“And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SINNED against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.” – Zephaniah 1:17

Sin is the only thing that separates us from God and that brings His just condemnation upon our souls.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” – Mark 8:36-38

“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.” – Isaiah 59:1-3

In some earlier verses in Zephaniah chapter we read some of God’s case against these men.

“and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;” – Zephaniah 1:5

I read some commentaries on who or what “Malcham” is and it appears many commentaries believe this may be and probably is referring to Molech. Molech is a “god” that according to Leviticus 20:2 people would sacrifice their children to. So to swear by God and this Molech as if they were equals to swear by was quite offensive to the God who told the people to let the children come unto Him (Luke 18:16). And if you think Jesus was less harsh on the Molech worshippers than God is here in Zephaniah you may want to reread Jesus’s view of those who cause kids to stumble in their walk with God in Matthew 18:16. This would be worse than hailing or swearing by God and Hitler in the same breath.

But why are they offending God by swearing by both God and Molech?

“and them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.” – Zephaniah 1:6

They are turned from God, they don’t seek God nor ask of his advice on anything!

So, is there any hope for those of us who have turned our backs on God and believe and say all sorts of wicked things of our Creator?

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” – John 3:14‐20

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” – Romans 5:7-11

“And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” – 1 Timothy 1:14-17

Let’s just quote the OT just in case somebody’s thinking something that is stumbling themselves from faith:

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?” – Joel 2:12-14

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” – Isaiah 53:4-12

“And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” – Acts 1:7-9

“but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” – 2 Peter 3:7-13

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21

Luke records that an angel claimed Jesus “shall be great” and so did Micah in the OT (Old Testament or Tanach if you are Jewish). Jesus said His Kingdom will overwhelm the earth in some of His parables of His Kingdom and that his message as predicted/prophecied in the OT would invade the “uttermost” parts of the earth. Paul said that the church (believers in Jesus) would last thruout all the ages and I have read the same crescendo and confidence in many early, before and after 300 AD church fathers and Christian writings! And history has vindicated them and not the greek “gods” as they have have been discarded along with Molech to the trash bin of myth! But not so Jesus!

And here we are thru the wheat and the tares of many many many ages since and stages, temptations, toils and snares and even denominations marching unto the uttermost parts of the earth His message of Salvation from our Sins.

The cross lifted high drawing His sheep unto Himself!

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.” – John 12:32‐33

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” – John 10:11, 27-30

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” – John 6:37-40

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” – Matthew 11:28‐29

“FOLLOW ME” – JESUS

“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” – JESUS MARK 4:9