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two assemblies

Zephaniah 3:1-8

Zephaniah 3:1 Woe to the city that is rebellious and defiled, the oppressive city!
Zephaniah 3:2 She has not obeyed; she has not accepted discipline. She has not trusted in Yahveh; she has not drawn near to her God.
Zephaniah 3:3 The princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the night, which leave nothing for the morning.
Zephaniah 3:4 Her prophets are reckless– treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to instruction.
Zephaniah 3:5 The righteous Yahveh is in her; he does no wrong. He applies his justice morning by morning; he does not fail at dawn, yet the one who does wrong knows no shame.
Zephaniah 3:6 I have cut off nations; their corner towers are destroyed. I have laid waste their streets, with no one to pass through. Their cities lie devastated, without a person, without someone to live there.
Zephaniah 3:7 I thought: You will certainly fear me and accept correction. Then her dwelling place would not be cut off based on all that I had allocated to her. However, they became more corrupt in all their actions.
Zephaniah 3:8 Therefore, wait for me – this is Yahveh’s declaration – until the day I rise up for plunder. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, in order to pour out my indignation on them, all my burning anger; for the whole land will be consumed by the fire of my jealousy.

two assemblies

Nation after nation was destroyed by God’s judgment, yet the peoples continued to walk in corruption, never fearing his great wrath. Therefore he made a decision. He will gather all the nations and assemble all the kingdoms for one great day of judgment. On that day he will pour out his anger, and they will all be consumed.

Fortunately, the prophets also teach that God is gathering a people to himself from among the nations, and assembling them from among the kingdoms. Which assembly are you in?

LORD, we accept your grace, and the atoning death of Christ. Gather us to your assembly for life, not death.