2026.06.05 Hopewell @Home ▫ Zephaniah 2:1–3

Read Zephaniah 2:1–3

Questions from the Scripture text: What does Zephaniah 2:1 tell them to do to themselves? What does Zephaniah 2:2 press about the timing? Whom does Zephaniah 2:3 say to seek? And what to seek? In what hope?

How should we seek the Lord? Zephaniah 2:1–3 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should seek the Lord humbly, urgently, and dependently.  

There’s a translation issue with our English version of Zephaniah 2:1. The original says to “gather as chaff,” or “stubble.” The point is awareness of smallness and danger. Like stubble before a wildfire. Those who are hoping to be hidden by grace, should come in humble need of that grace. The point in Zephaniah 2:2 can be seen in the triple “Before,” which presses upon us the urgency of time. Judgment hastens (cf. Zephaniah 1:14), and we do not know how long we have. So the time to hide in YHWH is now! Finally, Zephaniah 2:3 teaches them to come dependently. They don’t have righteousness, or even meekness of their own. So they must seek YHWH. They must seek righteousness from YHWH. They must seek meekness from YHWH. When we come to the Lord, we come as dependents, not contributors. The necessity of not coming presumptuously is emphasized by the “perhaps” of verse 3. “It may be” that you will be hidden. Hope for salvation is sure in Him, but we mustn’t come presumptuously. Dear reader, come to the Lord humbly, urgently, and dependently!

How is your humility in hiding in the Lord seen? How is your urgency in hiding in the Lord seen? How is your dependence?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we deserve the fullness of Your wrath. We are as stubble before the wildfire. And we need You to hide us now, even now, before the great day comes. Save, now, O Lord! Finally, we seek from You not only that You would be righteous and gentle toward us, but that our own righteousness and gentleness would come from You by Your grace. So, hide us in Yourself we ask, through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH130A “LORD, From the Depths to You I Call”