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Daily Devotions

Zephaniah

Zephaniah 
Day 
Day 5

"Those who have turned back from following the LORD"

Text: Zephaniah 1:6

A GRIM ASSESSMENT

The sins of Judah were grimly assessed. The sad reality was written somberly.

“Those who have turned back from following the LORD,
And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him.”
Zephaniah 1:6

The problem of idolatry was serious and had deadly effects. They are described here.

1. “Those who have turned back from following the LORD”

a) There was a time when Judah followed the Lord.
i) Hezekiah led the nation in worshipping the Lord (2 Chronicles 29-32).

ii) Josiah also sought to lead the nation back to God (2 Chronicles 34-35).

iii) But the period between Hezekiah and Josiah was a bad one where Manasseh and Amon reigned.

iv) Manasseh and Amon promoted idolatry (2 Chronicles 33).

b) Many turned back from following the Lord
i) In the days of Manasseh and Amon (2 Chronicles 33).

ii) They had turned back from following the Lord.

iii) Such was the influence of idolatry.

2. “And have not sought the LORD”

a) The seeking of the Lord was meant to be marked by the following features:
i) Sincerity

ii) Faith

iii) Wisdom

iv) Maturity

b) But by and large there was no seeking of the Lord.
i) Not by the priests.

ii) Nor the princes.

iii) Nor the people at large.

3. “Nor inquired of Him”

a) This was a reference to prayer.
b) Few were truly prayerful!

True hearts who would seek God in deeply meaningful prayer was virtually non-existent!