THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH

INTRODUCTION:

1.AUTHOR: 1:1, Zephaniah was of the royal line. He traces his lineage back to his great-great-grandfather Hezekiah, who was King of Judah.

2.DATE: 1:1, About 626 BC; Contemporary with Jeremiah - Jer 1:2.

3.He prophesied to Pre-Exile Judah. He was one of the last prophets before the Babylonian Captivity.

4.CONTEXT: 2Kg 22:1-23:32; 2Ch 34-35.

5.THEME: THE DAY OF THE LORD -- Note that ZEPHANIAH uses this phrase numerous times.

a.THE DAY OF THE LORD is the day when God’s patience has run out, and He takes up the sword of swift fiery judgment upon a sinning world.

b.Although judgment is associated with THE DAY OF THE LORD, the BOOK ends with the song of salvation and joy.

6.Judah’s religion and morality were at a low point at this time.

a.After the evil reign of Manasseh, Josiah’s reforms were too little and
too late - cf Jer 3:6,10-11; The people were not truly converted.

b.They quickly reverted to idolatry (hearts were not reformed), became corrupt in life, and the time was ripe for judgment.

7.This is a book of fierce warnings about coming darkness because of the people’s sin.

1.LOOK WITHIN! -- JUDGMENT COMING
ON JUDAH -- 1:2-2:3.

A.UNIVERSAL JUDGMENT, 1:2-3.

1.This was to be world judgment, including all creatures (the
animal creation was affected by man’s sin - Jer 12:4; Hos 4:1-3; Joel 1:18).

2.The statement is a prelude to the pronouncement of judgment upon Judah.

B.JUDGMENT UPON JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, 1:4-18.

Verse 4, The BOOK now zeroes in on judgment of Judah (CHEMARIM: Idolatrous priests of Baalim -- Sin still remained in the people’s hearts); Babylonian invasion and Judah’s captivity was to come in twenty years.

Verse 5, Two kinds of idolatry had polluted the land and the
true worship.

a.HOST OF HEAVEN: Sun and star worship had been forbidden. On this point see Deu 4:16-19.

b.MALCHAM: Moloch, a king amid idol deities - cf Lev 18:21.

Verse 6, Some had backslidden; Some had never been interested.

Verse 7, A call for reverence.

a.Quiet reverence before God - cf Hab 2:20.

b.The day of judgment was near (Nebuchadnezzar would soon come upon them).

Verse 8, Royalty was responsible for the tragedy; They were clothed with alliances and trade with foreigners; Were guilty of the sin of loss of distinction. (Can Christians be guilty of the same sin?)

Verse 9, Perhaps a proverbial way of describing burglars; Thieves had stolen the glory which was due God and had given it to idols; They were violent toward God’s people.

Verses 10-11, DAY OF THE LORD would (and will) bring punishment to dishonest merchants.

Verses 12-13, The wealthy and self-sufficient, and the indifferent, would find an end to their prosperity, and the beginning of depression.

Verses 14-18, The terrible judgment was imminent.

Verses 14-15, The DAY OF THE LORD would be a dreary, dreadful day of dark desolation and despair.

Verses 16-17, A day of fear and judgment “BECAUSE they have sinned against the LORD.”

Verse 18, No deliverance from idols; Gold and silver Deities were powerless to help them.

C.APPEAL TO JUDAH, 2:1-3; Judgment was sure to come on
wicked nations, but God appealed to Judah to repent while there was still time.

2.LOOK AROUND! -- JUDGMENT UPON
SURROUNDING NATIONS -- 2:4-3:8.

A.Zephaniah looked in all four directions around Judah.

Verses 4-7, He turned West to Philistia and the Philistines; No nation would escape; After judgment, salvation would come.

Verses 8-11, Then he turned East to Moab and Ammon; Perpetual desolation would be the reward for pride and idolatry.

Verse 12, Next he turned South to Ethiopia.

Verses 13-15, Then he turned North to Nineveh and Assyria; Powerful nations would be brought to nothing.

B.JUDGMENT UPON JERUSALEM, 3:1-8.

Verses 1-2, Then Zephaniah turned back to focus on Jerusalem, which was full of rebellion and irreverence.

Verses 3-4, Those responsible for this sad condition were princes, judges, prophets, and priests.

Verses 5-8, This is a reminder to Judah of God’s Sovereignty; And that they had privileges above other nations, therefore if other nations were to be judged, THEY (Judah) certainly would be brought to judgment.

3.LOOK BEYOND! -- AFTER WRATH, HEALING -- 3:9-20.

A.CLEANSING OF THE NATIONS, 3:9-10.

1.Here the tone of the BOOK changes to BLESSING (the other aspect of THE DAY OF THE LORD).

2.Nations were cleansed; Judgments were removed after they
had served their purpose; Gentiles were to call on the name of
the Lord.

3.Zephaniah looks to the gathering of the remnant from all
nations into the Messiah’s kingdom - Isa 2:2-4; Mic 4:1-3;
Ac 2:16-17,38-39.

a.PURE LANGUAGE: No longer were their lips to be profaned by the worship of idols; They now could CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD, they could think and speak TRUTH.

b.ONE CONSENT (Accord): They could be united in the same objective - Rom 15:6.

B.RESTORATION OF ISRAEL, 3:11-20 (Here are both physical and spiritual overtones).

Verse 11, Changed behavior: SHAME would be gone because its root (transgression, pride, haughtiness) would be removed; Sins would be forgiven (HOLY MOUNTAIN: New order, God’s spiritual city - Heb 12:22-23).

Verse 12, Pride would give way to humility, which would bring strength in the Lord (The change in Christians includes a change in attitude - cf Mt 5:3; Eph 6:10).

Verse 13, There would be no more lawlessness, no more lies of idolatry, no more deceiving others (They would FEED on the Word, and rest in the security of God’s Divine protection. So should we - Heb 13:5-6).

Verses 14-20, New Israel would be comforted and exalted to honor, See Rom 2:28-29.

Verse 14, Evil would be gone; The redeemed would sing in joy,
Note 1Pe 1:8.

Verses 15-17, God has pleasure in our midst through Christ -
Rev 1:20-2:1; 2Co 6:17-18.

Verses 18-20, This is a beautiful picture of the saved, the strong, and the secure. Their Afflictions would be gone; There would be joy and singing in earth and in Heaven - Phi 4:4; Lk 15:7.

a.This prophetic glimpse may be primarily the restoration of the Jews to their homeland after the Captivity.

b.And then a prophetic extension to the spiritual restoration of sinners in the New Day - Gal 3:26-29.

c.It is OUR privilege to sing and rejoice in this new era! - Eph 1:3.

d.Serve the Lord with joy NOW, and look for the final consummation in glory - 2Pe 3:11-14,17-18; 1Pe 1:5,9.

**ZEPHANIAH IN FOUR WORDS:

(From Judgment To Joy) -- Note the contrast between the second verse of the BOOK, and the last verse of the BOOK.

**CONTRIBUTION OF THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH TO THE BIBLE:

1.In some way there is a reference to THE DAY OF THE LORD twenty or more times in these three chapters.

2.Shows us two sides of THE DAY OF THE LORD: Judgment
and Blessing.

a.He may be in our midst to judge (out of love He wants us to be led to blessings -- That may require chastisement) - cf 3:5.

b.He wants to be in our midst to save - cf 3:15,17.

3.This BOOK shows that the Gentiles were included in the spiritual restoration - cf Eph 2:16.

**CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH:

The Messiah is clearly the One Who fulfills the promises of 3:9-20; Compare “KING” - 3:15.

**CONCLUSION:

1.We are still warned of judgment to come - Rom 14:12; 6:23

2.But we now have the safe hiding place - Col 3:3; Gal 3:27.