Forecasting the Christ: Restorer

Zephaniah 3:14-20: Restorer

The Messiah will be a restorer

NIV Intro: “Zephaniah focused on the coming ‘day of the Lord that would purge Judah.”

Jehovah Witnesses and the Day of the Lord

December 5=Sinter Klaus Day

Zephaniah: Son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah

He may have come from Cushi, but his message isn’t!

When it was written was important:

Josaiah recovered the Law in 622BC. Mass religious reformation.

Almost completely devoid of hope! But then there’s this nugget. This something, this incredible moment of hope!

“God with us”: Immanuel

Don’t be fooled...

Book about the Day of the Lord:

Words of Hope??

2:3  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.

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.

Prophecies against:

Cushites, Assyria (Nineveh), Moabites, Ammonites

Announcement:

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1. Raleigh Rescue Mission’s Amazon Shopping Page: https://smile.amazon.com/hz/charitylist/ls/1ZYHU0JRMWZDB/ref=smi_cl_wl_rd_cl.

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3. Dorcas Ministries (Cary): https://dorcascary.org/ways-to-help-amid-covid-19/

4. Western Wake Crisis Ministry (Apex): http://wwcm.org/covid19/

5. Fuquay-Varina Emergency Food Pantry: http://www.fvfoodpantry.com/about/

Excel Kids!

Introduction:

“Can’t judge a book by it’s cover”

Title: “A Joyful Future” Picture of dogs jumping in front of a Christmas Tree

Open it up and it’s filled with story upon story about puppies dying on Christmas Day.

A Joyful Future: How to spot your Joy when Spot is Gone

Pretty depressing right?

After reading these verses from Zephaniah, you may question, “Why don’t we preach more from this book?

Well, here’s why?

The ESV translated the entirety of Zephaniah into 1640 words.

It’s three chapters

Besides a short intro and verse 7 of chapter 2, Zephaniah is made up of prophecy describing destruction to like, everybody!

22% of this book is non-judgmental, and 13% of that 22% is our passage! So not a lot of joy outside these verses...

But what these verses do give is such powerful pros of hope that they offset all the grief before…

Don’t have any points this morning… Just gunna have to follow along because the thought pattern just goes and so you have to pay attention to keep up...

King Josiah and the Day of the Lord

Zephaniah: Son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah (Jewish royalty)

He may have come from Cushi, but his message isn’t!

When?

Josiah recovered the Law in 622BC. Mass religious reformation.

Restoring the Temple, Hilkiah the priest discovered the Book of the Law

One of the most important King in Israel’s history

II Kings 23:25: Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.

So it was during this amazing religious reform that Zephaniah steps into the scene...

Things are going so well, why bring such a message of destruction?

Maybe because Josiah recognized a true prophet??

During this time of spiritual revival that Zephaniah brings a message that is almost absolved of any hope.

Major Theme: Day of the Lord

Zeph 2:2: The Day of the Lord’s Anger

Zeph 1:2-3: “I will utterly sweep away everything

from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord.

“I will sweep away man and beast;

I will sweep away the birds of the heavens

and the fish of the sea,

and the rubble with the wicked.

I will cut off mankind

from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord.

On the day of the Lord:

13  Their goods shall be plundered,

and their houses laid waste.

Though they build houses,

they shall not inhabit them;

though they plant vineyards,

they shall not drink wine from them.”

Describing the Day of the Lord:

15  A day of wrath is that day,

a day of distress and anguish,

a day of ruin and devastation,

a day of darkness and gloom,

a day of clouds and thick darkness,

Don’t want to pay attention...

LALALALALALALALALALALALALAL

Urgency for evangelism and witness to one

How hopeful is it that God will be saving a remnant!!

Review:

Zeph= Day of the Lord theme WHILE everything was going sort of well in Israel

Day of the LORD=future

Praise and Joy!

v.16-17: On that day: Second Person Singular

Fear not, O Zion, let not your hands grow weak

The Lord is in your midst, a mighty one who will save

He will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet over you with gladness;

He will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Destruction has passed, and now we have a time of peace:

No fear...

Hands grow weak: Don’t feel defeated

He will rejoice over you… He will quiet over you

Time of destruction: Over. Time of defeat: Over.

God Warrior who destroyed all imperfection!

Now this caring compassionate, quiet, and dodding father.

Sort of after the Mandalorian destroys a bunch of bad guys, he quietly attends to the needs of baby Yoda.

He rejoices over you, and he will quiet over you...

He will quiet you by his love

He will exult over you with loud singing! This is where the Mandolorian illustration breaks down. He won’t be singing anytime soon.

But our God will! He will take the remnant— the rest and sing over them!

Rest there for a moment:

Have you ever thought about God singing over you?

Almighty God, WARRIOR KING, coming down, holding you, and singing over you...

beautifully intimate picture, almost makes embarrassed to think about...

A few years ago some people found out that Klaas and I would go around and serenade people...

They like being made special but they don’t like getting all that attention...

But here we have our God singing over you. Why? Because he loves you? He quiets you with his love… He brags about you through song…

Can you see God doing that for you? Have you ever felt quieted by his love??

Things get even more personal...

vs. 18-20: God’s Promises: First Person Singular

v. 19: At that time:

I will deal with our enemies

I will save the lame

I will Gather the outcast

I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth

v. 20: At that time:

I will bring you in

I will gather you together

Renown and praised among the peoples of the earth

Restore your fortunes before your eyes.

All the destruction is history, and God is restoring all things new:

Restoring earth…

Earth will be redeemed. We will have a new earth to travel through and enjoy all the new foods the new soil will produce!

God will restore our bodies!

My friend Mike… How much will his body be restored??

Restoring tragic loss

Mike was able to feel pain in his feet

“God answers miracles!”

Mom who just lost her 42 year-old daughter and mother of 3

The vision painted for us here goes beyond what we experience today—

The joy described in this passage is one awaiting all those who wait for the coming of the Christ!

And when that day comes:

14  Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;

shout, O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem!