Obtaining Mercy
6/22/26 Bible Thought (Zephaniah 2)
Main Idea: Mercy must be sought before the dawn of judgment.
A Look at the Text:
While the totality of judgment was made clear in Zephaniah 1, we see in the second chapter a glimmer of hope. The Lord called through the prophet for the people to gather together “before the decree takes effect” before the coming day of God’s wrath (Zeph. 2:1-2). To this, they were called to gather and seek God:
Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord (Zeph. 2:3).
Apart from mercy, judgment would be total. As Zephaniah already pronounced, judgment was coming upon the whole world (Zeph. 1:2-3) and specifically upon Judah (Zeph. 1:4). Now, even more, it would come upon Philistia (Zeph. 2:4), Moab and Ammon (Zeph. 2:9), the land of Cush (Zeph. 2:12), and Assyria (Zeph. 2:13).
Yet, there would be a remnant who would be spared (Zeph. 2:9). Those who humbly sought the Lord would have hope for the future. Yet that hope was only sourced in God’s mercy.
Bringing it Home:
While “The Day of the Lord” is a fearfully awaited thing, there is still hope for mercy, even today. With the progress of revelation, we now know that it is through Jesus Christ that we can be spared on the coming day of judgment.
This in mind, we must seek the Lord while He may be found. The Scripture reveals:
For “everyone [Jew or Gentile] who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom. 10:13).
What is a day of judgment for the ungodly is actually a day of salvation for the believer.
In Christ, we can long for that final day because it is the day when hope is made sight (see 1 Pet. 1:6-9). We can “eagerly await” the day when our justification is made public (see Gal. 5:5). It is the day of our vindication. It is the day when we will be pronounced “Not guilty” before the great white throne.
God’s judgment is inescapable apart from mercy, but mercy can be found through the cross of Jesus Christ for even the most wretched sinner.
Challenge:
Do I ever take the mercy of God for granted when I read about judgment?
Let us never lose sight of the glorious wonder of salvation in Christ!