gaza shall be deserted, and Ashkelon shall become a desolation; Ashdod's people shall be driven out at noon, and Ekron shall be uprooted. 5 Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast, you nation of the Cherethites! The word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left. 6 And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures, with meadows[c] for shepherds and folds for flocks. 7 The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah, on which they shall graze, 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. 8 “I have heard the taunts of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts against their territory. 9 Therefore, as I live,” declares the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Moab shall become like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land possessed by nettles and salt pits, and a waste forever. The remnant of my people shall plunder them, and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.” 10 This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they taunted and boasted against the people of the Lord of hosts. 11 The Lord will be awesome against them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth, and to him shall bow down, each in its place, all the lands of the nations. 12 You also, O Cushites, shall be slain by my sword. 13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria, and he will make Nineveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert. 14 Herds shall lie down in her midst, all kinds of beasts;[d] even the owl and the hedgehog[e] shall lodge in her capitals; a voice shall hoot in the window; devastation will be on the threshold; for her cedar work will be laid bare. 15 This is the exultant city that lived securely, that said in her heart, “I am, and there is no one else.” What a desolation she has become, a lair for wild beasts! Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist. Meditation Mercy reminds us, “The Lord is good to those who seek him” (Lamentations 3:25). Seeking the Lord leads to restoration, a gracious invitation to all who believe. “Seek the Lord, all you humble… seek righteousness; seek humility…” is the plea of the prophet (3). These imperatives are corporate, intended for all of Israel to seek the Lord through gathering together (1-2). The imperatives are an invitation to rescue because the “day of the Lord” is coming. Only those who seek the Lord know He is “mighty to save” (3:17). All peoples who reject God’s invitation to seek Him will result in ruin, but for the remnant who return to the Lord, He “will be mindful of them and restore their fortunes” (7). To seek the Lord we seek righteousness, the Word and ways of the Lord. We seek the Lord in humility, understanding we have been shown His great mercy. The prescription of the prophet contains hope for those who seek righteousness in humility, “perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord” (3). Seeking the Lord leads to security, being sure of our hope because Christ took the wrath and anger of God against sin on the cross. God is no longer angry with those who seek Him for salvation! Grace awakens us to “seek first the Kingdom of Jesus” (Matthew 6:33) and “seek the Lord while He may be found” (Isaiah 55:6). Richly Dwelling -Do you believe the Lord is good to those who seek Him? Do you demonstrate this belief by seeking Him first? Why or why not? -What examples of true humility have you seen lived out in service to the LORD? -How can you seek first the kingdom of God, in humility and righteousness? Be specific. Key Verse 3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord. CHECK OUT THE WEEK'S LINKS HERE Comments are closed.
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AuthorPastor Mitchell celebrates twenty-five years of marriage with Lisa & together they have four adventurous children. |