Preaching / Teaching [Zephaniah 3:14-20]

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One day God will rule over all the earth. That day may not be today, we learn from the Prophet Zephaniah. But the dark times will eventually end. God will judge all and He will rule rightly, goodness will be here on earth once again. Zephaniah also expects a response. From the people of his day to us. We are to be humble. We are to seek rightly before God. We are to seek God Himself. The great good news today is the One who's birth is promised by prophets will be called Emmanuel, which means God with us, indeed, He is and His presence turns our grief into joy.

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A Call To Rejoice - vv.14-15

who is involved?

What happened?

The judgments against God’s people are removed and the enemies that threaten them are overcome. This prophecy finds final fulfillment in our Lord Jesus Christ, who satisfied God’s judgment against sin and overcame the enemies of God through His death on the cross [; ]

what was taught?

Christ bore the sins of the world on the cross and as a result, our hearts are over-taken by joy.

who is involved?

When, where, how did it happen?

God’s People Encouraged - vv.16-17

God chose to enter into the world in human form and offer a new form of relationship. God is indeed in our midst and we celebrate this because we no longer have to fear and can live in the full knowledge of God's love for us.

The promise of God’s dwelling in the midst of His people points to Lord who is , King of Israel [; and incarnate glory of God [; ]

The assurance that God is 'in their midst' repeated twice is the guarantee that all will be well and the twice repeated phrase that they will 'fear no more' is a consequence of God in their midst.

God chose to enter into the world in human form and offer a new form of relationship. God is indeed in our midst and we celebrate this because we no longer have to fear and can live in the full knowledge of God's love for us.

God has taken away their judgements so Christians believe that God in Christ bore the sins of the world on the cross

God Affirms His Sovereignty - vv.18-20

The structure of vv.19-20 give an incredible hope which is based on God's unconditional love for his people. At a time when the people were feeling hopeless, maybe in the time of exile, it announces they have suffered enough and judgement is finished. God will be in their midst and all will be well.

God has taken away their judgements so Christians believe that God in Christ bore the sins of the world on the cross God Affirms His Sovereignty - vv.18-20

God Affirms His Sovereignty - vv.18-20

God acted not because we deserved it, but out of love chose to come into the world in a human form of a babe.

The Great News To Come - Jesus Christ

The psalmist says, "Weeping remains for the night, but joy comes in the morning." Nehemiah said, "The joy of the Lord is our strength."

Isaiah said, "Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing into Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."

That's not just wishful thinking! That's the Gospel truth!

Why did it happen?

who is involved?

Author: Zephaniah [prophet] = “Defended by God” - ]

“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the people of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the LORD.” -

Rejoice and exult with all your heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem!

The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;

he has cleared away your enemies.

The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;

you shall never again fear evil.

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

“Fear not, O Zion;

let not your hands grow weak.

The Lord your God is in your midst,

a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness;

he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,

so that you will no longer suffer reproach.

Behold, at that time I will deal

with all your oppressors.

And I will save the lame

Who is involved?

and gather the outcast,

and I will change their shame into praise

and renown in all the earth.

At that time I will bring you in,

at the time when I gather you together;

for I will make you renowned and praised

among all the peoples of the earth,

when I restore your fortunes

before your eyes,” says the Lord.

Who is involved? Judah and the surrounding Nations

What happened? God’s people have gone astray

What was taught? God is a pursuing God. A God who turns our lives up-side-down. He turns darkness into light and sorrow into joy.

When, where, how did it happen? This happened during the reign of King Josiah, likely between 635 - 625 B.C.

Why did it happen?

God’s just wrath is certain unless there is repentance and only then can there be hope and restoration.

Zephaniah's message of judgment and encouragement - Three major doctrines:

1. God is sovereign over all nations

The wicked will be punished and the righteous will be vindicated on the day of judgment

2. The wicked will be punished and the righteous will be vindicated on the day of judgment

God blesses those who repent and trust in Him

3. God blesses those who repent and trust in Him

Foreshadowings: The final blessings on Zion pronounced in 3:14-20 are largely unfulfilled, leading us to conclude that these are messianic prophecies that await the Second Coming of Christ to be completed. The Lord has taken away our punishment only through Christ who came to die for the sins of His people (; ). But Israel has not yet recognized her true Savior. This is yet to happen ().

The promise of peace and safety for Israel, a time when their King is in their midst, will be fulfilled when Christ returns to judge the world and redeem it for Himself. Just as He ascended to heaven after His resurrection, so will He return and set up a new Jerusalem on earth (). At that time, all God’s promises to Israel will be fulfilled.

Practical Application: With a few adjustments in names and situations, this prophet of 7th century B.C. could stand in our pulpits today and deliver the same message of judgment of the wicked and hope for the faithful. Zephaniah reminds us that God is offended by the moral and religious sins of His people. God's people will not escape punishment when they sin willfully. Punishment may be painful, but its purpose may be redemptive rather than punitive. The inevitability of the punishment of wickedness gives comfort in a time when it seems that evil is unbridled and victorious. We have the freedom to disobey God but not the freedom to escape the consequences of that disobedience. Those who are faithful to God may be relatively few, but He does not forget them

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