Spiritual Paralysis
Some Christians walk straight toward spiritual paralysis. It’s never something we choose. No one consciously opts for stagnation and impairment. But there is a path down which disaster awaits. What could cause this sort of malady and wreak this havoc on a soul?
Such a devastating debility is often caused by hearing the voice of God in His word but then disobeying Him. It’s like looking Him straight in the face through Scripture but choosing to ignore Him. It is to be confronted with truth from your Creator and to claim, as His creature, to know better.
In the prophet Zephaniah’s day, the Spirit of God confronted the people of God with “woe”—with a warning of captivity and bondage. The “oppressing city” was Jerusalem itself—the city of God’s people. What was true for Jerusalem in a physical sense will be true of us in a spiritual sense if we refuse to listen to the voice of God and accept no correction from Him. There can be no blessing, no life, and no vitality where His word is neglected or disobeyed.
It is wise, then, to ask ourselves some difficult questions, rather than assuming that these kinds of warnings are only for others. Has God been speaking to you about a sinful habit in your life that you’ve decided you will hold on to and not break? Has He been speaking to you about a holy habit that you should establish, and you know that you should but you never actually do so? Has He been speaking to you about an apology that needs to be made, but in your pride you are avoiding doing this? Has He been speaking to you about a reconciliation that needs to take place with a loved one in your physical family or in the family of God?
Thankfully, God always receives His children with open arms when we turn to Him and heed His voice again. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”—all on account of Christ (1 John 1:9). When we are humble enough to listen to His voice and put our trust in Him, then we enjoy the experience of nearness to God once more. How is the Spirit prompting you as you read this passage today? There’s no better time than now to step off the path to spiritual paralysis and find grace in the arms of your Savior.
How is God calling me to think differently?
How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?
What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?
Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations
1Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,
fthe oppressing city!
2She listens to no voice;
gshe accepts no correction.
hShe does not trust in the Lord;
she does not draw near to her God.
3iHer officials within her
are roaring lions;
her judges are jevening wolves
that leave nothing till the morning.
4kHer prophets are fickle, treacherous men;
kher priests lprofane what is holy;
they do violence to the law.
5The Lord within her mis righteous;
he does no injustice;
every morning he shows forth his justice;
each dawn he does not fail;
but nthe unjust knows no shame.
6o“I have cut off nations;
their battlements are in ruins;
I have laid waste their streets
pso that no one walks in them;
their cities have been made desolate,
without a man, without an inhabitant.
7qI said, ‘Surely you will fear me;
ryou will accept correction.
Then your1 dwelling would not be cut off
according to all that I have appointed against you.’2
But sall the more they were eager
to make all their deeds corrupt.
8“Therefore twait for me,” declares the Lord,
“for the day when I rise up to seize the prey.
For my decision is uto gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
to pour out upon them my indignation,
all my burning anger;
for in the fire of my jealousy
vall the earth shall be consumed.
The Conversion of the Nations
9“For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples
to wa pure speech,
that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord
and serve him with one accord.
10xFrom beyond the rivers yof Cush
my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones,
shall bring my offering.
11z“On that day ayou shall not be put to shame
because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then bI will remove from your midst
your proudly exultant ones,
and cyou shall no longer be haughty
in my holy mountain.
12But I will leave in your midst
a people dhumble and lowly.
eThey shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord,
13fthose who are left in Israel;
they gshall do no injustice
and speak no lies,
hnor shall there be found in their mouth
a deceitful tongue.
iFor they shall graze and lie down,
and none shall make them afraid.”
Israel's Joy and Restoration
14jSing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
he has cleared away your enemies.
kThe King of Israel, lthe Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.
16zOn that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
mlet not your hands grow weak.
17lThe Lord your God is in your midst,
na mighty one who will save;
ohe will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg, published by The Good Book Company, thegoodbook.com. Used by Truth For Life with permission. Copyright © 2021, 2022, The Good Book Company.
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