The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Zephaniah 3:1-8, “Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the tyrannical city!
2 She heeded no voice, she accepted no instruction. She did not trust in the LORD, She did not draw near to her God.
3 Her princes within her are roaring lions, her judges are wolves at evening; they leave nothing for the morning.
4 Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men; her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.
5 The LORD is righteous within her; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust knows no shame.
6 “I have cut off nations; their corner towers are in ruins. I have made their streets desolate, with no one passing by; their cities are laid waste, without a man, without an inhabitant.
7 “I said, ‘Surely you will revere Me, accept instruction.’ So her dwelling will not be cut off according to all that I have appointed concerning her. But they were eager to corrupt all their deeds.
8 “Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out on them My indignation, all My burning anger; for all the earth will be devoured by the fire of My zeal.”

Children are the product of their parents. When they love their parents, and when their parents love them, discipline is largely maintained by the children seeing and copying their parents’ lifestyle. Thus, there is little-to-no needed for physical chastisement.

Nations are simply the conglomoration of grown-up children. The more people there are, the more physical control is needed. Parents have the right and the responsibility to control their own children. And children are expected to love and duplicate somewhat the lifestyle of their parents.

On both the personal and national levels, those in authority have a right to be jealous of those who are under their control. Thus, when Zephaniah speaks of the LORD’s jealousy (1:18 & 3:8), he is speaking of the absolute right of the LORD to control the people He created and loves.

Jealousy is not usually viewed as acceptable. It too often carries the idea of wanting something someone else possesses. Yet, when used
as an object of the LORD, it expresses a totally different meaning.

We who belong to the LORD through salvation in Jesus Christ, are rightful objects of the LORD’s jealousy. Thus, when we get out-of-line, He rightly disciplines us that we might be more like Him. Furthermore, the more we love Him and become more like Him, the less discipline we require.

Where do you find yourself in this situation? Are you living out His teachings in the Scriptures? One day, we will all give an account. How
we live today will determine how we will stand before Him on that day.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom