God paints a beautiful picture of what Israel would be after the captivity. I think He speaks also to us regarding the qualities of the church. Notice these beautiful thoughts from Zephaniah 3
Zephaniah 3:12–13 (NASB95)
“But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people, And they will take refuge in the name of the LORD. 13 “The remnant of Israel will do no wrong And tell no lies, Nor will a deceitful tongue Be found in their mouths; For they will feed and lie down With no one to make them tremble.”
What a change from their rebelliousness before captivity. Let’s zero in on one of the great qualities that God admires and is looking for in His people. Ze 3:9 speaks of people with purified lips, 13 says there will be no lying or deceitful tongue. Recall that heaven is a place with no liars (Re 21:8). Paul reminds us not to lie to one another (Co 3:9). Truth is a value that we all ought to strive for and lying is something we should work to destroy from our lives.
“Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another” Ephesians 4:25 (NASB95).
“that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit” Ephesians 4:22 (NASB95)
Telling the truth was important to God. He demanded it from His people in the 10 Commandments of Exodus 20. Lying and deceit come from the devil for he is the father of lies (Jn 8:44). It was lying that started man down the road of separation from God (Ge 3:4). It was deceit and false witness that paved the way for Jesus’ crucifixion.
Yes, heaven and the church are beautiful places because the inhabitants speak the truth in all things.
Worship Thoughts 