Before the Decree is Issued

Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, before the decree is issued, or the day passes like chaff, before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you! Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the Lord’s anger. Zephaniah 2:1-3

I stated from the outset that this blog would not be political. So I hope you don’t think it’s getting political when I say that the United States is in a post-Christian era. I won’t try to list any of the ways that we as a nation have rejected the Bible and the God of the Bible, but I’m sure we can all think of some.

What are we then? Are we a Muslim nation? A pagan nation? A secular humanist nation? Now we’re getting warmer. But there are still many Americans who identify as Christians. Does that mean we’re safe?

In the Old Testament, God chose the descendants of Abraham to be “a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth,” (Deuteronomy 7:6). Yet identifying as Israelites was not enough to save them from God’s mighty hand of justice whenever He decided they had strayed too far from His ways. And when I read Old Testament passages like Daniel chapter 9, I can’t help but notice that sometimes it is the most righteous person confessing national sin and including himself among the guilty.

So the fact that I call myself a Christian does not mean that I have not played any part in the straying of our nation. It does not mean that I don’t need to repent. In fact, Zephaniah 2:1-3 gives me both a sense of fear and of hope. If America strays enough for God to punish us (again?), everyone will be in danger, not just the self-declared secular humanists. But if we seek the Lord, seek righteousness, seek humility, and if we do it now, we may be spared.

With that in mind I have below (in italics) some of Zephaniah’s words, and (in bold) a prayer of repentance based on his words. Will you join me in praying for our nation?

And it shall come to pass at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And punish the men who are settled in complacency, who say in their heart, “The Lord will not do good, Nor will He do evil.” Zephaniah 1:12

Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, before the decree is issued, or the day passes like chaff, before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you! Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger. 2:1-3

Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice; she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the Lord; she has not drawn near to her God. 3:1-2

The Lord is righteous in her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails, but the unjust knows no shame. 3:5

I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid. 3:12-13

Almighty God, we know that You will punish all those who are settled in complacency, who say in their heart, “The LORD will not do good nor will He do evil.“

So may we gather ourselves together before the decree is issued, before the day passes like chaff, before Your fierce anger comes upon us! May all the meek of the earth, all who have upheld justice, seek You LORD; seek righteousness, seek humility; that we may be hidden in the day of Your anger.

Forgive us for being rebellious; for not obeying Your voice; for not receiving correction; for not trusting in You, LORD; for not drawing near to You, our God.

You, LORD, are righteous. You will do no unrighteousness. Every morning You bring Your justice to light. You never fail. But the unjust knows no shame.

Help us to be a meek and humble people that shall trust in Your name, O LORD. As Your “remnant according to the election of grace” (Romans 11:5), may we do no unrighteousness. Feed us as Your flock and no one shall make us afraid.

 In Jesus’s name, Amen.

by Christie Cole Atkins