ZephaniahImpending Judgment

& Distant Hope

A World Ripe for Judgment

• The cruel and wicked Assyrians were the most powerful nation of this era.

• Israel, the Northern Kingdom, fell to Assyria and were judged for their sins.

• Judah was righteous under Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18:3

• God delivered Judah under King Hezekiah from the Assyrians, 2 Kings 18-19

Generations of Sin

• After Hezekiah’s death, Manasseh begins a 55 year reign filled with idolatry, 2 Kings 21:1-9

• v. 9, “… Manasseh led them astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.”

• Amon continues the sin until he is assassinated, 2 Kings 21:22

Guidance for a Young King

• Josiah takes the throne at age 8, 2 Kings 22:1• God sends a kinsman, the great, great

grandson of Hezekiah, to warn the young king.• Zephaniah 1:1 (ESV) The word of the LORD

that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

The Coming of Judgment on Judah

Zephaniah 1:2-6• A judgment of “uncreation,” v. 2-3• The Target: Idolatry in Judah, v. 4-61. The priests2. The idol worshippers3. The “undecided”4. The unfaithful

The Day of the Lord Is Near

Zephaniah 1:7-18• The conquering Babylonian “guests” had been

invited, v. 7• Judgment would come to Jerusalem, v. 8-11• The complacent would perish, v. 12-13• The day was near, v. 14-16• Nothing will save from judgment, v. 17-18

Call to Repentance

Zephaniah 2:1-3• Chapter one was a conditional prophecy!• Judgment could be averted if they acted with

haste, v. 1-2• The wicked would be judged, but the humble

could be “hidden,” v. 3

The Signs of Impending Judgment

Zephaniah 2:4-15• WEST: The Philistine strongholds fall, v. 4-7• EAST: Moab and Ammon fall, v. 8-11• NORTH: Assyria falls, v. 12-15• All of these judgments would be warnings of

the judgment coming on Jerusalem.

From Nineveh to Jerusalem

VISION ONE: If Judah would not repent …Zephaniah 3:1-8• God judges cities that do not trust Him, v. 1-2• God judges rulers who are unjust, v. 3-5• The other nations were a warning that was

not heeded, v. 6-7• So the Lord is coming, v. 8

Hope or Threat?

Zephaniah 3:9-13• God will have a people who speak purely, v. 9• God will have worshippers, v. 10• God will have a humble people, v. 11-12• God will have a just people, v. 13• Is this an offer of hope or a threat?!

A Vision of Restoration

VISION TWO: If Judah would repent …Zephaniah 3:14-20• Songs of joy, v. 14• God will not bring judgment, v. 15• God would dwell among them, v. 16-17• Those that mourn will be comforted, v. 18• God will lift up the fallen, v. 19• God would exalt His people, v. 20

Sing Aloud, O Daughter of Zion!

It is hard to read Zephaniah 3 and not hear New Testament themes.• v. 9, “that all of them may call upon the name

of the Lord and serve him with one accord.”• v. 11, “in my holy mountain”• v. 15, “The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your

midst; you shall never again fear evil.”• v. 17, “The LORD your God is in your midst, a

mighty one who will save;”