"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh
me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his
name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will
dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
A god, who cannot walk with you through the valley of the shadow of death,
who cannot comfort you in the midst of the calamities of life, is a god
who is useless in life. A god, who cannot speak peace to your soul not by
removing the storms of life but in the midst of the storm, is a god that
fails when the need is real. A god, who cannot restore the soul when it
seems all of hell is burning within, is a god who has no power to quell
the turbulent ranting of the mind. A god, who cannot provide a path
through the terrors of the night, is a god whose arm is too short and his
salvation too impotent.
Where is the Lord God of the covenant? Who will not hide his face from us
but hide us in his countenance. As David said, "I foresaw the Lord
always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be
moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover
also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in
hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast
made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy
countenance." Where is the Lord God that is our strength, that
enables us not to be shaken, that makes our heart rejoice, that makes our
tongue glad, that enables our flesh to rest in hope? How does God put us
and keep us in the right frame of mind?
The prophet said that the Lord God of the covenant "will keep him in
perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on him." The mind that is
sustained by God walks through the valley of the shadow of death and fears
no evil. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall
abide under the shadow of the Almighty." He "shalt not be afraid
for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the
pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth
at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy
right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt
thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the
LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation."
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
Dwelling in the house of the Lord, it is only our eyes that behold the
plight of the wicked. The Lord has not hidden his face from the believer.
The Lord has hidden the believer with his countenance. When the Lord is
always before the believer’s face, his mind will be sustained by the
Lord himself. He will not waver, will not be rocked or toppled. He will
"be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth
his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he
doeth shall prosper." In the "presence of the Lord is fulness of
joy [and] at His right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
This is the story of Zephaniah, whose name means the "Lord has
hidden." He has hidden his face from the wicked, but the Lord also
has hidden the righteousness in his countenance. Zephaniah emphasizes the
certainty of God's judgment and the preservation of a remnant who will be
hid in God. After he speaks of judgment on Judah — Chapters 1:1-2:3,
judgment on all nations — Chapters 2:4-3:8, he then proclaims the
salvation of a remnant — Chapter 3:9-20.
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