Thursday 25th April
Read Zephaniah 2:5-7
“Woe to you who live by the sea,
you Kerethite people;
the word of the Lord is against you,
Canaan, land of the Philistines.
He says, ‘I will destroy you,
and none will be left.’
6 The land by the sea will become pastures
having wells for shepherds
and sheepfolds for flocks.
7 That land will belong
to the remnant of the people of Judah;
there they will find pasture.
In the evening they will lie down
in the houses of Ashkelon.
The Lord their God will care for them;
he will restore their fortunes.” (NIVUK)
The context of Zephaniah is important to consider when we read these words of destruction and judgement on the nations surrounding Judah. The oracle is first and foremost proclaimed against Judah and Jerusalem (Zephaniah 1:2-2:2). God’s own people. Whilst on the surface this wiping out of the Philistines seems to be of benefit to the people of Judah, it is clear that it is only a remnant (v7). Judah and Jerusalem will be judged and few will survive. We forget this too easily as we dwell on our own unease.
Whilst we are uneasy at the seeming displacement of the Philistines with this remnant, the beginnings of hope are fanned into life. The Lord Himself will shepherd this remnant. He will care for them and restore them. We will appreciate the fulness of this promise later in the message, but today simply meditate on the wonder of God Himself shepherding these unworthy folk. Perhaps Psalm 23 will help – I suspect Zephaniah knew it well considering the echoes reverberating through this message (v6-7).
