“O nation not desired”

Zephaniah 2:1-2 “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; (2.) Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you.”

We had the privilege a few weeks back to study this passage of scripture and it was an eye opening study. The Lord is speaking to His beloved Nation Israel here, the only nation on earth that had God’s love, and God’s grace, but also a nation that dishonored God on every action. It has to make one wonder why God had such a love for Israel and why God blessed them so and why God continues to bless them and even promises to bless them in the Tribulation period. Although we do now know in hindsight that because of their unruliness toward God, and His word that God has stopped using them as a ministry of His word, and has started to use the Gentile churches to minister His word. The Lord told the first church at Jerusalem to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Matthew 28:19 and when they failed to do as Christ Jesus had directed them, then God allowed persecution to drive them out “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Acts 9:1, 4 only once they were forced out, did they do as Christ Jesus had directed them in Matthew 28:19.

It seems we as Americans have learned nothing by the sufferings of the Israelites. We have a nation that God has over and over blessed; we have accomplished more in 200 plus years than the rest of the world combined and we like Israel continue to spit in God’s Holy face. God has given us warning after waning through the example of Israel of what happens to a nation that is blessed of God and then shoves Him aside as though we do not need Him or His blessings. We have reached the conclusion that God is now worthless to us and we know more and better than Him. Only when a national disaster hits us do we seek God’s compassion and help i.e. 911. Well beloved that is not good enough! The Lord called Israel “…O nation not desired...” meaning they were no longer desired of God and no longer a leader in the world. We, the greatest nation on the earth are no longer a desired nation to the Lord. We were blessed (as a nation) to be a protector of Israel and now we are turning our backs on them. Now we are at a point (as a nation) where laws are being written that will mute pastors in the pulpit about moral wrong. Beloved we as churches and members in particular better get on our faces in churches everywhere and pray to God for our nation’s forgiveness. The Lord said “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together…” that is come together and cry to God for mercy, grace, and forgiveness. And this must be done today “Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff…” that is before the day passes suddenly away and “…before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you.” Beloved we are there; it is time for God’s anger because the last great and blessed nation has failed God just as Israel did. The Tribulation period is at hand, there is no other place for God to take this world. Israel failed God, England failed God and now the United States has failed God. When we read the account of the flood in Genesis chapter 5 we see that God was very angry with man that they had associated themselves with wickedness and wickedness had taken over and He destroyed mankind. Well beloved we are again at that point and the flood of tribulation is on the way. Oh how we as believers can truly thank God that He has not appointed us to wrath as believers in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,”