Zephaniah (July 8)
Zephaniah
The Necessity of Humility
(July 8)
Ref: Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
“The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Just like with Joel, Obadiah, Nahum, and Habakkuk, Zephaniah is a book about God’s coming judgment
(once again, we see the term “the day of the LORD” in Zephaniah 1:7, 14).
The audience is roughly the same as that of Nahum and Habakkuk
(Judah as the Assyrian Empire falls and the Babylonian captivity draws near).
Zephaniah struck me as a bit more of a personal statement, though, than the others.
Chapters 1-2 provide the vivid description of God’s wrath and judgment:
Ref: Zephaniah 1:2 (NIV)
“’I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,’ declares the LORD.”
Ref: Zephaniah 1:3 (NIV)
“’I will sweep away both men and animals;
I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea.
The wicked will have only heaps of rubble when I cut off man from the face of the earth,’ declares the LORD.”
Zephaniah 1:4-13 describes God’s judgment to be carried out directly against Judah.
Zephaniah 1:14-2:3 gives us a description of God’s judgment still yet to come (the Great Day of the LORD).
This section of the book is not only applicable for us, it’s speaking directly to us.
Ref: Zephaniah 1:18-2:3 (NIV)
“Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath.
In the fire of His jealousy the whole world will be consumed,
for He will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.
Gather together, gather together, O shameful nation,
before the appointed time arrives and that day sweeps on like chaff,
before the fierce anger of the LORD comes upon you,
before the day of the LORD’s wrath comes upon you.
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what He commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility;
perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.”
What is He calling us to here?
What does He want from us?
Righteousness.
Humility.
What’s the REAL reason He wants this?
After describing God’s wrath and judgment against
- Philistia (Zephaniah 2:4-7)- neighbors to the southwest of Judah (on the coast of Mediterranean Sea), known for their cruelty and idolatry;
home of Goliath - Moab and Ammon (Zephaniah 2:8-11)- neighbors to the east of Judah, known for their wickedness;
descendants from incestual relationship between Lot and his daughters
after destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah - Cush (Zephaniah 2:12)- neighbors to the south of Judah, who ruled Egypt at this time
- Assyria (Zephaniah 2:13-15)- neighbors to the north of Judah;
although declining, they were still the most powerful nation in the region,
and Nineveh (its capital) was a major world city
God speaks against Jerusalem (and their lack of righteousness, and their lack of humility).
He just wants us to be like Him.
Ref: Zephaniah 3:7 (NIV)
“I [God] said to the city [Jerusalem],
‘Surely you will fear Me and accept correction!’
Then her dwelling would not be cut off, nor all My punishments come upon her.
But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.”
Zephaniah closes with the expression of what God WILL accomplish through His people
(the only real control we have is whether we’ll be part of it or not).
Ref: Zephaniah 3:8-13 (NIV)
“’Therefore wait for Me,’ declares the LORD,
‘for the day I will stand up to testify.
I have decided to assemble the nations,
to gather the kingdoms and to pour out My wrath on them – all My fierce anger.
The whole world will be consumed by the fire of My jealous anger.
Then will I purify the lips of the peoples,
that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring Me offerings.
On that day you will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to Me,
because I will remove from this city those who rejoice in their pride.
Never again will you be haughty on My holy hill.
But I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the LORD.
The remnant of Israel will do no wrong;
they will speak no lies, nor will deceit be found in their mouths.
They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.’”
He removes all who are not humbly serving and trusting Him.
Like we learned last week in Habakkuk,
we should look at this promise almost as if it’s in the past (rather than the future).
Ref: Habakkuk 2:2-4 (NIV)
“Then the LORD replied:
‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come and will not delay.’”
Then we should rest and rejoice in His deliverance (enjoying it even now).
Ref: Zephaniah 3:14-20 (NIV)
“Sing, O Daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!
The LORD has taken away your punishment,
He has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
On that day they will say to Jerusalem,
‘Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.’
The sorrows for the appointed feasts I will remove from you;
they are a burden and a reproach to you.
At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you;
I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered.
I will give them praise and honor in every land where they were put to shame.
At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes.”
