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Job replies in chapter 21 that the wicked do prosper. You must listen before you mock me, Job says. Are you not repulsed by my appearance and sickness? Consider the evidence around you. Many wicked prosper into an untroubled old age. The families of the wicked live in peace; their farms and livestock thrive. The evil feast joyfully until they go to their grave (Sheol). These people take no notice of the Almighty and scorn the Almighty without consequences. The time for dealing with the evil will come; maybe trouble will come on their descendants. The LORD does not seem to visit the wicked's evil with His chastisement. Evil people are just as likely to prosper as to suffer. Your thoughts, my friends, are clearly known to me and are wrong. Stop being false and refrain from your hypocritical attempts to comfort me. We need to cease from judging others and start treating others with kindness and respect.
Zephaniah 3 deals with judgement on Jerusalem and all nations. Verses 1-8 deal with imminent impending calamity for Jerusalem (in the prophet's day); and subsequently soon at Armageddon. Armageddon (WW 3) will involve all nations (Joel 3; Zechariah 14; and Revelation 16). Verses 9-13 describe the conversion of the nations in the aftermath of Armageddon. Verses 14-20 tell of the joy associated with Israel's regathering, restoration and conversion (compare Romans 11verses11-24). The chapter begins with a denouncement of Jerusalem as a rebellious and unheeding city. It was a city that had not responded to Yahweh's chastisement. The rot began with the leaders of the nation - the rot starts with the princes and the priests as the people desired rulers like themselvesverses Hosea 4verses1-9. The Almighty was dwelling in that city and had set before them His righteous ways. They had not heeded His prophetic Word, which had predicted the overthrow of surrounding kingdoms. Israel remained unconcerned despite seeing the fulfilment of the words of the prophets. Verses 8 speaks of God's wrath being poured upon all nations (see Joel 3verses1-16). Verse 9 tells of all nations being turned to a pure tongue (most likely Hebrew - as was probably the language prior to the confusion of tongues that occurred with the Tower of Babel; Genesis 11verses1-9). The nations then serve the LORD with one consent (Hebrew "shoulder"; the bearing of the burden and accepting the message coming from the capital city, Zion (Jerusalem see Isaiah 2verses1-5; 9verses6-7). Worshippers will come from the entire world to Jerusalem (Jeremiah 3verses16-18; Zechariah 14verses26-21). Note that the last phrase, "and none shall make them afraid" is a citation from Micah 4verses4 (which is what Isaiah 2 says). The rejoicing of Zion's daughter is again an echo from the servant prophecies in Isaiah (52verses7; note the context verses 1-12; and the restoration will be the work of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ 52verses13-53verses12). Verse 17 of Zephaniah 3 speaks of Yahweh dwelling in the midst of His people (Joel 3verses17-21). This will be through His Son and the saints in Christ Jesus - Zechariah 14verses1-9. The oppressors of God's people will be eradicated. Israel will be a "praise and a joy in all the earth" (see Zechariah 8verses20-23). God willing let's strive to please our Father and His glorious Son by the way we live now.

Verses 1-10 of 1 John 3 elaborate on God's love. The beloved Apostle invites his readers to behold the extent and greatness of the Father's love. Our Sovereign has chosen to condescend and to adopt us as His children. We have entered His family at the immense cost of the sacrifice of His beloved Son. John tells his hearers that they have barely begun conceiving the depth of that love, which will be further understood when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. An appreciation of that love has a purifying effect on the disciple's life. But a failure to understand the importance of Christ's laying down of his life must impel the believer to tur