STUDIES IN ZEPHANIAH
Notes
Transcript
God’s Plan: Jerusalem, Judah, Gaza, and the Nations
God’s Plan: Jerusalem, Judah, Gaza, and the Nations
ZEPHANIAH 1:1-3, 14-18; 3:8; 3:9-14; Revelation 20:7-21:1
INTRODUCTION: ZEPHANIAH = “he whom Yahweh hides”
Zephaniah lived and ministered during the reign of King Josiah, who ruled over Judah from 640-609 B.C.
Zephaniah’s predictions involved an immediate judgment on Judah carried out by Babylon (605–586 B.C.) and the ultimate judgment of the world at the end of the age (day of the Lord).
Stephen R. Miller
The Minor Prophets are divided into Two Groups: The NINE Pre-exilic prophets, ending with Zephaniah, and the THREE Post-exilic prophets, ending with Malachi. ZEPHANIAH seems to offer a summary of the main prophetic messages that preceded him. God spoke to Judah through him a mere 25 years before the Babylonian captivity began. Thus, his is the final word to the people of God who were about to undergo the purifying judgment of God. God was about to place them into 70 years of captivity in Babylon for their continual rebellion toward Him and His Word, and their rejection of Him as their God.
HOWEVER, in His chastening of His own people, Judah, would ultimately end with the total destruction of the very instrument of His chastening hand. The Gentile world will one day feel the full onslaught of the wrath of God—and for them—there will be no remedy.
THE ULTIMATE JUDGMENT OF GOD BEGINS WITH THE PURIFYING JUDGMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.
For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
“So I will stretch out My hand against Judah And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, And the names of the idolatrous priests along with the priests. “And those who bow down on the housetops to the host of heaven, And those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom, And those who have turned back from following the Lord, And those who have not sought the Lord or inquired of Him.”
2. THE ULTIMATE JUDGMENT OF GOD WILL END WITH THE JUDGMENT OF THE WHOLE EARTH.
Near is the great day of the Lord, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the Lord! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. A day of wrath is that day, A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of trumpet and battle cry Against the fortified cities And the high corner towers. I will bring distress on men So that they will walk like the blind, Because they have sinned against the Lord; And their blood will be poured out like dust And their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to deliver them On the day of the Lord’s wrath; And all the earth will be devoured In the fire of His jealousy, For He will make a complete end, Indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth.
3. THE ULTIMATE JUDGMENT OF GOD WILL ENCOMPASS THE SUBJECTION AND JUDGMENT OF ALL NATIONS TO ISRAEL.
“Therefore wait for Me,” declares the Lord, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.
4. GOD’S ULTIMATE GOAL BEHIND HIS JUDGMENT: PURITY—PEACE—PRAISE: ZEPHANIAH 3:9-14
“For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder. “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, My dispersed ones, Will bring My offerings. “In that day you will feel no shame Because of all your deeds By which you have rebelled against Me; For then I will remove from your midst Your proud, exulting ones, And you will never again be haughty On My holy mountain. “But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people, And they will take refuge in the name of the Lord. “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.” Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
GOD DESIRES FOR US TO CALL UPON HIM WITH PURIFIED LIPS: Vs. 9
GOD DESIRES FOR US TO BE GENUINE IN WORSHIP: Vs. 10
GOD DESIRES FOR US TO WALK BEFORE HIM WITHOUT SHAME: Vs. 11
GOD DESIRES FOR US TO HUMBLY TRUST IN THE HIM: Vs. 12
GOD DESIRES FOR US TO REST: PURITY AND PEACE: Vs. 13
GOD DESIRES OUR JOYFUL PRAISE: Vs. 14