ZEPHANIAH
“When right is Wrong”
Have you ever asked yourself, “Is this the right thing to do and is it the right time ?” I’ve heard it said, "It is always “right” to do “right” and always “wrong” to do “wrong” and never “right” to do “wrong”. While I understand the intent of this statement is… it is lacking… but more about that later.
For now let’s consider one of the minor prophets that speaks for God during a time where a King choose to do the right thing – at the right time in humility and because of that a nation was transformed.
THE FULL STORY… 2 Kings 22:1-20
Zephaniah prophesied during the spiritual reforms of Josiah. Josiah’s grandfather Manasseh and Father Amon had turned away from worshipping God. At the age of 26 (became king at 8) Josiah ordered the High Priest to use the tax money to renovate the temple of God. It was during this renovation that the Book of the Law was discovered.
These were the sacred writings that Joshua had received from Moses. Josiah came to recognize what was RIGHT and while he made personal adjustments to his life (tore his robe) he did not act upon the RIGHT THING until he “inquired to the LORD.”
2 Kings 22:13 – “go inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found…”
From this inquiry Josiah encouraged exclusive worship of Yahweh and outlawed all other forms of worship. He destroyed the pagan objects related to the worship of Baal and Asherah. He also, had the living pagan priests executed and even had the bones of dead priests of Bethel exhumed from their graves and burned on alters.
He reinstituted the Passover celebrations and had the Ark of the Covenant returned to the Temple. It is within this context that Zephaniah speaks with the words of God. Remember the atmosphere – Josiah had independently decided to renovate the temple – he took responsibility as King. Then discovered what was “RIGHT” through the reading of God’s word.” Finally, he humbled himself and inquired to the LORD in regard to what should be done – and from that knew what had been read was TRUE.
So is it always right to do right? Is it never right to do wrong?
If I could start with one thought… “It’s not about doing what is right or not doing what is wrong – it’s about doing what is true.”
PROVING WHAT IS RIGHT:
They way I determine what is “right” is quite simple.
Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern (test = ‘prove’) what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
What this says is that I am to “give approval to” what the will of God is… my “Amen!” I “PROVE” what is “RIGHT” by comparing it to the WORD of God. I come to know the “will of God” as I transform my mind, so as to have the mind of Christ. The ‘will of God’ becomes manifest as I understand truth through the renewal of my mind.
- A renewed mind is able to “APPROVE” something by holding it up to the light of God’s word.
- The renewed mind discovers the RIGHT (through God’s word) and prepares to be obedient.
- The renewed mind, because it is transformed through God’s Spirit, is able to validate the will of God.
This asks that I become an ‘expert’ in the things of God. I am able to recognize the “real”.
For example; two different words from people – one (of a dream) that an illness was given by the LORD so that family members will come to know Christ. The other is that of a vision of my life in which I walked into a service and the presence of God fell and the disease was removed.
Which on these two scenarios is the will of God, which one is “real” (what did Jesus demonstrate)?
• Did Jesus ‘give disease’?
• Did He deliver and heal?
The decree from the LORD had gone out from Josiah and Zephaniah was telling the people to get it “right” TODAY! There is still time to humble themselves and seek righteousness and humility (2:3)
- if the king has said it
- A prophet has declared it
- God’s word displays it
- It’s most likely “right”
But even when I am able to recognize the “right” and am confident that something is within the will of God – I am never at a place where I can presume upon the LORD. Simply because it is “right” does not make it “true”.
STORY>>>>>
• This past Thursday I was having lunch in the mall with a friend. As we were leaving I noticed a little girl that was in walking braces. We were going to go our separate ways when I thought to myself – “You need to go and pray for that girl” so I approached her mom and asked if I could pray for her daughter. Her mom was not rude but it was obvious that she did not want me to draw attention to her daughter – she gave me her name and I prayed for her privately.
• I learned something about doing the right thing – what I intended to do was not outside of the lines of God. My problem was that “I” thought it was a good idea… the question was – did God? I was confident it was the “right thing” but neglected to ask the LORD if it was the right TIME.
My responsibility is to, come to know “RIGHT” and when prompted manifest that “before the day passes away like chaff”.
KNOWING RIGHT and WRONG (through testing and proving) is only the START.
There is MORE than knowing RIGHT and WRONG – we must be able to know if it is TRUE.
A factor inknowing what is TRUE is your ability to recieve correction. Are you able to receive correction? WHY? Let me ask you – can a proud person receive correction?
RECEIVING the WHEN: When you are corrected to the truth (3:1-2)
Knowing the RIGHT positions us for breakthrough however, simply because it is RIGHT does not mean it is TRUE.
PROVBERS 30:5 – “Every word of God proves true…
• Meaning that while God’s word is always “right” it requires TIME to be proven TRUE.
Josiah found the RIGHT and was then able to be corrected into the TRUTH. He waited on the LORD and inquired.
If I demonstrate a life that will not receive correction I develop a spirit that is independent of God. With this mind-set I am able to determine what is RIGHT but am not able to receive instruction to make the RIGHT TRUE. I “have the appearance of godliness but am denying its power.”
I’ve seen spiritual abuse from people who demonstrate the “RIGHT” but neglect the compassion associated with HUMILITY from being CORRECTED.
When my heart is receptive to correction I am able to broker the “right” and apply it so that it becomes true.
Determining what is “right or wrong” is easy. We have the Holy Spirit = “…he convicts the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…” John 16 God is not so much concerned about us “doing right” or “doing wrong” (that is legalism) he is more concerned about our Heart – is it humble so as to receive correction? God says we are "to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with Him."
Honestly, “right and wrong” are laden with grey. God deals with darkness and light – there is no shadow in Him so He would not create a system in which there are variations.
That is why people get so confused in life – they are constantly chasing after “doing right” and not “doing wrong” - it’s not about “right and wrong” it is about what is true.
Jesus says, “Everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But whoever does what is __true___ comes to the light so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out by God.” (John 3:20-21)
Truth is independent of consequences = TRUTH stands alone. With a heart that knows the RIGHT by giving approval and is willing to receive correction – TRUTH becomes evident.
The world can create a system in which we are able to determine what is RIGHT = but it cannot systematically determine what is TRUE. It is antithetical to determine spiritual truth with a worldly system.
• What did Jesus demonstrate – That what seems “wrong” (to the world) is actually “right” (according to God). His death would turn out to be life for the world!
• Jesus left towns where there were still people who needed healing… why? Because He knew the TRUTH and was able to be CORRECTED – He sought the Father and chose to do what is true over what the world considered “right”.
Jesus NEVER contradicted God’s word. He was able to receive correction from the Father – through the Holy Spirit - and because of that everything He did was not only RIGHT… it was TRUE.
“I am the way the TRUTH and the life…”
1. So – if I examine scripture to determine what is “RIGHT” and “PROVE” it,
2. Then in a posture of humility am able to receive “CORRECTION” to do what is TRUE.
3. I search for God’s presence…
- SEARCHING for GODS PRESENCE: When the presence of God is in your midst (3:17)
The Hebrew word used here for “quiet” is “charash” which is translated 73 times and has 22 various interpretations. I have yet to receive revelation on that – other than to say seeking God’s presence is not limited to “one” method.
As you SEEK HIM remember:
- God’s presence often manifests itself contrary to the surrounding influence; fire at night, cloud by day.
- This is not to say that we are to look for weirdness and go in that direction – what it does say is that if God is leading in a particular direction… it often appears “abnormal”, illogical, beyond basic reasoning. It is not “normal” to have peace in the midst of trauma except for the Presence of God resting on you.
Jesus words and actions were contrary to the thinking and methods of the day. The whole “You must eat my flesh and drink my blood thing… yeah, not a ‘normal’ thing to say. Yet, His life demonstrated the fullness of God’s presence.So much so… just moments before His crucifixion he asked if anyone would charge him with sin… no one had any accusations against Him.
Jesus sought God’s presence – Jesus looked to the Father and did what He told him to do.
God’s presence is always available for those who seek Him in TRUTH and HUMILITY – since God is present everywhere, including within us, we are really talking about recognizing His presence.
In God’s presence there is a sense of “peace and stillness”. This is not to say that there is not activity that surrounds God’s presence – I’ve experienced it running by myself or in the midst of a concert with 10,000 people.
So… back to our original statement; can right be wrong? Yes, unless...
- You have proven it to be RIGHT by examining God's word.
- You take a position of HUMILITY to be CORRECTED into TRUTH.
- You have sought GOD’S PRESENCE?
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