Sin creates hopelessness on a personal level.
She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God.
- Zephaniah 3:2
Social sin creates hopelessness for countless people.
Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled! 3 Her officials within her are roaring lions; her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning. 4 Her prophets are unprincipled; they are treacherous people. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.
- Zephaniah 3:1, 3-4
Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them — all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.
- Zephaniah 3:8
God renews our hope when He restores us.
“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.”
- Zephaniah 3:9
We can allow God to restore us by removing things that don’t belong in us.
11 “On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.12 But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord, 13 those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue...”
- Zephaniah 3:11-13
God gives us a hope that we can hold on to.
20 At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord.
- Zephaniah 3:20