The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 27 June 2026 – Judgment On Leaders
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TOPIC: Judgment On Leaders
READ: Zephaniah 3:1-11 (KJV)
1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God.
3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
5 The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
11 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.
THE MESSAGE:
The Lord is provoked when His people suffer under wicked leaders. In the third chapter of Zephaniah, a curse is pronounced on the city of Jerusalem because of the oppressive leaders in it. The princes were referred to as roaring lions and the judges as ravening wolves. This suggests a situation where these two sets of leaders devour and take advantage of the people. Immorality, rebellion, pollution, disobedience, etc., reigned. These leaders were deep in politics of dishonesty and selfish gains, and these are abomination to God. The face of Lord is against evil doers (1 Peter 3:12b). However, despite being angered by the evil of the leaders, the Lord sent Prophet Zephaniah to offer a way out of the coming judgment and destruction, by calling them to repentance and a new life.
Beloved, regardless of how terrible a sinful situation can be, the Lord always desires that His people repent. This can be seen in God’s attitude towards the ungodliness of the people of Nineveh (Jonah 1-4). The Bible speaks variously of the mercy of God that endures forever. Our society today is filled with all manner of wickedness from leaders and followers alike. Even the Church is not free. The Lord is patient but He will not overlook evil forever. The Lord is calling you to repentance from all evil today (Isaiah 1:18). He is willing to cleanse you and set you free so you can abound in the good works He created you to accomplish (Ephesians 2:10).
PRAYER: Pray for people in authority to lead with honesty and in the fear of God.
