1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:12,650 Speaker 1: Life Audio Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, 2 00:00:13,690 --> 00:00:18,450 Speaker 1: a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end 3 00:00:18,550 --> 00:00:21,529 Speaker 1: each day with God's Word in your mind and on 4 00:00:21,570 --> 00:00:26,660 Speaker 1: your heart. Right after this short word from our sponsors, 5 00:00:27,230 --> 00:00:41,860 Speaker 1: we will reflect on tonight's scripture, Zephaniah, Our evening reflection 6 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: is written by Chelsea DeMatteis and read by Kyle Norman. Zephaniah, 7 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:54,540 Speaker 1: Chapter 3 Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, 8 00:00:55,000 --> 00:01:00,010 Speaker 1: the oppressing city! She listens to no voice, she accepts 9 00:01:00,090 --> 00:01:04,270 Speaker 1: no correction. She does not trust in the Lord. She 10 00:01:04,310 --> 00:01:08,330 Speaker 1: does not draw near to her God. Her officials within 11 00:01:08,390 --> 00:01:12,830 Speaker 1: her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves that 12 00:01:12,870 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: leave nothing till the morning. Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men. 13 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:22,390 Speaker 1: Her priests profane what is holy. They do violence to 14 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:26,819 Speaker 1: the law. The Lord within her is righteous. He does 15 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,790 Speaker 1: no injustice. Every morning he shows forth his justice. Each 16 00:01:31,870 --> 00:01:36,690 Speaker 1: dawn he does not fail, but the unjust knows no shame. 17 00:01:38,330 --> 00:01:41,530 Speaker 1: I have cut off nations, their battlements are in ruins. 18 00:01:42,069 --> 00:01:44,970 Speaker 1: I have laid waste their streets, so that no one 19 00:01:45,010 --> 00:01:48,250 Speaker 1: walks in them. Their cities that have been made desolate, 20 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: without a man, without an inhabitant. I said, surely you 21 00:01:53,180 --> 00:01:57,700 Speaker 1: will fear me, you will accept correction. Then your dwelling 22 00:01:57,740 --> 00:02:00,910 Speaker 1: would not be cut off. according to all that I 23 00:02:00,950 --> 00:02:05,110 Speaker 1: have appointed against you. But all the more they were 24 00:02:05,230 --> 00:02:09,820 Speaker 1: eager to make all their deeds corrupt. Therefore wait for me, 25 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: declares the Lord, for the day when I rise up 26 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 1: to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, 27 00:02:17,700 --> 00:02:22,339 Speaker 1: to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them mighty indignation, 28 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: all my burning anger. For in the fire of my 29 00:02:26,220 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 1: jealousy all the earth shall be consumed. For at that 30 00:02:31,070 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 1: time I will change the speech of the peoples to 31 00:02:34,620 --> 00:02:38,220 Speaker 1: a pure speech, that all of them may call upon 32 00:02:38,260 --> 00:02:41,660 Speaker 1: the name of the Lord and serve Him with one accord. 33 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:47,100 Speaker 1: From beyond the rivers of Cush, my worshippers, the daughters 34 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:51,730 Speaker 1: of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering. On that 35 00:02:51,810 --> 00:02:54,989 Speaker 1: day you shall not be put to shame because of 36 00:02:55,030 --> 00:02:58,049 Speaker 1: the deeds by which you have rebelled against me. For 37 00:02:58,110 --> 00:03:02,540 Speaker 1: then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, 38 00:03:03,060 --> 00:03:05,900 Speaker 1: and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain. 39 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,460 Speaker 1: But I will leave in your midst a people humble 40 00:03:11,220 --> 00:03:14,660 Speaker 1: and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of 41 00:03:14,700 --> 00:03:18,700 Speaker 1: the Lord. Those who are left in Israel, they shall 42 00:03:18,780 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there 43 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue. For they 44 00:03:26,900 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 1: shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. 45 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:35,790 Speaker 1: Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion. Shout, O Israel. Rejoice 46 00:03:35,870 --> 00:03:38,910 Speaker 1: and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 47 00:03:39,650 --> 00:03:43,450 Speaker 1: The Lord has taken away the judgments against you. He 48 00:03:43,490 --> 00:03:47,740 Speaker 1: has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, 49 00:03:47,810 --> 00:03:51,660 Speaker 1: is in your midst. You shall never again fear evil. 50 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not, 51 00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:00,250 Speaker 1: O Zion. Let not your hands grow weak. The Lord 52 00:04:00,270 --> 00:04:03,170 Speaker 1: your God is in your midst, a mighty one who 53 00:04:03,210 --> 00:04:07,010 Speaker 1: will save. And he will rejoice over you with gladness. 54 00:04:07,410 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: He will quiet you in his love. He will exalt 55 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: over you with loud singing. I will gather those of 56 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: you who mourn for the festival so that you will 57 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,980 Speaker 1: no longer suffer reproach. Behold, at that time I will 58 00:04:23,020 --> 00:04:25,980 Speaker 1: deal with all your oppressors, and I will save the 59 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,820 Speaker 1: lame and gather the outcasts. I will change their shame 60 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: into praise and renew them in all of the earth. 61 00:04:34,230 --> 00:04:37,229 Speaker 1: At that time I will bring you in. At that 62 00:04:37,290 --> 00:04:40,590 Speaker 1: time I will gather you together, for I will make 63 00:04:40,650 --> 00:04:43,730 Speaker 1: you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the 64 00:04:43,810 --> 00:04:48,589 Speaker 1: earth when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says 65 00:04:48,650 --> 00:04:56,940 Speaker 1: the Lord. I'll always remember the moment I fully believed 66 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:01,380 Speaker 1: that God not only loves me fully, but he rejoices 67 00:05:01,500 --> 00:05:05,150 Speaker 1: over me. He delights in my life and lavishes his 68 00:05:05,270 --> 00:05:09,570 Speaker 1: unwavering devotion by leading and guiding me all of my days. 69 00:05:11,170 --> 00:05:14,190 Speaker 1: When we see God this way, it changes how we 70 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:18,460 Speaker 1: live day to day. It gives merit to the mundane 71 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:22,430 Speaker 1: and reveals that God's plans and purposes for us are 72 00:05:22,470 --> 00:05:27,270 Speaker 1: not only personal, but intentional. When this scripture was penned, 73 00:05:27,890 --> 00:05:31,310 Speaker 1: a lot of chaos was unfolding. Judgment was at hand, 74 00:05:31,950 --> 00:05:35,150 Speaker 1: and people were full of fear, wondering what would happen 75 00:05:35,290 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 1: as the life that they knew seemed to be crumbling 76 00:05:38,100 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: around them. Then, amid the panic, God spoke powerful promises 77 00:05:43,580 --> 00:05:48,300 Speaker 1: to his people through the prophet Zephaniah. He stated not 78 00:05:48,380 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 1: only his love for his people, but also that he 79 00:05:51,420 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: rejoiced over them. He promised protection and a way forward. 80 00:05:56,980 --> 00:06:00,260 Speaker 1: He declared his people would be quieted in their spirit. 81 00:06:01,020 --> 00:06:04,290 Speaker 1: Their shame would turn into praise and he would restore 82 00:06:04,350 --> 00:06:09,310 Speaker 1: their fortunes before their eyes. Promises like that change how 83 00:06:09,350 --> 00:06:13,690 Speaker 1: you live. Their impact goes far beyond what the eye 84 00:06:13,730 --> 00:06:18,300 Speaker 1: can see. These promises penetrate the heart and they give 85 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:23,370 Speaker 1: life to the fullness of joy in God alone. Tonight, 86 00:06:23,850 --> 00:06:27,830 Speaker 1: as the day comes to a close, rest in God's promises. 87 00:06:28,830 --> 00:06:33,150 Speaker 1: Rest in knowing God is rejoicing over you as you sleep. 88 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: He sings over you, washes peace over you, and gives 89 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:42,339 Speaker 1: you tangible reminders through his word that you are delightful 90 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:46,780 Speaker 1: to him. He promises to meet you where you are 91 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: and restore the heavy parts of your heart. He will 92 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:54,500 Speaker 1: do a work before your eyes that strengthens your relationship 93 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:59,169 Speaker 1: with him. Because his delight and rejoicing over your life 94 00:06:59,730 --> 00:07:03,150 Speaker 1: is a testimony to be shared. A hope to give 95 00:07:03,210 --> 00:07:07,450 Speaker 1: to those around you. Let his promise bring you peace 96 00:07:08,290 --> 00:07:16,660 Speaker 1: and his love be your joy. Father, thank you for 97 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:21,290 Speaker 1: loving me with your unwavering love. You not only delight 98 00:07:21,330 --> 00:07:24,710 Speaker 1: in my life, but you rejoice over me. Help me 99 00:07:24,830 --> 00:07:29,390 Speaker 1: rest in your promises. As some seasons feel long and relentless, 100 00:07:29,810 --> 00:07:32,540 Speaker 1: remind me that you are doing a mighty work before 101 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:36,980 Speaker 1: my eyes. You will bring restoration and a quietness to 102 00:07:37,020 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: my spirit. When my feet hit the floor in the morning, 103 00:07:41,180 --> 00:07:44,740 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit, remind me to praise God for another day 104 00:07:45,140 --> 00:07:48,310 Speaker 1: to walk with him. Keep my eyes fixed on you, 105 00:07:48,390 --> 00:07:52,020 Speaker 1: regardless of what's happening in the world around me, because 106 00:07:52,060 --> 00:07:56,100 Speaker 1: you are in control, and I delight in being your child. 107 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. How did tonight's scripture speak to you? 108 00:08:04,420 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: Share your thoughts in the Your Nightly Scripture Forum discussion. 109 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture 110 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:26,430 Speaker 1: was read from the New International Version by Biblica. All 111 00:08:26,490 --> 00:08:32,370 Speaker 1: rights reserved. 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