Laindon Bible Study, 23rd December 2015

Minor prophets and their message

2 - of - 2

A highly relevant prophecy in all ages!

Zephaniah's message (2) 2

Near futurec. 40 years

Day of Judgement/ the LORD Babylon

Distant future>2,600 years

Day of Judgement/ the LORD End Time

Zephaniah

Our first study

Zephaniah's message (2) 3

Background, key theme& key exhortationProphetHis timesHis contemporariesBook overview

A prcis of our first study

Part one

Silence then

crisis! Good King

Josiah

Family relations

Day of the

LORDComfort and

warning

Yah has hidden

Josiah spared wrath

Judge and

saviour

Zephaniah's message (2) 4

Todays second study

Zephaniah's message (2) 5

Further exposition & exhortation3 chapters; 53 verses; 1,617 wordsRelevance in 7th c. BCRelevance in 21st c. AD

The key divisions within the prophecy

Zephaniah's message (2) 6

Judgement Salvation

1 v 1 Introduction

1 v 2 2 v 3 On Judah

2 v 4-15 On nations surrounding Judah

3 v 1-7 On Jerusalem

3 v 8 On nations and kingdoms

3 v 9-13Conversion

3 v 14-20Restoration

Judgement Salvation

1 v 1 Introduction

1 v 2 2 v 3 On Judah

2 v 4-15 On nations surrounding Judah

3 v 1-7 On Jerusalem

3 v 8 On nations and kingdoms

3 v 9-13Conversion

3 v 14-20Restoration

Introduction

Only explanation for four generations = royal connection (Z. = a prince)

Different names (Br-Dr-Br Lexicon): Cushi = their blackness

Gedaliah = Yah(weh) is great

Amariah = Yah(weh) speaks/has promised

Hezekiah = Yah(weh) is my strength

Zephaniah = Yah(weh) has treasured

Zephaniah's message (2) 7

Zephaniah 1 v 1

1 The word of the Lord which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, theson of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

In the day of judgement

The LORD is great

He has promised

To be my strength

And to treasure/hide me

Judgement Salvation

1 v 1 Introduction

1 v 2 2 v 3 On Judah

2 v 4-15 On nations surrounding Judah

3 v 1-7 On Jerusalem

3 v 8 On nations and kingdoms

3 v 9-13Conversion

3 v 14-20Restoration

Judgement on Judah

Words must have pre-dated Josiahs reforms (cp. 2 Kings 23 v 4>)

Clear description of three failings (or groups of people):

Compare teaching of the NT and todays world!Zephaniah's message (2) 8

Zephaniah 1 v 4-6

4 I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; andI will cut off the remnant of Baal [lord, god of the Phoenicians/Canaanites] from this place,and the name of the Chemarims [NKJV, ESV: idolatrous priests] with the priests; 5 And themthat worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swearby the Lord, and that swear by Malcham [great king, god of the Ammonites]; 6 And them thatare turned back from the Lord; and those that have not sought the Lord, nor inquired for him.

Openly idolatrous Mixed allegiances Without God at all

Judgement Salvation

1 v 1 Introduction

1 v 2 2 v 3 On Judah

2 v 4-15 On nations surrounding Judah

3 v 1-7 On Jerusalem

3 v 9-13Conversion

3 v 14-20Restoration

Judgement on Judah

Respectful silence before the Great and Mighty Yahweh

Sanctified guests (i.e. Babylon cp. Isaiah 13 v 3) are invited to the sacrifice/feast, cp. Supper of the great God in Revelation 19 v 17-18

Princes Kings children relevance to both Zephaniah/Josiah

Following verses describe failures (1 v 9), punishment (1 v 10-18), but still with God-given opportunity to change direction (2 v 1-3)

Zephaniah's message (2) 9

Zephaniah 1 v 7-8

7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for theLord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid [consecrated, sanctified] his guests. 8 And it shallcome to pass in the day of the Lord's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king'schildren, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.

Judgement Salvation

1 v 1 Introduction

1 v 2 2 v 3 On Judah

2 v 4-15 On nations surrounding Judah

3 v 1-7 On Jerusalem

3 v 8 On nations and kingdoms

3 v 9-13Conversion

3 v 14-20Restoration

Judgement on surrounding nations

Zephaniah's message (2) 10

Zephaniah 2 v 4-5

4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: theyshall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall berooted up. 5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, thenation of the Cherethites! the word of the Lord is againstyou; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroythee, that there shall be no inhabitant.

Zephaniah 2 v 8

8 I have heard the reproach of Moab,and the revilings of the children ofAmmon, whereby they havereproached my people, and magnifiedthemselves against their border.

Zephaniah 2 v 13

13 And he will stretch out hishand against the north, anddestroy Assyria; and will makeNineveh a desolation, and drylike a wilderness.

Judgement Salvation

1 v 1 Introduction

1 v 2 2 v 3 On Judah

2 v 4-15 On nations surrounding Judah

3 v 1-7 On Jerusalem

3 v 8 On nations and kingdoms

3 v 9-13Conversion

3 v 14-20Restoration

Judgement on surrounding nations

For what wrongdoings were the surrounding nations judged?

2 v 8-10: Moab and Ammon, spared by God (Deut. 2 v 9/19), yet: Reproached Gods people/sanctuary & blasphemed (Ezekiel 25 v 2-11)

2 v 13-15: Assyria, an instrument in Gods hand, yet: Became exalted in pride (Ezekiel 31 v 3-17 esp. v. 10-11 & Isaiah 10 v 12-15)

Zephaniah's message (2) 11

Pride and vanity Ill treatment of Gods people

This shall they have for their pride (2 v 10) they have reproached my people, and magnifiedthemselves against their border. (2 v 8)

This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, thatsaid in her heart, I am, and there is none besideme (2 v 15)

they have reproached and magnified themselvesagainst the people of the Lord of hosts (2 v 10)

Judgement Salvation

1 v 1 Introduction

1 v 2 2 v 3 On Judah

2 v 4-15 On nations surrounding Judah

3 v 1-7 On Jerusalem

3 v 8 On nations and kingdoms

3 v 9-13Conversion

3 v 14-20Restoration

Judgement on Jerusalem

Greater responsibility due to detailed knowledge of Gods ways and requirements (cp. Luke 12 v 48)

Four key failings (verse 2):

Zephaniah's message (2) 12

Zephaniah 3 v 1-4

1 Woe to her that is filthy [NKJV, ESV: rebellious] and polluted, to the oppressing city! 2 Sheobeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew notnear to her God. 3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves;they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. 4 Her prophets are light [Str. to bubble up or froth]and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence tothe law.

Did not obey God Did not receive correction Did not trust God Did not draw near God

Judgement Salvation

1 v 1 Introduction

1 v 2 2 v 3 On Judah

2 v 4-15 On nations surrounding Judah

3 v 1-7 On Jerusalem

3 v 8 On nations and kingdoms

3 v 9-13Conversion

3 v 14-20Restoration

Judgement on nations and kingdoms

Two key words, assemble and gather compare combined use in End Time prophecies within: Ezekiel 39 v 17 assemble yourselves gather yourselves

Joel 3 v 9-14 assemble yourselves gather yourselves

Completeness of Gods fiery judgement is demonstrated upon nations kingdoms earth (cp. 2 Peter 3 v 10)

Zephaniah's message (2) 13

Zephaniah 3 v 8

8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for mydetermination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour uponthem mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with thefire of my jealousy.

Judgement Salvation

1 v 1 Introduction

1 v 2 2 v 3 On Judah

2 v 4-15 On nations surrounding Judah

3 v 1-7 On Jerusalem

3 v 8 On nations and kingdoms

3 v 9-13Conversion

3 v 14-20Restoration

Salvation and conversion

Origin of mixed languages was human pride (building of Babel) and an attempt to go against Gods will (i.e. not replenishing the earth)

Afflicted and poor people cp. those left to tend the land by Babylon (Jeremiah 39 v 9-10) and the saints in prospect (Isaiah 66 v 2)

Zephaniah's message (2) 14

Zephaniah 3 v 9, 11-12

9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name ofthe Lord, to serve him with one consent 11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thydoings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midstof thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holymountain. 12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shalltrust in the name of the Lord .

Judgement Salvation

1 v 1 Introduction

1 v 2 2 v 3 On Judah

2 v 4-15 On nations surrounding Judah

3 v 1-7 On Jerusalem

3 v 8 On nations and kingdoms

3 v 9-13Conversion

3 v 14-20Restoration

Salvation and restoration