Deeper Reflection
IN THE HISTORY OF GOD’S COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH Israel, the day of the Lord came upon Israel at different points of their journey with God. That “day” – “on that day” or “at that time” (Zep 3:16, 19) – is not necessarily a particular moment in time, but a period of time, like Israel’s 70-year exile in Babylon. The day of the Lord is a day of divine retribution and divine redemption. The day of the Lord coming in retribution and redemption has its culmination at the Second Coming of Christ. It will be a day of full retribution – “the great day of their [God and Christ’s] wrath” (Rev 6:15-17), and a day of full redemption – “the day of redemption” (Eph 4:30).Zephaniah warned Judah: “Near is the great day of the Lord, near and coming very quickly” (Zep 1:14). Similarly for Christ’s Second Coming: “the coming of the Lord is near” (Jas 5:8) and “Yes, I am coming quickly” (Rev 22:20). Oftentimes, God’s grace and mercy go before His severe judgment. God graciously and mercifully called His people to “seek the Lord…seek righteousness, seek humility” “before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you”, so that “perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger” (vv.2-3). In the day of the Lord, God will destroy the “proud, exalting” and “haughty” people in Judah, but He “will leave among you a humble and lowly people” (Zep 3:11-12). It will be divine redemption amidst divine retribution. Let us be found seeking God with humility in the day of the Lord.