God's Day of Wrath
God’s Day of Wrath
Zephaniah 1:1 – 3:20
FPBC November 27 2005 [PM]
Introduction:
Introduction to Zephaniah 1:1
The Man
· Great, great grandson of King Hezekiah
· Cousin to King Josiah
· Native of Jerusalem, being of royal blood
· Name means “hid of the Lord”
His times
· During reign of King Josiah
· Prior to revival and cleansing of temple
o Thought by many that Zephaniah’s words may have prompted that revival
· Assyrians were weakening
· After Nahum, contemporary with Habakkuk, just prior to Jeremiah’s time
His style
· Symbolic
o “The Day of the Lord” used app. 20x
o Paints a clearer picture of the Day of the Lord than any other prophet.
o Zephaniah = the “prophet of global judgment”
Coming Judgment 1:2 - 13
Judgment on the whole earth 1:2, 3
· Complete devastation
o Land, sea, air, man, animals, birds, fish.
o Not limited to one nation
Judgment on Judah 1:4 – 13
· Idolatry of Judah 1:4 – 6
o Jews were incorporating false religious systems into their worship of Jehovah.
o Baal worship from Canaanites
§ God of lightning and storm; immoral fertility rites
§ Chemarims (KJV v5) were priests appointed by king to serve Baal
o Star worship from Babylonians
§ Introduced by Manasseh 2 Kings 21:3, 5
o Molech worship from Ammonites
§ Outstretched arms over which a grate was placed and human burnt offerings offered.
o Religious indifference
§ Some had not turned to idols, but they had not turned to God, either. Practical atheists.
· Social evils of Judah 1:7 – 13
o The “near Day of the Lord” = Babylonian captivity
o Judah = sacrifice enjoyed by the Babylonians
o Princes (Zephaniah was one) were proud and sinful in their ways.
o Rich were rushing to take advantage of others
o Merchants in the marketplace (Maktesh) would be cut down
o A thorough search and judgment of those complacent and satisfied with their conditions.
The Day of the Lord 1:14 – 2:3
Description 1:14 – 18
· Great Day of the Lord (refers to Tribulation)
o Day of wrath
o Day of trouble & distress
o Day of devastation & desolation
o Day of darkness & gloominess
o Day of clouds & darkness
o Day of alarm & distress
o Day of disorientation & devastation
o Day of economic ruin
Call to repentance 2:1 – 3
· Repent before judgment falls!
o Seek the Lord, seek righteousness, seek meekness!
o True repentance might bring a refuge from God’s judgment
Judgment on Nations 2:4 – 3:7
Philistines 2:4 – 7
· Warlike Greeks settling in area prior to Abraham
o 5 chief cities (Gath is not named)
o Promise of Philistines judgment also brings a promise to Israel of restoration
Moabites and Ammonites 2:8 – 11
· Descended from Lot’s daughters
o Because of their pride their land would become a wilderness, a place of wild thorns
Ethiopians 2:12
· Not much said, other than they would be judged
Assyrians 2:13 – 15
· Nineveh would fall and become a place inhabited by wild animals
o Pride again the major reason for judgment
Judah 3:1 – 7
· Punished for disobedience and mistrust
· Punished for evil leaders
· Punished for not learning from the judgment of the other nations! 3:5 - 7
Faithfulness 3:8 – 20
A faithful remnant 3:8 – 13
· Even in the midst of judgment and punishment, sin would be removed from a remnant’s life
o These will be preserved and restored!
A faithful Redeemer 3:14 – 20
· The promise of deliverance and joy
o Fulfilled in the Millennium!
Conclusion