Zephaniah: The Prophet of Judgment Day               

                                   

Judah’s Background.....

 

70 yrs. of suffering, sorrow, & slavery.

 

Dark & threatening clouds were gathering over the nation.

         

The two corrupt reigns of Manasseh & Amon had caused the people to forget God.

    (But God had not forgotten them)

 

Idolatry was a way of worship & life.

         

THE PROPHET (1:1)

 

Zephaniah - “Jehovah Hides”

 

Zephaniah was the great-great-grandson of Hezekiah.

                  

Zephaniah was a resident of Jerusalem.

                  

Zephaniah was contemporary with Jeremiah, Nahum, & possibly Habakkuk.

 

Zephaniah was a faithful, fiery, & forceful preacher.

 

Zephaniah's work was done in Judah before & during the reformation of Josiah.

        

On the Political Scene:

 

Babylon is about to become the world power.

 

Josiah has become king of ungodly Judah.

            

Judah was spiritually bankrupt.

 

And Josiah's reforms did not really convert the people.

 

Therefore, judgment was coming.

 

PROCLAMATION OF JUDGMENT – READ 1:2-13

 

God pronounces judgment on the world (2-3).

 

God pronounces judgment on Judah & Jerusalem

 

God names those who will be punished.

                            

                   Idolaters - Baal & Chemarims (4).

                   Worshipers of stars, sun & moon (5a).

                   Compromisers (5b).

                    Backsliders (6a).

                   Alien sinners (6b).

                   Violent (9).

                   Corrupt merchants (11).

                   Practical atheists (12).

 

THE PICTURE OF JUDGMENT - READ 1:14-18

 

God's judgment was near (14)

                  

God's judgment brings everyone to their knees.

 

God's judgment day is described in different way (15-16).

 

God's judgment day cannot be halted by money (18).

 

THE PLEA FOR REPENTANCE – READ 2:1-3

 

God wants His people to repent

 

Seek the LORD (Jehovah). 

 

Seek Righteousness

 

Seek Meekness

 

 

 

 

THE POLLUTED CITY (JERUSALEM) – READ 3:1-8

 

God names Jerusalem's sins (1-2).

 

          Rebellious (filthy).

          Oppression.

          Disobedience.

Received not correction

Trusted not in God.

          Drew not near to God.

 

God names the unfit leaders (3-4).

 

Princes.

          Judges.

          Prophets

Priests.

 

God names His position – READ 5-7

 

He is just and sinless.

 

He has the power to judge the loftiest nations.

 

He expects respect & obedience (7).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE PROMISES – READ 3:9-20

[MANY ARE DUAL PROPHECIES]

 

The promise of conversion.

 

          God promises purity of language (9)

          God promises unity of peoples (10)

God promises forgiveness for penitent people (11)

          God promises a remnant will remain (12-13)

 

.The promise of restoration.

 

          God promises the remnant a day of rejoicing.

          When He allows them to return to Jerusalem (20)  (536 B.C.).

 

Conclusion

 

.Fearfully, another day of the Lord is coming!

 

Therefore, we need to repent & be ready

 

Thankfully, a remnant will be saved.

 

          Let us be ready!