Explore the Bible Lesson Preview March 8, 2015 Everyone Accountable Background: Zephaniah 1:1-2:15 Lesson: Zephaniah 1:1-11

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview March 8, 2015 Everyone Accountable Background: Zephaniah 1:1-2:15 Lesson: Zephaniah 1:1-11 Motivation: God s people had become corrupted with idol worship. God s coming judgment (through the Babylonian invasion) was not just for vengeance but also for purification. Through God s words in Zephaniah, we are reminded of His justice, love and control of the future. (Isa. 46:9-10; Daniel 2:20) Examination: I. Judgment Encompasses Everyone (1:1-3) A. The Prophet of the Lord The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah. (1) a. Author: Zephaniah may mean The Lord has hidden or Watchman for the Lord. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah. The lengthy genealogy, unique among the prophets, is probably provided in order to trace his ancestry back to King Hezekiah, known as one who stood for God. b. Date: Zephaniah was written about 625 B.C. during the time of King Josiah s reforms. c. Place: The prophecy was directed to the Southern Kingdom, Judah; we will also find specific prophecies fulfilled in the modern era. 1 / 8

2 d. Theme: The key concept in the book is the day of the Lord. The people who heard Zephaniah were warned of coming judgment on Judah due to idolatry and were called to repentance. That Day also refers to a time of universal judgment upon the earth that is yet to be fulfilled. B. The Word of the Lord I will completely sweep away everything from the face of the earth-this is the Lord s declaration. I will sweep away man and animal; I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and the ruins along with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth. This is the Lord s declaration. (2-3) The universality of God s judgment is emphasized by the listing of created things man, animal...birds...fish in reverse order of the creation narrative. This prophecy will not be fully realized until the final judgment described by Peter (2 Peter 3:10-13). the ruins is also translated stumbling blocks (3) and may refer to those things created by man to interfere with God s plan (i.e. idols). II. The Danger of Spiritual Compromise (1:4-6) A. Leaders I will stretch out my hand against Judah and all the residents of Jerusalem, I will cut off every vestige of Baal from this place, the names of the pagan priests along with the priests. (1:4) Those false teachers who lead people to trust in idols will be judged. The coming Babylonian invasion is justified as a means of purifying the land from Baal worship, a perennial plague. B. Compromisers those who bow in worship on the rooftops to the heavenly hosts; those who bow and pledge loyalty to the Lord but also pledge loyalty to Milcom. (5) H CSB, p.1557: 1:5 To pledge loyalty to Milcom involved religious syncretism, combining pseudo-worship of Yahweh with worship of a false god. Here and in Jr. 49:1, 3, Milcom is spelled Milcam (lit their king ) in the Masoretic Text, which some interpret as a reference to Baal worship (see Zph 1:4; cp. Jr 32; 35). No consensus exists about the exact nature and spelling of this Ammonite deity; if equivalent to the Canaanite 2 / 8

3 god of the underworld Molech, worship of this god apparently included child sacrifice (as in worship of Molech/Milcom; Lv 18:21; 20:2-5; 2 Kg 23:10; Jr 32:35). This worship continued Manasseh s pagan practices which Josiah would disrupt (2 Kg 23:10-13). C. Backsliders and those who turn back from following the Lord, who do not seek the Lord or inquire of Him. (6) Lumped in with the idol worshippers are the backsliders, those who once followed the Lord and sought His direction but lost their first love. III. A Day of Reckoning is Coming (7-11) A. Severity of Judgment Be silent in the presence of the Lord God, for the Day of the Lord is near. Indeed, the Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated His guests. (7) - Those to be judged will be sacrificed (literally set apart ). guests refers to the invading armies. B. Scope of Judgment (8-11) 1. Leaders and Followers On the day of the Lord s sacrifice I will punish the officials, the king s sons, and all who dress in foreign clothing. On that day I will punish all who skip over the thresholds, who fill their master s house with violence and deceit. (8-9) God s judgment will be upon the high (King s sons) as well as the low, rich as well as servants (those who skip over the threshold). 2. Nooks and Crannies On that day-this is the Lord s declaration- there will be an outcry from the Fish Gate, a wailing from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills. Wail, you residents of the Hollow, for all the merchants will be silenced; all those loaded with silver will be cut off. (10-11) J.R. Church sees verse 11 as an illusion to the mark of the beast and the collapse of our present monetary system. No part of Jerusalem will be immune from judgment. 3 / 8

4 IV. Sufficiency of Judgment (12-13) A. A Complete Search: And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps (12a) - In the time of judgment there will be nowhere to run, no place to hide. He will search even in the dark hiding places. (cf. Ps 139 no hiding place ) B. A Complacent Spirit: and punish the men who settle down comfortably. (12b) - Many falsely believe that to incur God s judgment, one has to commit terrible sins or crimes. Actually, to fall under judgment, one has to do nothing at all, simply remain in his/her sin. C. A Compelling Sentence: Their wealth will become plunder and their houses a ruin, They will build houses but never live in them, plant vineyards but never drink their wine. (13) - To the inhabitants of Jerusalem, judgment was not theoretical but very personal. V. The Day of the Lord Described (1:14-18) Zephaniah describes the impending day of the Lord for Judah. Many parallels can be found with the final times and the battle of Armageddon: Zephaniah Revelation 4 / 8

5 A. Armed Conflict 1:14 6:4, 9:16, 14:20 B. Signs in Heaven & Earth 1:15 16:16-18 (cf. Joel 2:30-31, Rev. 6:12, Luke 21) C. People in Distress 1:17 16:20-21 D. Collapse of Confidence in Currency 1:18 5 / 8

6 13:17 HCSB, pp : 1:14 The day of the Lord was imminent (near, v. 7; cp. Is 13:6; Ezk 30:3; Jl 2:1; 3:14; Ob 15) and rapidly approaching. On this day God would judge Judah for its rampant idolatry (vv. 4-7). On an impending day of wrath (vv. 15, 18), God s rage would overflow to those who, by sinning against Him (v. 17), had become His enemies. He would unleash a storm of destruction (v. 15), primarily by enemy invaders (Ezk 38:9; cp. Jl 2:1-11). The Lord s destruction of Judah by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. (Lm 2:1-3, 22; 4:11) partially fulfilled this day of His burning anger (Zph 1:18; 2:2-3) as He punished them for abominable idolatries (1:4-11; cp. Ezk 7:8-11, 14-21; 8:5-18). Ultimately all earthly inhabitants would be judged (Jl 3:1-2, 12-16; Zph 1:2-3) and consumed by His fiery anger (vv ; 3:8; cp. 2 Pt 3:10-12). VI. A Call to Repentance (2:1-3) The only acceptable response to a message of judgment is repentance. Gather yourselves together before the decree takes effect (1) is a call of urgency. Concerning verse 3 which begins Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth, we see the path to repentance: humility, obedience, and desire for righteousness. VII. The Judgment to Come on Other Nations (2:4-15) God s judgment on the Gentile nations is symbolized by the judgment of Judah s neighbors: Philistia (west), Moab and Ammon (east), Ethiopia (south) and Assyria (north). Prophetically, the modern day nations that inhabit these areas (Palestine, Jordan, Iraq/Iran, Ethiopia) are potential allies of Gog and Magog in the final battle. (Ezekiel 38:5). Application: 1. The Day of the Lord reminds us of God s ultimate judgment over the nations. 6 / 8

7 2. Prophecy and its fulfillment remind us that God is in control and knows our futures. 3. God s call to repentance reminds us of His love and mercy. Leader Pack Item 1: Map: The Changing World of Israel s Later Prophets; Item 5: Bookmark: Memory Verses Illustrator: p. 63: The Philistines and the Philistine Cities Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format and notes at: lestudy.org Dates: 3/8 Daylight Saving Time starts; 3/7-12 RUSHMORE 1; 3/15 AMP/WIRED Sunday; 3/15 Tim Loop; 3/16-17 Senior Adult Revival; 3/14-19 RUSHMORE 2; 3/18 CBU 7:00 in WC & Main Foyer; 3/28 SPF Hippity Hoppin Easter Event; 4/2 Broken for You; 4/3 Good Friday Church offices closed; 4/5 Easter Sunday and Launch of Spanish Campus; 4/11 Pastoral Care, Widows & Widowers lunch; 4/17 Marriage and Relationship Conference; 7 / 8

8 4/24-25 HUB Guys Event; 4/25 Men: Serve; 4/26 Make it Your Church Orientation; 5/1-3 Singles Retreat; 5/3 HS Seniors Celebration; 5/9 CBS Graduation; 5/10 SPF Mother s Day Luncheon; 5/17 Parent Commitment; 5/25 Memorial Day church offices closed; 5/29 - HCHS Graduation; 5/29 HUB Summer Kick-off; 5/29 ReCreate Date Night; 5/ th grade launch retreat. 8 / 8