2:1 Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;

2:2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’s anger come upon you.

2:3 Seek all of you the LORD, all you meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be all of you shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger. (Zephaniah 2:1-3 KJV)

          Zephaniah was God’s prophet of judgment and restoration and, today, we should heed his words.  In Zephaniah’s mind, God would visit his people soon with a crushing blow from the Babylonian army. But on another day the Lord will follow, an awesome day affecting the whole earth, the day when God will reign in glory over his creation. That day will begin with sweeping judgment.

          Everyone will face the sweeping judgment of God on that future day. The false gods will not deliver anyone from evaluation. Wealth, position, and political power will all be meaningless. The only place of safety on the day of the Lord is under the protection of the One doing the judging.

          There is the promise of a shelter in the Almighty for those who trust in Him is not just for those who lived in the past or those who will face God’s judgment in the future. We can know the same security while resting in a hospital bed or standing in line at the unemployment office or weeping next to a fresh grave. There is nothing more fearful than facing the judgment of God.

          We the people have lost our way and have put God and righteousness in last place. We have put money, status, and the adoration of other people before God and His love for us. Those that walk this earth with their mind and eyes shut will reap the wrath of God. Those that refuse to open their eyes, see the wickedness around them and push it aside will meet the judgment of the Lord.

          Zephaniah gave the warning and God’s timing to us is slow. 2 Peter 3:8 say one day to God is a thousand years to us. Therefore, our judgment is very soon. The warning signs are all around us. I’ll name a few: There is flooding and each year it gets worse and more widespread. Wildfires and forest fires are everywhere (now Canada is in the headlines). Storms are bad. Shark attacks are on the rise. What about Orcas ramming and sinking boats? Tornados are multiplying rapidly. Sometimes there is not enough water in our rivers and then there is too much. Diseases are out of control and will get worse.

          All of us have sinned. We must atone and be baptized to be forgiven by God. Then and only then we will perhaps be sheltered on the day of God’s anger. Remember the timing in 2 Peter which mean Jesus Christ have only been gone two days and, as He said, He will return soon. God will deal with us after His son’s visit, and He will finish setting the stage for our judgment. We all better get right with God and open our eyes to the wickedness around us. He will come as a thief in the night and then it will be too late.