The Lord Hides & The Lord Remembers: Zephaniah & Zechariah Week #2 Review: Chapter 1 1. The first way in which Zephaniah s prophecy was fulfilled was in the Babylonian Captivity. Why does God say He is bringing judgment on His people? 2. The final fulfillment of this prophecy, however, is at the Second Coming of Jesus. What clues in the text show that the complete fulfillment has not happened yet? 2:1-4 The Last Chance to Repent divisions and titles taken from Zephaniah (The Anchor Bible) by Adele Berlin (1994) 3. These verses represent a direct call for action in response to chapter 1. What is the connection? 4. The Hebrew word gather together is only ever used for straw/stubble. Why use this word here for people? (2:1-2) 5. Who is to gather together? How are the people described? (2:1-3) 6. Do you ever consider yourself according to these descriptions? Why might it be helpful to remember these descriptions? 7. What is deadline for gathering together? (2:2) Zephaniah-Zechariah #2 p. 1
8. Besides gathering together, what does the prophet encourage the people to do? (2:3) 9. What is the hope that the prophet holds out to the people? (2:3) 10. We said that chapter 1 was almost completely Law. Do we have a Gospel message here? 11. How is this an evangelistic message (a message of good news) that we could use when inviting other people to know God? 12. Verse 4 serves as a bridge to the next section. What areas are mentioned as those being in destined for God s destruction? Locate them on the attached map. 13. Scholars show how these four cities/areas are personified as women in the verbs chosen to describe their destruction. Explain each terms as it applies to a woman. Abandonment - Left in ruins - Emptied - Uprooted - How does this kind of personification drive home the understanding of what God intends to do to His enemies? Zephaniah-Zechariah #2 p. 2
2:5-15 Prophecy Against the Nations 14. What area is mentioned in the first part of this oracle against the nations? (2:5-7) Locate them on the attached map. 15. Zephaniah had been preaching against the sins of Judah. Now suddenly God is saying He will destroy Philistia. Why? What do they have to do with what Judah was doing? 16. Who is Zephaniah preaching to here? Why tell them about this? 17. What sins do people outside the Church commit that would be similar to those judged here? 18. What hope does God provide to His people of Judah? (2:6-7) 19. What areas are mentioned in the second part of the oracle? (2:8-11) Locate them on the attached map. 20. What sins have people in these areas committed? (2:8-10) 21. What hope does God provide to His people of Judah? (2:9) 22. What sins do people outside the Church commit that would be similar to those judged here? Zephaniah-Zechariah #2 p. 3
23. What appears to be God s goal in destroying the people in these areas? (2:11) What should this help us remember when thinking about God s judgment on those outside the Church today? 24. What area is mentioned in the third part of this oracle? (2:12) Locate it on the attached map. 25. Why isn t there any explanation for the judgment against these people? 26. What areas are mentioned in the last part of this oracle? (2:13-15) Locate them on the attached map. 27. How does the description emphasize the complete destruction that God plans for these people? (2:14) 28. What in the attitude of these people is a sin in God s eyes? (2:15) What biblically does their phrase sound like, I am, and there is none besides me? What in today s language sounds like this phrase? (What kind of attitude do you hear in people (in the Church or not) that would be similar to the attitude condemned here by God?) Zephaniah-Zechariah #2 p. 4
Review 29. How might the oracles against the nations be a preparation of Judah for its own destruction? 30. How might the oracles against the nations be a preparation of Judah for its return from exile? 31. There could be four possible fulfillments for this prophecy. Line them up along the fence line. Future The Prophet s View The Lord s View (or stepping out of time) 4. also our view, looking back on history 3. 2. Picture courtesy of Hank Miller 1. 32. How does this chapter prepare us for the judgment of God on sinners at the Second Coming? Present 33. How does this chapter prepare us for the judgment of God on Satan and salvation for His people? Zephaniah-Zechariah #2 p. 5
34. Is it correct to use this chapter to support the State of Israel today in its continued expansion into Palestinian territories? (Is this another fence post? Are we Christian Zionists? What is different today from Zephaniah s time?) 35. You are the remnant of God s people. What promises do you receive in chapter 2? How can you be considered the faithful remnant instead of the Jews? Christ Zephaniah-Zechariah #2 p. 6
Zephaniah-Zechariah #2 p. 7