Zephaniah 2

July 14, 2024

FBC Baxley

Pm svc

Zephaniah 2

1 Gather together, yes, gather,

O shameless nation,

2 before the decree takes effect

—before the day passes away like chaff—

before there comes upon you

the burning anger of the Lord,

before there comes upon you

the day of the anger of the Lord.

3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land,

who do his just commands;

seek righteousness; seek humility;

perhaps you may be hidden

on the day of the anger of the Lord.

4 For Gaza shall be deserted,

and Ashkelon shall become a desolation;

Ashdod's people shall be driven out at noon,

and Ekron shall be uprooted.

5 Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast,

you nation of the Cherethites!

The word of the Lord is against you,

O Canaan, land of the Philistines;

and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left.

6 And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures,

with meadows for shepherds

and folds for flocks.

7 The seacoast shall become the possession

of the remnant of the house of Judah,

on which they shall graze,

and in the houses of Ashkelon

they shall lie down at evening.

For the Lord their God will be mindful of them

and restore their fortunes.

8 “I have heard the taunts of Moab

and the revilings of the Ammonites,

how they have taunted my people

and made boasts against their territory.

9 Therefore, as I live,” declares the Lord of hosts,

the God of Israel,

“Moab shall become like Sodom,

and the Ammonites like Gomorrah,

a land possessed by nettles and salt pits,

and a waste forever.

The remnant of my people shall plunder them,

and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.”

10 This shall be their lot in return for their pride,

because they taunted and boasted

against the people of the Lord of hosts.

11 The Lord will be awesome against them;

for he will famish all the gods of the earth,

and to him shall bow down,

each in its place,

all the lands of the nations.

12 You also, O Cushites,

shall be slain by my sword.

13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north

and destroy Assyria,

and he will make Nineveh a desolation,

a dry waste like the desert.

14 Herds shall lie down in her midst,

all kinds of beasts;

even the owl and the hedgehog

shall lodge in her capitals;

a voice shall hoot in the window;

devastation will be on the threshold;

for her cedar work will be laid bare.

15 This is the exultant city

that lived securely,

that said in her heart,

“I am, and there is no one else.”

What a desolation she has become,

a lair for wild beasts!

Everyone who passes by her

hisses and shakes his fist.

-Pray

Zephaniah 2: "Seek, Shelter, and Stand"

Introduction

Zephaniah, a minor prophet with a major message, calls Judah to repentance in the face of impending judgment.

Zephaniah 2 is a powerful chapter that urges the people to seek the Lord, find shelter in His righteousness, and stand firm in their faith.

I. Seek the Lord (Zephaniah 2:1-3)

1 Gather together, yes, gather,

O shameless nation,

2 before the decree takes effect

—before the day passes away like chaff—

before there comes upon you

the burning anger of the Lord,

before there comes upon you

the day of the anger of the Lord.

3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land,

who do his just commands;

seek righteousness; seek humility;

perhaps you may be hidden

on the day of the anger of the Lord.

Scriptural Focus:

"Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger" (Zephaniah 2:3).

Original Language:

The Hebrew word for "seek" (בַּקֵּשׁ, baqash) implies a diligent, wholehearted pursuit. It's not a casual glance but an earnest search.

Life Application:

In our lives, seeking the Lord should be our top priority.

This involves daily prayer, studying the Word, and living in obedience. Are we earnestly pursuing God, or is He an afterthought in our busy schedules?

Illustration:

Consider a child playing hide and seek.

The child doesn’t give up easily but searches every nook and cranny. Similarly, our pursuit of God should be relentless and passionate.

II. Shelter in His Righteousness (Zephaniah 2:4-11)

4 For Gaza shall be deserted,

and Ashkelon shall become a desolation;

Ashdod's people shall be driven out at noon,

and Ekron shall be uprooted.

5 Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast,

you nation of the Cherethites!

The word of the Lord is against you,

O Canaan, land of the Philistines;

and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left.

6 And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures,

with meadows for shepherds

and folds for flocks.

7 The seacoast shall become the possession

of the remnant of the house of Judah,

on which they shall graze,

and in the houses of Ashkelon

they shall lie down at evening.

For the Lord their God will be mindful of them

and restore their fortunes.

8 “I have heard the taunts of Moab

and the revilings of the Ammonites,

how they have taunted my people

and made boasts against their territory.

9 Therefore, as I live,” declares the Lord of hosts,

the God of Israel,

“Moab shall become like Sodom,

and the Ammonites like Gomorrah,

a land possessed by nettles and salt pits,

and a waste forever.

The remnant of my people shall plunder them,

and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.”

10 This shall be their lot in return for their pride,

because they taunted and boasted

against the people of the Lord of hosts.

11 The Lord will be awesome against them;

for he will famish all the gods of the earth,

and to him shall bow down,

each in its place,

all the lands of the nations.

Scriptural Focus:

The prophecy against the nations shows the importance of finding shelter in God's righteousness.

"The coast will belong to the remnant of the people of Judah; there they will find pasture.

In the evening they will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon. The LORD their God will care for them; he will restore their fortunes" (Zephaniah 2:7).

Original Language:

The word for "shelter" or "care" (פָּקַד, paqad) carries the sense of attending to or visiting, often with a positive connotation of providing for or protecting.

Life Application:

We are called to find our shelter and security in God's righteousness, not in our own efforts or worldly achievements.

During times of uncertainty and trial, do we run to God as our refuge, or do we rely on our own strength?

Illustration:

Think of a storm shelter during a tornado.

Just as people find safety from the storm in the shelter, we find spiritual safety and peace when we take refuge in God's righteousness.

III. Stand Firm in Faith (Zephaniah 2:12-15)

12 You also, O Cushites,

shall be slain by my sword.

13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north

and destroy Assyria,

and he will make Nineveh a desolation,

a dry waste like the desert.

14 Herds shall lie down in her midst,

all kinds of beasts;

even the owl and the hedgehog

shall lodge in her capitals;

a voice shall hoot in the window;

devastation will be on the threshold;

for her cedar work will be laid bare.

15 This is the exultant city

that lived securely,

that said in her heart,

“I am, and there is no one else.”

What a desolation she has become,

a lair for wild beasts!

Everyone who passes by her

hisses and shakes his fist.

Scriptural Focus:

Zephaniah concludes with a message against Assyria, symbolizing the need to stand firm in the face of opposition.

"This is the city of revelry that lived in safety. She said to herself, 'I am the one! And there is none besides me.' What a ruin she has become, a lair for wild beasts! All who pass by her scoff and shake their fists" (Zephaniah 2:15).

Original Language:

The term "stand firm" (עָמַד, amad) means to remain steadfast, to be established, and not to be moved.

Life Application:

In a world that often opposes Christian values, we are called to stand firm in our faith.

This means holding on to God's promises, living out our beliefs boldly, and not compromising with the culture around us.

Illustration:

Imagine a lighthouse standing tall amidst a fierce storm.

Its light does not waver despite the waves crashing against it. Similarly, our faith should remain steadfast, providing a beacon of hope to those around us.

Conclusion

Zephaniah 2 calls us to 1-seek the Lord diligently, find 2-shelter in His righteousness, and 3-stand firm in our faith.

As we navigate the challenges and uncertainties of life, may we remember these three principles and apply them daily.

-Pray

-Inv.