REMEMBERING 9-11
REMEMBERING 9-11
September 11, 2011
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Zeph. 3:18: “I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who belong to you, whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that ‘afflict you’; and I will save the limping ones and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.”
I am finding the prophecies of the Book of Zephaniah to be contemporary to our present time. Most of the “Word of the Lord” (Vs.1) given to Zephaniah is futuristic to The Day of the Lord. Until 9-11, there were at least 40 unfulfilled predictions. Many of us believe that 9-11 was the “beginning of sorrows”. (Mt. 24:8)
Zephaniah means “hidden by Jehovah”. He gives us the promise that if we are meek, then perhaps we may be hidden in the Day of the Lord. (2:3)
Zeph. 1:15-18 resounds clearly to all of us of what we experienced on September 11, 2011, “That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. 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 dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath, but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy; for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.”
In Chapter 1, the prophet speaks of a cosmic cataclysm, more destructive then the Noahic Flood, of men and animals…birds…and the fish.
The evils of mankind that will reap this wrath are contemporary to the sins and attitudes of our nation and the present world systems.
- National disloyalty
- Social plunder
- Indifference to the Lord
- Worship of Baal
- The erection of altars to Assyrian deities.
- Permission of pagan cults and practices.
- Prostitution in the Temple
- Divination and magic
- The practice of human sacrifice
- The worship of Melek
- Adoption of pagan cultic robes (clothed with strange apparel) (Vs.1:8)—evidence of lack of national self-respect.
- Worship of the host of heaven (worship of the stars) (horoscopes). This was done by pagan and idolatrous priests. A feature of Assyrian religion adopted by Manasseh (2 Kg. 21:3)
- Religious mixture (Syncretism) with Ammonite religion.
- Apathy toward the Lord.
- Arrogance by leaders.
Zeph 1:12: “Men who are settled on their lees” As unracked wine spoils, so God's people, whose lives have been undisturbed for too long, have lost their vitality and sense of destiny. People who do nothing either good or bad are irrelevant to life because they make no significant difference; the ultimate denial of OT revelation of the character of Yahweh is “He who acts’.
This past week, I have been counting my cost both of leaving the comfort of my home and the financial commitment to go on the upcoming mission trip. I do not want to ever be one who is judged for “settling on my lees”. I have been guilty of this in my lifetime choosing comfort and security over making a difference. Some will answer the call and some will only talk about the call. All those who answer the call to public life and public service align with “He who acts”.
Last Sunday I preached on “The Decree” (Zeph 2:2). Again we can apply this prophecy to the gathering of the United Nations on September 21, 2011, to divide Jerusalem. The President of the United States made a decree in May 2011 to push Israel’s borders back to 1967.A
Zephaniah prophesied in the time of Josiah (a good king). However, his prophecies are reminiscent of the purge under Jehu in 2 Kg. 10: 18-28.
As we gather unto the Lord today as part of His remnant, we can rejoice at Zeph. 3:17-19): “The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest in His love. He will joy over you with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of you, to whom the reproach of it was a burden At that time, I will undo all that afflict you, and I will save her that limps, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land, where they have been put to shame.”
We will continue the service with an open microphone inviting the saints to share where they were on 9-11, what they felt, and how their lives were changed through faith and hope.
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.V.; Comments and conclusions are my own. There are references from F. F. Bruce Bible Commentary—Victor A. S. Reid.