Day #219

Sermon - Audio
Zephaniah - Audio
Zephaniah - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Salvation History: The northern kingdom of Israel has already been exiled and Josiah is king in Judah. Josiah will be the last good king of Israel. He will die in 609 B.C. in battle. Within a decade of his death the first exiles will be heading for Babylon (including Daniel).


Themes/Progression: God announces to Judah the approaching day of the LORD. God will show himself in both punishment and praise.


Chapter 1.1-6
Judgment Against Judah (1:1-6)

• These verse sound much like the condemnation of Assyria in the book of Nahum. It is a reminder that God’s justice also comes upon his disobedient people and not only on their enemies. As such, God’s people need to live with great humility. As we read in 1 Peter 4 “For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
• verse 5: Milcom is a god of the Ammonites.

The Day of the LORD (1:7-3:20)

• Against God’s people; against the nations, Promise of Hope/Restoration

Chapter 1.8ff

• verse 8: The problem is not with the clothing, but that it represents being committed to other powers and gods.
• verse 9: Superstitious belief presumably held that stepping on the threshold would allow the demons that haunted the entryway to gain admission. IVP Background Commentary
• verse 12: a search with lamps means no one can hide and get away from God’s wrath
• verse 15: Verse 15 and those surrounding it speak of the horrors of the day of the LORD. They are also insights into the horror of God’s eternal punishment on those who reject him.

Chapter 2

• verse 3: There is always a remnant of those who seek to remain faithful to God
• verse 5: Cherethites are a part of the people of Philistia
• verse 7: God’s restorative grace to his people. They will actually increase their territory after their exile and return. In the New Testament we see the full extent of this as the people of God are to inherit the earth.
• verse 11: God’s further picture of fullness and restoration: the Gentiles will worship him
• verse 13: Assyria falls in 612 B.C.

Chapter 3

• verse 1: The focus returns to Jerusalem and Judah
• verses 3-4: leadership that destroys rather than builds up--this is a constant reality and sorrow for Judah.
• verses 9-10: restoration of the nation and the heart
• verses 10-13: the difference between those who thrive and those who are destroyed comes down to those who humble follow God and those who arrogantly follow themselves.

Significant Texts:

• “Be silent before the LORD God! For the day of the LORD is near;” (1:7a)
• “Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.” (2:3)
• The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (3.17)