Contemplative Bible Reading

Zephaniah 3:19 (Christian Standard Bible)

19 Yes, at that time
I will deal with all who oppress you.
I will save the lame and gather the outcasts;
I will make those who were disgraced
throughout the earth
receive praise and fame.

Jehovah the God of Israel is speaking to the people through the prophet Zephaniah. There will be a time coming when Jehovah will live with the people. It will be a glorious and joyful time.

I like the phrase in the middle of this verse about saving the lame and gathering the outcasts. The lame and the outcast lived in a sorry state at the time of this message. They were not fit to enter the Temple and be nearer to God. They were literally cast out by society.

Sounds like me. I am not fit to be near to God. My sins soil my clothes to the point where I cannot ever clean them. And there is no clothing store nearby to sell me nice, new, and clean clothes. I am cast out.

Jesus Christ, however, brings me in. Jesus Christ cleans my clothes. I am no longer lame; I am no longer cast out by society.

This is pretty simple. This doesn’t make any sense. This is true. Some days I accept it while some days I just don’t …

And there are days when I cannot enable anyone else to understand this, either. Please God, help me to understand and help me to live in such a way that others around me can understand as well.