QT 07/12/2025 Sun. Zephaniah 2 “I Am, and There Is No One Else” “只有我，除我以外，再没有别的了”

QT 07/12/2025 Sun. Zephaniah 2 “I Am, and There Is No One Else”
READ http://www.esv.org/zephaniah2

Scripture:
“This is the exultant city
that lived securely,
that said in her heart,
‘I am, and there is no one else.’
What a desolation she has become…” — Zephaniah 2:15 (ESV)

(1) Observation
Zephaniah speaks God’s judgment over the nations surrounding Judah—Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Cush, and Assyria. And he ends the chapter with a chilling picture of Nineveh, a city that believed itself untouchable. In pride it said, “I am, and there is no one else.” This is language that belongs only to God Himself (cf. Isa. 45:5). Nineveh had made itself god.

But the Lord shows that every fortress built on human strength eventually collapses. The city that strutted in power becomes a haunt for wild beasts. Pride turns palaces into ruins.

(2) Interpretation
The central message is clear: Self-sufficiency is spiritual suicide.

Nineveh fell not simply because of its armies or politics, but because it trusted in itself. It believed it could stand without God, and perhaps even above God. Whenever a person, church, or nation begins to echo Nineveh—“I am secure; I need nothing”—judgment is near.

Zephaniah 2 also contains a quiet invitation:

“Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land… perhaps you may be hidden in the day of the anger of the LORD” (v. 3).

Even in a chapter of judgment, God’s heart for the humble shines through. He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the lowly.

(3) Application

(a) Examine your security. Where do you feel “untouchable”? A job? Savings? Reputation? Comfort? God is not against security—but He is against false security. Anything we lean on more heavily than Him will eventually fail.

(b) Beware of subtle pride. Nineveh didn’t boast publicly—it “said in her heart.” Pride often hides in the quiet assumptions we make: “I’ve got this.” “I don’t need help.” “I’m better than them.”

(c) Choose humility daily. God’s call is not to despair but to seek Him. Humility is not weakness; it is the open door through which God’s protection, presence, and power enter.

Remember who is truly “I AM.” Only God can say, “There is no one else.” Every other “I am” collapses. But the one who trusts in the living God stands firm.

Prayer
Father, guard my heart from the pride that whispers, “I don’t need You.” Give me a humble spirit that seeks You first and trusts You fully. Tear down every false security and build in me a life that rests on Christ alone. May I walk in Your mercy and live under Your gracious protection. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

QT 07/12/2025 星期日.  西番雅书 2 “只有我，除我以外，再没有别的了”
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/zep/2/

经文：
住在沿海地带的人，基列提的国民哪！你们有祸了。这是耶和华攻击你们的话：“非利士人之地迦南啊！我必毁灭你，使你那里没有人居住。——西番雅书2:15

(1) 观察
西番雅宣告了上帝对犹大周边列国的审判——非利士、摩押、亚扪、古实和亚述。本章末尾以尼尼微城的景象作结，这座自以为不可触碰的城池， 它骄傲地说：“只有我，除我以外，再没有别的了。” 这本是独属于上帝的宣告（参见以赛亚书45:5）。尼尼微竟将自己当作神明。

但主昭示：凡倚靠人力筑起的堡垒终将倾颓。昔日耀武扬威的城池沦为野兽出没之地，骄傲使宫殿化为废墟。

(2) 释义
核心信息清晰明了：自以为是等同于属灵自杀。

尼尼微的覆灭不仅源于军队或政治，更因它倚靠自身。它妄自尊大，以为能脱离神而立，甚至凌驾于神之上。当个人、教会或国家开始效法尼尼微——“我安然无恙，一无所缺”——审判便近在眼前。

西番雅书第二章还蕴含着静默的邀约：

“地上所有谦卑的人，就是遵守耶和华典章的人哪！你们要寻求耶和华，你们要寻求公义，寻求谦卑。在耶和华忿怒的日子，你们或许得以隐藏起来。”（第3节）

即便在审判之章，上帝对谦卑者的眷顾依然闪耀。祂抵挡骄傲者，却将恩典赐予卑微之人。

(3) 应用

(a) 审视你的安全感。你觉得哪里是“不可撼动的”？工作？积蓄？声誉？舒适？神并非反对安全感——但祂反对虚假的安全感。任何我们倚靠得比祂更深的事物，终将崩塌。

(b) 警惕隐秘的骄傲。尼尼微城并未公开夸口，而是“心里说”。骄傲常潜藏于我们默认的假设中：“我能搞定”、‘我不需要帮助’、“我比他们强”。

(c) 每日选择谦卑。神的呼召不是叫人绝望，而是寻求祂。谦卑并非软弱，而是敞开的门扉，让神的护佑、同在与能力得以进入。

谨记谁才是真正的“我是”。唯有神能宣告：‘除我以外没有别神’。其他所有“我是” （只有我）终将崩塌，唯信靠永生神的人能站立得稳。

祷告
天父，求祢保守我心免受骄傲的蛊惑——那低语着“我不需要祢”的骄傲。赐我谦卑的心灵，使我先寻求祢，全然信靠祢。拆毁我一切虚假的安全感，在我生命中建立唯独倚靠基督的根基。愿我行在祢的慈爱中，活在祢恩典的庇护下。奉耶稣的名求。阿们。