3 When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! 4 But you, beloved, a are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief 5 for you are all children of light and children of the day we are not of the night or of darkness. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 5:1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, a you do not need to have anything written to you. How do you think Zephaniah’s message was received? What do you think it was like for him to share it?ġTh. Who was the King of Judah when Zephaniah was prophesying? What kind of king was he? Why does the prophet particularly warn those who rely on money for protection? What is the warning in them for us? What is we are the ones who are about to be punished? I think it’s important, especially when reading the Hebrew Bible, to decenter ourselves from the Bible stories, and imagine reading these texts as outsiders. As I read it today, I’m struck by how often modern-day biblical interpreters, especially American Christians, read the Hebrew Bible prophecy as though we are confident we are the People of God in the prophecy, and that any bad outcomes prophesied will be enacted against our enemies. I recommend further reading this article for more detail about the vivid imagery of this passage. I wrote a bit last Sunday about the increasing popularity of End Times and apocalyptic rhetoric in American politics and discourse, and now this week we have a reading from Zephaniah, which opens with dire and alarming warnings about the impending Day of the Lord. He will make of all the inhabitants of the earth. Their blood shall be poured out like dust, 1:17 I will bring such distress upon peopleīecause they have sinned against the LORD, The sound of the day of the LORD is bitter, 1:12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, Click on the image above or click here to view the full video. I thought this song and its lyrics were fitting for our texts today. It was written in 1968, a tragic and historic year in American history. This song, the Time of the Season by the Zombies, was a memorable one and one I remember him saying was one of his favorites. My dad and I used to listen to Oldies together on the radio when I was a teenager. Seize day - by slowing down and listening to God. In seeing where, in your sphere of influence, you can work for peace, justice, and understanding. In making space to see the beauty of the world and the people of the world right before you. You can experience the Day of the Lord today. I think this Sunday’s text show me that we don’t just have to wait for Sunday nights in Advent, though. My family and I all love the season of Advent because we purposefully take time each Sunday night to light the Advent wreath and share Bible stories together - even if we have missed way too many church services for sporting events this fall. Instead of speeding up and doing more - I think God invites us to consider slowing down and doing less. Next Sunday will be Christ the King Sunday, followed by the beginning of the four weeks of Advent.īut the preparation for the Day of the Lord looks a bit different than the preparation we often do for holidays or events that have been overshadowed, in many ways, by consumerism. Because as we look at the Bible texts for this Sunday, I see God urging me - and all of us - to take real stock of the time that is at hand. There are so many ways it’s possible to screw up, as a mom, as a friend, as a leader, as a coworker, as a child of God? There are so many *special* days in the fall, so many programs and events to cram into the calendar after the end of summer, when many people seem to take a *hiatus* from church, that it feels like every week is another thing you better not forget. I know it often feels that way in the life and rhythm of church communities, too. Searching for more time and more family and fewer bad cranberry jellies …Ĭan you tell my brain is just a little bit scattered this week? With all three of the males in my house celebrating birthdays in September, October, and early December - and starting school coupled with busy work and sports schedules, sometimes it feels like I’m running a marathon up to Thanksgiving … To fill up our souls and fill up our bellies People scurried and clicked, trying to meet an unceasing demand ‘Twas the Sunday before Thanksgiving - and all through the land
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