Lessons From Zephaniah

…or, Help in a Stressed Marriage…

As mentioned in a previous post, there are times that sin and/or disagreement puts stress on a marriage.  As daughters of Eve, we women are tempted to “fix” things in ways that sound and look reasonable, but as Christians (adopted as daughters of God, through Jesus Christ), our call is to trust God, overcoming those temptations to nag or fight or even leave with the power of the Word.  Some might call that being a doormat.  I call it living in victory and fighting the devil for the sake of our marriage.  I am, after all, planning our 50th wedding anniversary party that’s coming in 31 years.

The best place to be when things get hard is in the Word of God.  Because All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16)…well, you could be anywhere in the Bible and if you’re saved, God will use it to teach you.  Anywhere, like even in the tiny book of Zephaniah.


Zephaniah 1:7   Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD…
The Lord’s given you peace.  Hold onto it.  Watch that tongue, that wagging thing with the power of life or death within it.  Don’t trade that peace like a river for volcanic lava on a low simmer.

Zephaniah 2:3   Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger. 
Seek the Lord, seek righteousness, seek humility.  If your husband is in sin, the Lord will deal with it.  If you try to “fix” him, you may make a hash of everything.  Remember Rebecca?  How she tried to obtain the blessing for Jacob while Isaac was going to sin in blessing Esau?  Was she blessed?  Remember Sarah?  How she tried to “help” God by obtaining a son for Abraham outside of her own womb?  Listen, God knows what’s going on, God will deal with it, and He doesn’t need your “help”.

Zephaniah 3:2   She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
Is the sin your husband in any greater than the sin of going your own way, of demanding that God explain Himself in these matters, that He fix things *right now*?

Zephaniah 3:8   Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD…
If all things are in God’s hands, if He can turn even the hearts of kings and control the wind and the waves, if all things are light and momentary and this life is but a vapor…then waiting upon the Lord in trust is the very least of what we owe our King of Kings.

Zephaniah 3:14   Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 
Gratitude is the heart’s praise, it is said.  Instead of stewing, find things to think on that are edifying. Sing a hymn, read a psalm, start a blessings list.  We are not owed anything at all, but we are to be thankful in all things.  
Philippians 4:8   Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Zephaniah 3:15   The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy…
Think on the cross.  You were once an enemy of God, rejecting His commandments and rebelling against Him.  You can forgive your husband because God forgave you.  Because of this, divorce amongst Christians ought to be very, very (very) rare.  
Romans 5:8   But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Zephaniah 3:16 ….Let not thine hands be slack. 
Stay busy about the business God has given you.  Love your children, keep your home, fix the meals.  If the TV causes you to brood, turn it off.  If time on the internet causes you to neglect your family, cut it out.  Just do the next thing, and try to find some joy in the fact that you are able to even participate in God’s world and work.

Zephaniah 3:17   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. 
In the midst of trials, there is nothing better than to be present in them with the Lord.  If we know all things work together for the good of them that love Him, if we know He cares about every hair on our head, then we can rest in that boat even on the days it looks like He is asleep in the back of it.


Going through trials?  Stay in His Word, and trust Him.


Blessings,