Major Messages from the Minor Prophets

The Prophecy of Zephaniah

“There’s a Great Day Coming!”

Zephaniah the Prophet

• Contemporary with Nahum and Habakkuk

• Great-great-grandson of Hezekiah

• Lived and prophesied during the days of Josiah

Background of Zephaniah’s Prophecy

Zephaniah’s Message to Israel

• Look Within—1:1-2:3• Look Around—2:4-3:7• Look Beyond—3:8-4:20

God’s Judgment of Israel

• “I will completely remove all things from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord. I will remove man and beast; I will remove the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and the ruins along with the wicked; and I will cut off man from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord. (Zephaniah 1:2-3)

• So I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (Zephaniah 1:4a)

• Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the tyrannical city! She heeded no voice; She accepted no instruction. She did not trust in the Lord; She did not draw near to her God. (Zephaniah 3:1-2)

God’s Judgment of Israel’s Neighbors

• God would judge Phillistia, Moab & Ammon, Cush and Assyria

• These pagan nations would also come under God’s judgment for sins of cruelty, pride, and animosity toward the people of God.

God’s Salvation of the Faithful

• Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger. (Zephaniah 2:3)

• “For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him shoulder to shoulder. (Zephaniah 3:9)

Zephaniah’s Message for Our Time

A powerful vision of God’s nature

• We see God’s wrath against sinners; we see God’s great love for the righteous.

• “Behold the goodness and severity of God” (Rom. 11:22).

An insightful view into God’s purpose

• God will justly punish the evil doer & will graciously hide the righteous and deliver them from judgment.

• But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people

• ought you to be in holy conduct and

godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:10-13)

A beautiful description of God’s people

• Devoted to the Lord and united in spirit (v. 9)

• Gathered together to make offerings to God (v. 10)

• Repentant and forgiven of sin (v. 11)• Humble and dependent upon God (v. 12)

• Morally pure and spiritually secure (v. 13)• Full of joy and peace (v. 14-15)• Courageous and strong (v. 16)• A people over whom the Lord rejoices and

among whom he dwells (v. 17)• A people whom the Lord gathers to

Himself and gives His glory (v. 18-20)

“There’s a great day coming!”