Zephaniah 2:3
“Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”
“We will take care of this when we get home.” This was the phrase my parents used when, as a child, I did something wrong in public. Instead of punishing me for what I did in the public setting, they waited till we got home to take care of the situation. From the time they said these words to the time we got home it seemed like an eternity. Throughout the whole time, I was making all kinds of deals with God so that I could avoid being punished. Of course, the punishment was needed, and God knew I needed the punishment.
God does give us a way to avoid His judgment. In the verse above, God was speaking to Judah, and told them that if they would do two things, they could be hid in the day of His anger. In other words, God would not let His judgment fall on them. Three simple steps is all they had to do, and they could avoid the judgment of God.
The first step they were to take was to seek the LORD. In other words, stop running to their own devices and men, and start trying to get God’s attention. Just like I prayed when I was a child, you are to seek the LORD’s presence. How can you find the LORD? He tells us in Jeremiah 29:13 when He says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” In other words, put your whole heart into trying to find the LORD and you will find Him. Let your whole attention be placed upon Him. This is the first step needed to turn God’s judgment in your life.
The second step they were to take was to seek righteousness. Righteousness is simply doing right acts. In other words, stop doing wrong, and start doing right. This sounds so simple, but that is how easy it is to turn God’s judgment. Doing right acts will certainly get God’s attention. You will never turn His judgment if you continue to do the wrong that caused Him to send it.
The third step they were to take was to seek meekness. Meekness is simply power under control. In other words, God was telling them that just because they had the power to do wrong, they were not to do it. They were to keep themselves under control. God often calls this temperance in the Scriptures. Just because you can do wrong and get away with it doesn’t give you the right to do it. You must learn to be meek and keep your power under control.
These three steps sound so simple, and they are, but what you learn from history is that Judah didn’t follow these three steps and ended up facing God’s judgment. Friend, don’t be so stubborn as to not follow these three steps. Don’t be so haughty as to think that God would never judge you. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done for God, if you do wrong He will judge you. The only way to turn the judgment of God is to follow these three steps. Then, and only then, will you see God turn His judgment into mercy. Then, and only then, will you find the judgment of God will miss you.
By the way, if these three steps will turn God’s judgment, then these three steps will keep you from ever facing His judgment. You can avoid the whole process if you will make these three things a regular part of your daily life. These three steps will keep you and God in good fellowship with each other.