from the face of the earth,”
declares the Lord.
“I will sweep away both man and beast;
I will sweep away the birds in the sky
and the fish in the sea—
and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.”
“When I destroy all mankind
on the face of the earth,”
declares the Lord,
“I will stretch out my hand against Judah
and against all who live in Jerusalem. (Zephaniah 1:2-4a)
Here at the beginning of the prophet's message, there is no hope of restoration given. Instead, complete destruction is ordered: Everything will be swept away--all living things everywhere and all of humankind. It is a bleak picture.
In the last stanzas of Zephaniah, chapter 3, the prophet hints that the LORD's destruction may not extend to all things and all people, after all. People will return to Jerusalem--humble people. The lame will be rescued. The exiles will be gathered.
My patience is tried by this kind of writing. Is the first part, "Everything will be destroyed," an exaggeration or not? If it is an exaggeration, then perhaps the return, the rescue, and the gathering is an exaggeration, too! If it is not an exaggeration, if "Everything will be destroyed," is the order of the day, then the return, the rescue, and the gathering become impossibilities.
Clearly the prophet's work is symbolic. It is intended to resonate with emotion, soul, and spirit, and today I just don't get it.
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