Zephaniah

Prior to today and possibly reading it ahead of time, how many of you have read the book of Zephaniah?

Read the Passage:

Book of Zephaniah.

OR

Read Verse 1 then camp out on the context then read the rest of the book in light of the context.

Immediate Context:

Who is the prophet? What do we know about him from his writing or other mentions in Scripture?

Author is Zephaniah (1:1)

Lexham Bible Dictionary:

The Lexham Bible Dictionary The Name Zephaniah

The name Zephaniah (צְפַנְיָה, tsephanyah) comes from the Hebrew word meaning “to conceal, hide, treasure” (צפן, tspn), which is used in the Old Testament in reference to Yahweh’s treasured ones whom He protects (Pss 27:5; 31:21; 83:4) as well as the city of Jerusalem (Ezek 7:22). Proposed translations for the name Zephaniah (צְפַנְיָה, tsephanyah) include “the Lord hides” or “the person hidden or sheltered by the Lord” (Feinberg, Minor Prophets, 221).

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Zephaniah the Person

Williams argues that Zephaniah was likely a contemporary of Jeremiah who witnessed the events that reshaped the political life of the Fertile Crescent in the late seventh and early sixth centuries, when Josiah’s reforms took place (640–09 BC; see 2 Kgs 22–23; 2 Chr 34–36; Williams, “Date of Zephaniah,” 179). Since Josiah’s reforms largely aimed at the transformation, renewal, purification, and unification of all Israel under the Davidic covenant, the book of Zephaniah serves as a model of prophetic behavior that champions and supports the call to covenantal faith and worship of Yahweh alone.

In verse 1 we see Zephaniah trace his lineage back to King Hezekiah. That is a unique characteristic as a prophet, to be a descendant of royal blood, so to speak.

The book starts and ends with claiming that this is indeed the Word of God.

Verse 1 starts the book off with “The word of the Lord” and Verse 20 of Chapter 3 ends the book with “says the Lord”.

Zephaniah uses simple language throughout this prophetic book.

Who is he addressing? 

Judah (1:4)

Inhabitants of Jerusalem (1:4)

All the earth (1:18)

Historical:

Time is during the days of Josiah, king of Judah (1:1)

Does anybody in here know anything about King Josiah? Was he a good ruler or a bad ruler?

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Zephaniah’s Ancestry

Hays notes that the Cushites, who ruled Egypt from 715–663 BC, had a good commercial and political relationship with the Judaeans and a strong presence in Palestine during the time of Zephaniah’s prophetic activities (Hays, From Every People, 121–22). He thus concludes that “historical evidence weighs heavily in favour of the view that the name Cushi is connected in some sense to the historical Cushites of the seventh century BC” (Hays, From Every People, 123)

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Zephaniah’s Ancestry

He concludes that, ultimately, Zephaniah’s relevance lies more on his theological message than on his town of origin (Vlaardingerbroek, Zephaniah, 12).

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Date, Setting, and Authorship

Zephaniah also prophesied the fall of the Assyrian city of Nineveh, which occurred in 612 BC (Zeph 2:13–15).

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Date, Setting, and Authorship

Zephaniah was a prophetic contemporary of Jeremiah, Nahum, and Habakkuk.

Zephaniah is the last minor prophet book to be written before exile.

After Hezekiah’s righteous rule, his son Manasseh and grandson Amon were wicked rulers in Judah. That wickedness had a result early on in the rule of Josiah (2 Kings 23:4 “Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second order and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel.” ) and a long term effect on the people of Judah spiritually. Hilkiah the High Priest found the book of the law in 2 Kings 22:8 “Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it.” 2 Kings 23 shows the reforms Josiah brought to Judah after reading it.

It was during this transition from wickedness to repentance that Zephaniah was a prophet during.

Biblical:

READ 2 Kings 22:1-24:14. Why read all of this? So that we can put ourselves into the situation and so that we can have a greater understanding of what was going on then and there.

Obviously, that was a long passage that we just read. But it helps us understand what was going on during the time in which Zephaniah live and God spoke through him. Would anyone like to summarize what we just read?

-The people are wicked, but ignorant of the law. They find the law and King Josiah leads a reform. God promises not to judge him or his people during his reign even though they deserve it because they repented. After Josiah’s reign, God sends His people into exile as the just punishment for their sins.

[1:1

2 Kings 22:1-23:30 possibly read all the way to 24:16 and only read this large section to get the historical context.

1:3

Ezekiel 14:3 ““Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be consulted by them at all?”

1:4

2 Kings 23:5 “He did away with the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah and in the surrounding area of Jerusalem, also those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and to the moon and to the constellations and to all the host of heaven.”

1:5

2 Kings 21: 3 “For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.”

2 Kings 21:5 “For he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.”

2 Kings 21: 21 “For he walked in all the way that his father had walked, and served the idols that his father had served and worshiped them.”

2 Cor 6:15 “Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?”

1 Kings 11:5 “For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites.”

—Milcom was the chief god worshipped by the Ammonites through human sacrifice. ]

STEP 1B. Outline the author’s organization of this passage to show its structure: (i) create an outline with verse numbers, (ii) state how you identified this structure, and (iii) list the things this structure emphasizes.

We can identify an outline to the book of Zephaniah by paying attention to some repeated phrases. By reading and re-reading the text you will be able to identify some patterns. For this book it was the following book ends/inclusio:

Zeph 1:2 ““I will completely remove all things From the face of the earth,” declares the Lord.”

and Zeph 3:8 ““ For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.”

I. 1-3:8 Judgment

A. Judgment towards everyone (1:2-3; 2:4-15)

B. Judgment towards Judah

(1:4-2:3)

II. 3:9-20: Joy

A. For Outsiders

B. For Insiders

This structure emphasizes the 2 fold nature of the main theme of the text, the day of the Lord. The 2 fold nature includes both judgment towards God’s enemies and blessings towards God’s people.

(Ask: )What are the indictment(s) made against the people?

The chief indictment against the people is idolatry.

Idolatry

1:4 mentioning Baal and idolatrous priests

1:5 mentions a variety of idol worship

1:12 Mocking God

2:10: Pride and Arrogance

2:15 Claiming what only God can

3:2 not accepting instruction nor trusting in the Lord.

3:4 Doing violence to the law

(Ask )What are the judgments threatened if they will not repent?

Zeph 1:2 ““I will completely remove all things From the face of the earth,” declares the Lord.”

What is/are the call(s) to repentance to the people?

Zeph 2:3 “Seek the Lord, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. ”

(Ask) What are the promises if the people will repent?

The End of Zeph 2:3 “Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of the Lord’s anger.”

(Ask) What themes are repeated in other accounts?

The Day of the Lord

—Important to talk about since the book mentions it so often. Also mention how it is both blessing and cursing. Cursing to God’s enemies and blessings to God’s people.

https://bible.org/article/basic-introduction-day-lord-old-testament-writing-prophets

“The occasion of God’s final intervention in human affairs to punish sin, restore the faithful of his people and establish his rule over the nations. It is linked with the Messianic hope and will be fulfilled at Jesus Christ’s return.” -Logos Fact book

See the topic guide for day of the lord too!

The Remnant of Israel

Does Jesus or the NT authors quote or reference the prophet?

Zeph 3:13 ““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.””

is quoted in Rev 14:5 “And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.”

STEP 2A. the theme of the text: state the topic the author is talking about. (Maybe even pose this as a question)

God is righteous and just to destroy the whole earth in His anger but He will save a remnant.

STEP 2B. the aim of the text: state what the author wants his original audience to do, believe, etc. (Maybe pose this as a question)

Zeph 2:3 “Seek the Lord, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of the Lord’s anger.”

STEP 3. Combine the theme and aim into the central proposition of this passage: use one complete sentence. (Pose as a question)

Since God’s day of judgment is coming, you need to seek Him so that you may be hidden as part of the remnant whom he shall save, in the day of His anger.

STEP 4. Identify connections in this passage to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

( Ask) How do we see the storyline of Scripture represented in this account?

We see the storyline of scripture very clearly.

Man through his wicked works has stored up God’s just Wrath.

Since God is holy, righteous and just, He must punish sinners.

If we repent of our sins and trust in Christ, that punishment which we deserve falls on Christ, rather than us.

For those who reject God’s kind offer of salvation in Christ, they will be judged eternally.

Jesus satisfied the wrath of God

Jesus made salvation not only possible but actual for believers.

He didn’t do all the sins spoken against in Zephaniah. He had no deeds to feel ashamed of. He did no wrong. He told no lies.

He has taken away God’s righteous judgments against us.

He is the king of Israel.

He is the Lord

He was and will be in our midst. (Jn 1:1,14)

Because of Him, we need not fear any disaster. (Jn 16:33 ““These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”” )

He is the victorious warrior. (Rev 19:11-16 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”” )

STEP 5. In light of these connections to Christ, state the central proposition of the passage from STEP 3 in terms for your audience.

Since God’s day of judgment is coming, we need to seek Him by repenting of our sins and trusting in Christ alone for our salvation so that we may be hidden as part of the remnant whom he shall save, in the day of His anger and so we shall experience His blessing.

STEP 6. State the applications you would make to your audience from this passage.

For those in this room who are not Christians, seek God that you may live. Repent of your sins and trust in Christ alone for your salvation from His just wrath.

For those who are Christians, let this book be a grave reminder of the seriousness of sin. That we as believers need to take sin seriously, because God does. Let’s examine our own hearts and ensure that we are not worshipping idols. That we are not combining our worship of the one true God with any false gods of this world. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any unconfessed sin in your life, then acknowledge it to God, repent of it, and thank God for His forgiveness. May we all take living a life for God seriously. That we may all aim to please an audience of one, namely the Lord Jesus Christ. We do so as a result of our justification, not as a means of attaining justification with God. We aim to live a godly life so that we may please the God who has been so kind to save us. Also as a way to prepare for the day of Christ’s second coming, that we may be ready for it, live in light of it, and one day hear “well done, good and faithful servant”.

I would like to close our time tonight by reading part of Psalm 148 because in it we see what the things of this world ought to make us do, that is worship and praise our wonderful creator, rather than worship the creation as was spoken against in Zephaniah.

Psalm 148:1-6 “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light! Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created. He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away.”