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Introduction to book
We start now into 3 prophets who are focused on Judah.
Zepheniah in the time of a great reform in actions by Josiah, but Judah, much like Israel lacked heart and the reform actions did not take.
So the background:
Zephaniah means “Jehovah hides”
Zephaniah is great-great grandson of Hezekiah (Zep1:1) a great king.
After the great Hezekiah there was
Evil Manasseh
and wicked Ammon
Zephaniah’s message came in days of Josiah, the king of Judah
Josiah reigned from 640-609 B.C.
He was a good king, a good reformer and you can read about that in 2Chr34-35.
His reforms were short-lived, the nation soon returned to apostasy after his death.
Application here: Don’t let your spiritual growth be tied to any one person be rooted in Christ Jesus not some preacher or teacher.
Let the Bible be your focus not a man.
Zephaniah’s message was to Judah and concerning the coming “day of the Lord.”
(Zep1:7)
A day of the Lord is a day of judgment, now just in this book you will see
Day of the Lord 1:7, 8, 14 and 2:2
On that Day 1:10
At that time 1:12
Day of wrath 1:15, 18
You will see in great vividness the descriptions of the day of the Lord.
George Adam Smith stated “No hotter book lies in all the Old Testament.”
Though we will find some hope as it ends with an encouraging note concerning the future blessings.
So, this morning we will take a glance at:
The look within (Zep1:1-2:3)
The look around (Zep2:4-3:7)
The look beyond (Zep3:8-20)
So, now in our normal fashion in our survey of the minor prophets we will read some text.
Pull a few things, look for some current application before moving on.
We will break things down within the sections.
The Look within
If we ever want to identify a problem, truly, we need to start by looking within.
And it was because of what was going on within Judah that this judgment was going to come.
The Lord is bringing the judgment (Zep1:1-6)
Hold on stop here just for a moment, what did the Word of the Lord promise was going to happen (v.2)?
Can you see the totality of the judgment coming against man, beast, birds, fish (v.3)?
Who is bringing this judgment (v.4) and against who?
It is the Lord bringing it against Judah, Jerusalem and the idolatrous priests and the priests.
Wait there is more, those who bow down, those who swear by the Lord yet swear by Milcom (an idol) too.
Those who turned back from the Lord and following the Lord.
Do you know people who once walked with the Lord who have left the faith and returned to the world?
They stopped following, stopped seeking the Lord.
This judgment, day of the Lord is at hand (Zep1:7-18)
This one is a little longer I will read this one
OK, lets stop just for a quick pit stop.
This is going to impact Judah and Jerusalem
Who is the punishment going to be against (v.8-9)?
The princes, the kings son’s all who clothe themselves with foreign garments, those who leap on the temple threshold, whose homes are filled with violence and deceit
Listen, what sounds do you hear (see) in (vv.10-11)?
Sound of a cry, a wail, a loud crash, then there will be a silence
God at about that time will search with lamps (lamps that show the heart of man) and will punish the men.
They will be punished for saying the Lord will not do good or evil (v.12) - - - So they are looking at God as standoffish and not active or not able to do anything.
Not a good place to be.
What can we tell about the day of the Lord when you look at (v.14)?
It is near, it is coming quickly
What do you learn about the day (vv.15-16)?
It is a day of wrath, trouble, distress, destruction, desolation, darkness, gloom, clouds and thick darkness, the sound of the trumpet, the battle cry will sound.
He is going to bring distress, they will walk like blind, their blood will be poured out, flesh like dung (v.17) they cannot buy their way out with their silver and gold.
(v.18)
A call for national repentance is given (Zep2:1-3)
Pay attention to this warning “before the” x 3 in (v.2).
Before the day of the Lord comes.
What are they called to do before the day comes (v.3)?
Seek the Lord, seek righteousness, humility and maybe you will be hidden from the Lord’s anger.
(Transition) so they have been told to look within so they can see, maybe understand, turn and repent when they see within
Look Around
So the problem is found within, judgment is coming within, but it is also going to come around.
Around the surrounding nations.
But then focuses back on Jerusalem.
God’s wrath, judgment on Philistia (vv.4-7)
What will happen to the cities (v.4)
They will be abandon, left in desolation, will be uprooted.
You can see the totality, the severity (v.5-7)
They will be destroyed, there will be no inhabitants
It will be a place for the remnant after the judgment; remnant of Jerusalem (v.7)
God’s wrath, judgment on Moab and Ammon (vv.8-11)
Stop listen closely to the taunting, the reviling in Ammon (v.8)
Can you see God’s judgment in (v.9) what is it compared to?
Sodom and Gomorrah
It will be like a salt pit, a place of perpetual desolation
This too will be a place for the remnant when this is over
(v.10) you see more about the taunting because of they became arrogant against the people of God but they were not alone
God’s wrath, judgment on Ethiopia (v.12)
God’s wrath, judgment on Assyria (vv.13-15)
What is the promised judgment against Assyria and Nineveh it’s capital (v.13-15)
This one maybe a little harder, let me help
Destroy Assyria, make Nineveh a desolation
The desolation will be on the threshold, so that means right before them.
This is because of their arrogance (v.15) it will become the desolation a place for the beasts and everyone will come by and wave in contempt.
Then back to the woe to Jerusalem (Zep3:1-5)
They have rebelled against the Lord (v.1); they did not listen (v.2)
The princes, the judges , the prophets, the priests are like lions, wolves, they are reckless and treacherous, they profane the sanctuary, they have done violence and they have no shame.
One more point, don’t ignore what is going on around you (vv.6-7)
Look at the descriptive words used (v.6)?
Go ahead, pick them out.
Cut off, made ruins, made desolate, laid waste, without inhabitant.
Look at (v.7); there is a call, what is it?
A call to accept instruction, so not to be cut off
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