Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath." In the fire of his jealousy the whole earth will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth. – Zephaniah 1:18

Today's Scripture Reading (March 23, 2020): Zephaniah 1

Anne of Bohemia died on June 7, 1394 at the age of 28. Anne was the wife of King Richard II, and likely provided emotional stability to the throne during the twelve years that the pair reigned together. Richard greatly mourned her death, and made several unwise decisions in the years that followed her demise which resulted in Richard finally being forced to abdicate the throne on September 29, 1399. Initially, his successor Henry IV, Richard's Uncle, had decreed that Richard could live in exile following his abdication, but his supporters proved that that was simply too dangerous. Richard was likely starved to death as a prisoner in Pontefract Castle in 1400, although the exact date of his death is unknown.

History might have been written very differently if Anne had survived to serve alongside her husband and provide a buffer between the King and his court. But Anne died alongside many others in Europe and Asia as a victim of the Black Death. Anne's Death does not coincide with any of the high-level marks for the Plague in Europe, but the Black Death was not completely eradicated for centuries after it made its appearance in Europe in 1346. In fact, it is believed that the Black Death existed somewhere in Europe every year from 1346 until 1671. And it didn't matter who you were; you were at risk of dying of the disease that decimated Europe during the late Middle Ages.

Disasters tend to level the playing field. It doesn't matter who you are, in the face of a storm or a plague we all stand equal footing as we face of disease or other life-threatening events. It is possible money can get you out of having to go and fight a war, or it can remove you from an afflicted area during the outbreak of disease, but if we have to face the disaster, no one has an advantage.

Zephaniah makes this clear as he begins his prophecy. The disaster that he sees coming is not one that can be minimized by wealth, and it is not one that will only affect the lower classes. No, what is happening is going to affect everyone. The rich and poor, those with status and without, the wise and foolish will fall when God comes in his great anger. And nothing can stop the fire of his wrath.

The disaster that Zephaniah saw coming was likely the Babylonian invasion. And he was right. Even Josiah, who is remembered as an excellent king, much like his great-grandfather Hezekiah, could not stop the coming disaster. Josiah may have delayed the anger of God that was falling on Judah, but absolutely nothing could stop it.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Zephaniah 2