I AM The Lord; And There Is None Else; There Is No God Beside Me - Part 2573

"With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee," saith the Lord thy Redeemer" (Isaiah 54:8).

"Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God. Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. The just Lord is in the midst thereof; He will not do iniquity: every morning doth He bring His judgment to light, He fails not; but the unjust know no shame." (Zephaniah 3:1-5)

Note that this oppressing city was once called the "rejoicing city" -- but they chose instead to deal carelessly with the Word of the Lord. Indeed, the city of six-score thousand inhabitants became so arrogant in its own fame that the city essentially adopted for itself a saying attributed solely to the Lord God. That is, "I am and there is none beside me." But from Zephaniah, we witness that this same city had later become a desolation -- a place for beasts to lie down in; a place wherein everyone that passes by her hisses and wags his hand. (Zephaniah 2:15) 

In hindsight, we see Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire as a prime example. A city full of grandeur, it was also known for its wickedness -- wherein the dwellers inside believed the city was impenetrable from outside forces. As an fyi, Nineveh is the same city Jonah preached to -- after being swallowed for three days and three nights by a whale. In Jonah's time, the city was known for their wickedness, not only to surrounding communities but also to God Himself. (Jonah 1:2, 8-10) 

Note that after Jonah preaches, the people believe God, proclaim a nation-wide fast, and put on sackcloth every one of them - from the greatest of them to the least of them. (Jonah 3:5) God saw their works, that they had turned from their evil ways, and God repented of the evil that He had said that He would do unto them and did not. (Jonah 3:10) And the city prospered.

But the repentance that had come from Jonah preaching the good news did not last for long. Years later, in its quest for world dominance, the city had once again become filthy and polluted, obeying not the voice of the Lord.  As Zephaniah points out, "the unjust know no shame." 

While there are many reasons for Nineveh's eventual destruction, it is important to recognize that they neither trusted in God, or took His counsel. We also understand that the motto the kingdom of Ninevah adopted as their own is a truth solely attributable to the Lord our God. That is,

"I AM the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me .. that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me. I AM the Lord, and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:5-6)

"Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside Me." (Isaiah 45:21)

"For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, "None sees Me." Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, "I am, and none else beside Me." (Isaiah 47:10)

"Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, "I AM, and none else beside Me!" I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:" (Isaiah 47:8) 

Lots of scriptural and life examples to prove there is only one Almighty, and that this Lord our God should be given all the glory and honour and praise. That He is, and there is none beside Him. 

Also important, there is always a confirming scripture (at least one) that reaffirms the Lord's truth. Herein, we see Zephaniah (the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkaia, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah) making the same acknowledgement as the prophet Isaiah. 

Continuing Zephaniah 3, the Word of the Lord states: 

"I have cut off the nations, their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant." I said, "Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings. Therefore wait ye upon Me," saith the Lord, "until the day that I rise up to the prey: for My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them Mine indignation, even all My fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.

For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My suppliants, even the daughter of My dispersed, shall bring Mine offering. In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against Me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of My holy mountain.

I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, He hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, "Fear thou not" and to Zion, "Let not thine hands be slack."

Why? Because the Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth,  when I turn back your captivity before your eyes," saith the Lord.

Indeed, when we honour the Lord thy God by welcoming His presence in the midst, He will save us. In fact, He will rejoice over us with joy. We can rest in His love, while He joys over us with singing. This is His promise to us. In this current dispensation of grace, the name of the Lord our God is Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.

Stand in the offering plate.