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perhaps you will be concealed

Zephaniah 1:1-2:3

Zephaniah 1:1 The word of Yahveh that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah.
Zephaniah 1:2 I will thoroughly sweep away everything from the face of the land—this is Yahveh’s declaration.
Zephaniah 1:3 I will sweep away people and animals, the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and the ruins along with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the land. This is Yahveh’s declaration.
Zephaniah 1:4 I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the ones who live of Jerusalem. I will cut off every vestige of Baal from this place, the names of the pagan priests along with the priests;
Zephaniah 1:5 those who bow in worship on the rooftops to the stars in the sky; those who bow and pledge loyalty to Yahveh but also pledge loyalty to Milcom;
Zephaniah 1:6 and those who turn back from following Yahveh, who do not seek Yahveh or inquire of him.
Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent in the presence of the Lord Yahveh, for the day of Yahveh is near. Indeed, Yahveh has prepared a sacrifice; he has committed his guests.
Zephaniah 1:8 On the day of Yahveh’s sacrifice I will punish the officials, the king’s sons, and all who are dressed in foreign clothing.
Zephaniah 1:9 On that day, I will punish all who skip over the threshold and fill their master’s house with violence and deceit.
Zephaniah 1:10 On that day — this is Yahveh’s declaration — there will be an outcry from the Fish Gate, a wailing from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills.
Zephaniah 1:11 Yell, you who live in the Hollow, for all the merchants will be silenced; all those loaded with silver will be cut off.
Zephaniah 1:12 And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who settle down comfortably, who say to themselves: Yahveh will not do good or evil.
Zephaniah 1:13 Their wealth will become plunder and their houses a sinister desolation. They will build houses but never live in them, plant vineyards but never drink their wine.
Zephaniah 1:14 The great day of Yahveh is near, near and rapidly approaching. Listen, the day of Yahveh– then the warrior’s cry is bitter.
Zephaniah 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and total darkness,
Zephaniah 1:16 a day of ram’s horn bugle blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.
Zephaniah 1:17 I will bring distress on mankind, and they will walk like the blind because they have sinned against Yahveh. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.
Zephaniah 1:18 Their silver and their gold will be unable to rescue them on the day of Yahveh’s wrath. The whole land will be consumed by the fire of his jealousy, for he will make a complete, yes, a horrifying end of all those who live in the land.
Zephaniah 2:1 Gather yourselves together; gather together, undesirable nation,
Zephaniah 2:2 before the decree takes effect and the day passes like chaff, before the burning of Yahveh’s anger overtakes you, before the day of Yahveh’s anger overtakes you.
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek Yahveh, all you humble of the land, who carry out what he commands. Seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you will be concealed on the day of Yahveh’s anger.

perhaps you will be concealed

Judgment is going to take place. There is no doubt about that. But God’s people are challenged to gather and seek him and his righteousness in humility. Perhaps they will be spared on that great and terrible day of the LORD.

LORD, we seek your kingdom and your righteousness. Hide us from your terrible wrath.