Zephaniah: Hope through Divine Justice

Who is Zephaniah?

Who is Zephaniah?

Zephaniah is a jewish prophet you’ve probably never read, or if you have, you’ve forgotten about it.

When is he prophesying?

King Josiah (see v1) Great grandson of Hezekiah… But grandson of Manasseh a bad guy, and son of Amon a bad guy

7th Century BC…

Around the same time as Jeremiah — before the people of God are exiled.

What is he trying to do?

Remember what happened during Josiah’s reign? What did he find…?

— Scroll of the book of the law. Read about it in 2 Kings 22 and 23

And from there, reform. Destroying idols, cleansing the Temple etc.

But eventually, Josiah dies in battle, and the nation is too far gone. (top down reform)

Zephaniah is trying to warn Judah — your world is about to end… if you don’t change.

The Day of the Lord is coming.

It’s a message of Hope, through Divine Justice.

The Message: Divine Justice

A little more on the message:

Chapter 1: Judgment on Judah: You’re world is about to end. Work your way through the passage. Including initial reversal of Creation.

Highlight Idolatry and syncretism (v4-9)

Molech

Dagon (superstition)

Highlight Apathy (v12)

Chapter 2: Judgement on the world: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, Canaan, Moab and Ammon, Cush, Assyria .. the known world, even the great powers will become uninhabited

Bring attention to the reasons

- insulting God’s people in v8 - The pride of Assyria in v15

A pride that led to violent behaviour (and bizarre worship) and the attempt to dethrone God.

Result: Destroyed, wiped out. Hard to hear… but

Illustration: Star Wars.

When the death star was destroyed it was a time of great sorrow and yet great hope.

Note the hope in chapter 2 e.g. vv7 and 9 … and even 11

Zephaniah speaks of such destruction as could be understood in the world of the time, but Jesus amplifies the prophetic word to bring on it’s fuller meaning — all the world will some day come into judgement —

The Day of the Lord.

How should we respond?

The Required Response

Seek the Lord

Seek Righteousness

Seek Humility

Zephaniah 2:1–3 NIV

Gather together, gather yourselves together, you shameful nation, before the decree takes effect and that day passes like windblown chaff, before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you. 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.

Our response is the same as Zephaniah was urging from the ancient Jewish people.

Praise the Lord, even as the Day of the Lord will come — it has already come.

And this is what we proclaim.

Hope, through Divine Justice.

(highlight “Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day…”) How?

What’s Zephaniah all about? Hope through Divine Justice.

It’s a call and a warning — God will turn this world upside down in judgement, it’s up to us to heed the call and be sheltered from the coming Day, in what Christ has done — and be purely devoted to Him.