Most parents try very hard to provide their children with everything that they need to lead happy and productive lives. But as many of you have already discovered, children don’t always appreciate what their parents do for them. And sometimes, they even act out in rebellion!
Now that my children are getting a little older, I am beginning to experience some of the frustrations of parenthood. In dealing with children, it seems like there is constantly some attitude or behavior that needs to be corrected. Just last week, our family was sitting down for a quiet dinner together, when out of the blue, one of our children copped an attitude with their mother. I don’t even remember what the issue was, but I do remember this child, with hands on the hips, chin extended, and a little wiggle of the head, say to my wife, “I don’t even care!” Jennifer had just labored to provide a nice meal for this child, but the only thanks she received was an attitude of ingratitude. I immediately felt my blood pressure rise at this display of defiance, and my voice deepened as I commanded, “Go sit in silence on the living room sofa until you do care!” The rest of us enjoyed a delightful dinner while this child sat in exile.
Later on that evening, as I was reflecting on the incident, I realized how much parenting is helping my theology—that is, my understanding of God. This episode with my child was similar to the way God has dealt with his people throughout history: God blessed his people by providing them with everything they needed to live happy and productive lives, but they took his provision for granted, defied his holy law, and in their hearts, they placed their unholy hands on their hips, extended their self-reliant chins, and wiggled their haughty little heads, and said, “I don’t even care!” So, God removed them from his presence by sending them into exile.
Israel’s Pattern
We see this same pattern repeated throughout the Old Testament. In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden, where he bestowed bounty and beauty upon them. But instead of being grateful for God’s provision, their hearts became arrogant and broke the one law that God had given them. So, God sent them into exile by removing them from in his presence in the garden.
As Adam and Eve populated the earth, their offspring became so rebellious that God brought another form of exile on his people by flooding the whole earth. After this, we find God forming the nation of Israel from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but because of their sins, Israel fell into the hands of the Egyptians, where they suffered as slaves for 400 years. Later, after Israel reached the height of its glory during reign of King David, the nation became corrupt and rebellious again. Like a parent who warns their child about the consequences of their actions, God used the prophets to warn Israel that if they did not change their ways, he would send them into Babylonian exile. Sadly, instead of turning from their sins, they turned deaf ears to the prophets. They persisted in their sin, and God kept his promise: the Babylonians conquered Judah and held them in exile for 70 years.
Our Pattern
Provision, rebellion, and exile! This is the pattern we see throughout the Bible. It is the same pattern that I am discovering with my children and, unfortunately, it is the same pattern that we all experience in our relationship with God. He provides us with everything we need for life and happiness, but when we act in arrogance and rebellion, and turn to our own ways, he sends us into various forms of spiritual (and sometimes physical) exile to humble us and help us think about our transgressions.
God has given us everything we need to live happy and productive lives, but do you ever find yourself feeling discontent? Do you ever find yourself flirting with forbidden fruit? Do you ever harbor ungodly anger and bitterness in your heart? Do you ever act out with bad behavior? Do you have a reputation for rebellion?
Sin and rebellion always leads to exile! When we disobey his commands and break his laws, we lose our freedom. God allows us to experience the natural consequences of our sins. Even when we don’t get caught, there are still consequences. God sees everything! When we sin against God, he removes his presence from us and allows us to experience spiritual exile!
Have you ever endured a spiritual exile? Have you been forced to face the consequences of your sins? Have you experienced the absence of God’s presence in your life where you felt like you were wandering in a spiritual desert? If you have ever sinned, you have experienced some form of exile! This is the pattern that the people of Israel experienced in the Old Testament and it is the same pattern that we experience today!
Zephaniah 3:14-20
The prophet Zephaniah spoke about this pattern way back in the sixth century B.C. when Israel had fallen into grave rebellion against God. Under the kings, Amon and Manasseh, the Holy City of Jerusalem was overcome by idolatry, and the culture was consumed by corruption. The new king, Josiah, tried to bring spiritual reform, but the people were already immersed in their sinful ways of life, and they didn’t want to change.
God called Zephaniah to preach boldly against this religious and moral decay. In the first three and a half chapters of his book, Zephaniah denounces Israel and the surrounding nations for their sins and pleads with them to repent. He warned them that the “day of the Lord” was coming and they would face the consequences of their actions and attitudes! God would pour out his wrath by rising up the Babylonians to bring destruction upon their land and carry them off to exile for 70 years.
After Zephaniah delivers this series of doom and gloom prophecies of judgment and exile, he concludes his book with prophecy of restoration. He tells the people that after the 70 years of exile (that is, after they sit on the couch for a while and think about their attitudes and actions), there would be a period of restoration. After they were humbled in exile, he would lift them up like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Their gloom would be turned into gladness, their despair into delight, their dejection into joy!
Zephaniah 3:14-20 is one of the most beautiful passages in the whole Old Testament. In the midst of this restoration, he commands Zion to sing with joy and rejoice with gladness. The Lord has taken away their punishment and turned back their enemy. He has replaced their fear with the assurance of his own presence. He comes as a mighty warrior to save his people and restore their joy. He will replace their shame with honor and glory and bring them home and restore their fortunes before their very eyes.
Restoration is the part of the pattern that I left out earlier. Provision, rebellion, exile, and restoration! This is the pattern that we see throughout the Bible! Do you see the in the pattern in this passage? God provided his people with everything they needed, but they turned away from him in rebellion. So, God was about to discipline them by sending them into exile, but he would eventually restore their joy. He would bring them back to their land and reinstate all of their previous privileges and benefits!
Restoration: Near and Far
Like the other Old Testament prophets, Zephaniah’s prophecy has multiple fulfillments. The first fulfillment came at the end of the 70 years. God eventually rose up the Persian Empire to conquer the Babylonians, and the Persians allowed the Jews to return to the Promised Land. The people were restored to their land and were able to enjoy the privileges and benefits that they had before the exile. They could sing and rejoice once again!
Restoration at the First Advent
This prophecy was fulfilled again at the First Advent of Christ. You see, the world has existed in a form of spiritual (and physical) exile since Adam and Eve’s fall in the Garden of Eden. In one sense, God removed his presence from his creation because of its sin. But he literally restored his presence in the form of Jesus Christ to initiate a ministry of restoration on the earth. His name was Immanuel which means “God with us.” Zephaniah’s prophecy of restoration was fulfilled when Jesus was born from Mary’s womb and was laid in the manger at Christmas. Don’t miss the phrases in verses 15 and 17 “The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you” and “The Lord your God is with you.” He was speaking of Immanuel!
Also, look at verse 14 again. Zephaniah’s prophecy of the restoration of joy was fulfilled when the great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those whom his favor rests.” The joy of restoration also came to pass as the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
This is why the Advent and Christmas season is a time of joy and celebration. We sing praises and carols to God because his presence is with us once again. God became human flesh to liberate our souls from sin and deliver us from spiritual (and physical) exile! He came to restore us to a right relationship with him and reinstitute the privileges and benefits of his kingdom.
Restoration at the Second Advent
The final fulfillment of Zephaniah’s prophecy hasn’t happened yet. It will happen at the Second Advent of our Lord. Even though Zephaniah spoke these words in the sixth-century B.C., they will ultimately be fulfilled when Jesus returns to earth in power and glory. On that day, Jesus will be the Mighty Warrior who destroys Satan, eradicates sin once and for all, and restores Adam’s race to the privileges and benefits that were enjoyed in the Garden of Eden. Look at verse 20—“At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the LORD. He will gather his peoples from all over the earth and restore their fortunes before their very eyes!
As Christians, we look forward to this future joy of restoration, and we can rejoice now because of what will happen later. So, I say to you now, Sing O daughter of Zion—exile is coming to an end! Shout Aloud, O Israel–we will be restored to God’s presence again! Be Glad, God’s people—he will take your sadness away! Rejoice Christians, your conflicts will cease, your diseases will be healed, your needs will be met, your fears will fade, and your worries will be washed away! This is the joy of restoration!
Last week, one of my children was sitting in exile on the living room sofa while the rest of us were immersed in the joys of dinner. The exile only lasted about ten minutes, then I heard a little voice from the living room say, “Can I come back now?” I asked, “Do you care now, which was my way of asking if there was a change in attitude?” When this child apologized to mom for their bad attitude and behavior, all was forgiven and their privileges of speaking, eating, and enjoying the dinnertime community were restored. And we all had a wonderful evening together!
This is the way God has always dealt with his people. It is the way he deals with us today. When we repent from our sins and turn to faith in Jesus, all is forgiven. We begin to experience the joy of restoration now, but we will experience the full joy of restoration when Jesus returns! Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Joy to the world, the Lord is coming again!