Zephaniah 1:12 “And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.”
There seems to be a belief in our day that “The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil”; that is, He will neither bless nor chasten. Because of this belief, men laud themselves with credit for accomplishments and assign failures and troubles to fate and they are not troubled by their wicked deeds. Many who hold this belief either do not believe that there is a God, or they are agnostic. Some seem to think that God simply got the universe started and now He just sits back to see what will happen to it. These unbelievers laugh at and mock those who do believe. But, my heart is very heavy, for here is the truth, the Lord will “search” them out and “punish” them in this present life. When He does, “their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.” (Zephaniah 1:13). “The great day of the LORD is near”; not the last day of this present world, but “The great day” in which “the LORD” will bare His Almighty Arm and show that He is God, and that He does actively work in the affairs of men with His Sovereign Power. This “great day” “is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. 15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,” (Zephaniah 1:13). Consider this question with much prayer, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29)! Let us hear Moses’ exhortation, “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.” (Deuteronomy 4:39)! And, let us hear the Apostle Paul’s solemn warning, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)! But, the Lord tells His faithful Children, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10).