The Minor Prophets: Zephaniah Summarizing the Prophets

Lesson 9 8 April 2012

Introduction to Zephaniah
Zephaniahs name means: God has secreted Son of Cushi (Cushs son); Son of Gedaliah (God has become great); Son of Amariah (God has said); Son of Hezekiah (strengthened of God) Time period of service: During the early reign of King Josiah Key Event: Josiahs reign and reforms Theme: Gods judgment and restoration
ca. 631 BC

722 BC

639 BC

629 BC 609 BC

586 BC 536 BC

400 BC

Fall of King Josiah Samaria crowned

Josiahs Josiah Dies Fall of Return to Reforms Jerusalem Jerusalem

The End of the Old Testament

Zephaniah 1:1- 2:3

Warning of Judgment
vs. 2-3: The announcement of Gods wrath
Harkens back to Gen. 6:6-7 Looks forward to Rev. 16

vs. 4-13: An explanation of Gods wrath

Judgment against the peoples religion Judgment against the peoples social customs Judgment against how they conduct commerce Judgment against the overwhelming apathy of the people

vs. 14-18: The Day of the Lord

Echo's the call of Joel God is the God of all men; His judgment is for all men

vs. 2: 1-3: The call for repentance

The call to humility and obedience The ambiguous nature of this call for repentence

Zephaniah 2: 4 3:8
God Will Judge the Nations
Gods rule is over all the nations, the nations answer to Him
All religions were regarded as equally true by the people; equally false by the philosophers; and equally useful by the magistrates. Edward Gibbon The Decline and Fall of Rome

Gods Judgment of the surrounding nations cf. Amos

Philistia: to the west Ammon and Moab: to the east - like Sodom and Gomorrah Cush: to the south Assyria: To the north Nineveh falls in 612 BC
They obeyed no one They did not accept correction They did not trust God They did not grow close to God

vs. 3:1 3:8: Jerusalem does not escape

Zephaniah 3:9 3:20

Gods New Day
vs. 9 - 13: Call upon the Name of the Lord
1st : God purifies the lips of His people 2nd: God fits them for service through humility 3rd: The remnant will become strong in the Lord

vs. 14 17: The New Song

A song of hope A song of salvation and deliverance

vs. 18 20: The Seven I wills of God

I will remove your burden I will remove the oppressors I will rescue the scattered and downtrodden I will remove your shame in the nations they have been scattered I will gather you and I will bring you home I will give you honor among all the peoples

References
The TANAKH. The Book of Zephaniah pp. 10711078 The NIV. The Book of Zephaniah The Narrated Bible in Chronological Order. The Prophecies of Zephaniah pp. 935 - 941 Bill T. and Beyer, Brian E. Encountering the Old Testament pp. 459 - 461 Boice, James Montgomery. The Minor Prophets vol. 2 pp. 437 - 460 Unger, Merrill F. Ungers Commentary on the Old Testament pp. 1919 - 1941