Looking Around The Sword

I know that we are looking around as we are led, and I know that to look around means looking in all directions. Here is our very short, but fully packed and holding text.

You Ethiopians also, you shall be slain by My sword. Zephaniah 2: 12

One of the first curious things our eyes behold, as we look around this verse, one of the things that holds our eyes, is the word also, in relation to Ethiopians.

You are among a crowd of spectators who all want to be admitted into the stands. Guards on duty are calling people in as they have been instructed and as they see fit. They call the names of a number of prominent people who all waste no time in moving forward. However, just as the gates are about to be closed, to let no one else in, a finger is pointed at you, and you hear a guard say, “You also”. You were not expecting to be called in as you are the least among many, but you also were called. “You also”, comes to the least expecting.

From Jesus Himself, we are given this example. Before a highly judgmental crowd, Jesus called to Him a tax collector, named Zacchaeus and walks with him to his house, to be his guest. Do you remember what Jesus said about this sinner and his household, a man scorned, hated and shunned by the Jews? Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. Luke 19: 9b. Jesus is saying that yes, there are many Jews who are sons of Abraham, but in His authority and power, He has made it public and made it known to all that Zacchaeus will not be left out in this blessing of grace. A repentant sinner has been included. “He also”, comes to a repentant sinner.

We look to Jesus again and as He responds to people who have told Him about a bad thing that has happened to some Galileans. Jesus answered, Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will perish. Luke 13: 2 – 3. The word too, is used interchangeably with the word, also, for the meaning of, you too, is the same as saying, you also. Jesus is saying to them that unless they repent, they also will come to a sad end.  “You also”, comes to the self-assured.

From the examples offered, we are being steered into this understanding of the word, also. Also means inclusion without discrimination. Also means on all sides, good and bad.

When Zephaniah, God’s servant, was proclaiming the Word of the Lord, he was addressing people specifically, calling nations and peoples, as he was given. Then he declared, as if these people were not considering themselves, but looking and listening to all the other names, you Ethiopians also.  

The Ethiopians are hearing Prophet Zephaniah call out judgment on all the known enemies of God’s people. Names such as Gaza, Ashdod, Moab, the Philistines and more. Then, as if the prophet realizes the false sense of security being washed upon the Ethiopians, he calls out, you Ethiopians also, and goes on with his list of judgments. What is the judgment for these people?

They will be slain by the Word of God. Indeed, the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit. God’s sword of Judgment is for all, no discrimination, whatsoever. Every enemy of God and His people will be judged by God, regardless of their deeds. For example, the Ethiopians might not have been constantly and aggressively warring against Israel, as the Philistines, but they receive judgement simply because they are enemies. The warning here is that even though we may not be people who are aggressively attacking and fighting against the Kingdom of God, we are still enemies of His Kingdom. We live peaceably, keeping to ourselves, not interfering with Kingdom business. However, we are enemies of the Gospel of Christ, for we do not adhere to what it teaches and preaches.

The Ethiopians have come to remind us that no enemy is better than another, when it comes to God using His sword. We may not be total enemies of the Gospel of Christ. However, to be in part, no matter how big or small that part may be, matters not with God. You are an enemy and His sword will be used on you. God’s Sword of judgment, is for the peaceful and the belligerent.

So you have a place of worship in a community where it is a problem to the local community centre. The people from the centre show no respect for religious services and have their music blasting loudly and are chatting and making merry, disturbing the worship of the church. We hold them up as enemies, deserving God’s judgment. However, on the other side of the church is a place that is quiet and does not in any way interfere with the Church’s activities. Nonetheless, God’s judgment is meted out in same measure as the people of the community centre. Why is this? This is so because they too are enemies of the Gospel, having nothing to do with it at all, neither good or bad. The Ethiopians remind us that not all enemies are aggressive and show themselves as enemies. However, to be a quiet enemy or an attacking one, is of no consequence to God. All are enemies and will all receive the slaying by His Sword.

Look around! See the Lord! Receive His just and right judgments. From the Ethiopians we learn that whether an enemy is passive or aggressive matters not to God’s promised judgment.