Zephaniah the prophet - the calling of discipleship
God raise up Zephaniah as a prophet when young Josiah had started to be the King of Judah. As different from the other prophets, Zephaniah was a royal blood and a great-grandchildren of King Hezekiah. He is a person of considerable social standing in Judah. His name means 'hidden God' or 'The Lord hides (protect)', probably refer to God's protection of him during the infamous reign of the wicked King Manasseh (as Manaseeh execute prophets, including Issiah, and sacrifice royal child to foreign God). God has protect and reserve Zephaniah as a prophet, so that he has a part to play for the upbringings of the the Josiah - the last good King of Judah, and to propheised against the prevalence of wicked practise left by the reigns of Manasseh and Amo. Approaching the end of Zephaniah ministry, the book of Law was found in the temple, and Josiah started to initiate the reform to reverse the evil trends of the society.
God raise up Zephaniah as a prophet when young Josiah had started to be the King of Judah. As different from the other prophets, Zephaniah was a royal blood and a great-grandchildren of King Hezekiah. He is a person of considerable social standing in Judah. His name means 'hidden God' or 'The Lord hides (protect)', probably refer to God's protection of him during the infamous reign of the wicked King Manasseh (as Manaseeh execute prophets, including Issiah, and sacrifice royal child to foreign God). God has protect and reserve Zephaniah as a prophet, so that he has a part to play for the upbringings of the the Josiah - the last good King of Judah, and to propheised against the prevalence of wicked practise left by the reigns of Manasseh and Amo. Approaching the end of Zephaniah ministry, the book of Law was found in the temple, and Josiah started to initiate the reform to reverse the evil trends of the society.
The image of discipleship start to linger in my mind. Together with the High Priest at the time during the early reign of Josiah, Zephaniah . Sometimes our life went on hiding intentionally or unintentionally, like Zephaniah under the shadow of the wicked King and hostile environment. Yet, God will keep us and his vision store in our heart will never fades, and according to His timing we have to stand up to fight for Him in a way that God has called us to. God has call Zephaniah to prophesy to the whole nation and to bring a positive influence to Josiah.
I can relate to Zephaniah. Though at this moment I have to hide for a while to concentrate on my PhD, and cannot stand in the frontline in the fellowship, yet it is His calling that for me to focus on a more personally work to disciple and to exert a positive to young leaders or new believers, so that one day another Josiah will be raised up to transform the nation.
Lord, may you keep me and let me experience you more during this time, and may you preserve my calling so that one day according to your timing I can respond to your call.
God raise up Zephaniah as a prophet when young Josiah had started to be the King of Judah. As different from the other prophets, Zephaniah was a royal blood and a great-grandchildren of King Hezekiah. He is a person of considerable social standing in Judah. His name means 'hidden God' or 'The Lord hides (protect)', probably refer to God's protection of him during the infamous reign of the wicked King Manasseh (as Manaseeh execute prophets, including Issiah, and sacrifice royal child to foreign God). God has protect and reserve Zephaniah as a prophet, so that he has a part to play for the upbringings of the the Josiah - the last good King of Judah, and to propheised against the prevalence of wicked practise left by the reigns of Manasseh and Amo. Approaching the end of Zephaniah ministry, the book of Law was found in the temple, and Josiah started to initiate the reform to reverse the evil trends of the society.
The image of discipleship start to linger in my mind. Together with the High Priest at the time during the early reign of Josiah, Zephaniah . Sometimes our life went on hiding intentionally or unintentionally, like Zephaniah under the shadow of the wicked King and hostile environment. Yet, God will keep us and his vision store in our heart will never fades, and according to His timing we have to stand up to fight for Him in a way that God has called us to. God has call Zephaniah to prophesy to the whole nation and to bring a positive influence to Josiah.
I can relate to Zephaniah. Though at this moment I have to hide for a while to concentrate on my PhD, and cannot stand in the frontline in the fellowship, yet it is His calling that for me to focus on a more personally work to disciple and to exert a positive to young leaders or new believers, so that one day another Josiah will be raised up to transform the nation.
Lord, may you keep me and let me experience you more during this time, and may you preserve my calling so that one day according to your timing I can respond to your call.
posted by justanotherbrotherinchrist | 11:37 am
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