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Zephaniah“The Day of the Lord” Introduction and Chap 1-2:3

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Some background to Zephaniah and the historical period

Zephaniah – Hebrew “Sephenjah” means Hidden God• Has God hidden himself or Zephaniah had been

hidden by God?

He has royal blood in Him – his grandfather was King Hezekiah (v1) .. good king of Judah (Isaiah. 36-39)

After Hezekiah came Manasseh. During Manasseh’s reign, royal offsprings were sacrificed to the god Molech. Zephaniah was little then.

Introduction

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ISRAEL

JUDAH

IsraelNorthern Kingdom

JudahSouthern Kingdom

Introduction

4Introduction

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Division of Zephaniah The Day of the Lord (chap 1 – 2:3) The Nations Condemned (2:4-15) A New Hope (Chap 3)

Key theme of Zephaniah …. Judgment !!

Introduction

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Parallels between Zephaniah and Revelation

• Judgment of God’s peopleZephaniah 1 Revelations 2 - 3

• Judgment of the NationsZephaniah 2 Revelation 4-15

• Day of JudgmentZephaniah 3:1-8 Revelation 20

• Final Bliss for God’s peopleZephaniah 3:9-20 Revelation 21,22

Introduction

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The Day of the Lord God has had enough!! (v 2 -3)

Sweeping imagery - a clean up. • What do you sweep away? • What do you do with the waste/rubbish you collected? • The worst the dirt on the floor, your sweeping is more …??• What is the outcome of sweeping ??

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The Day of the Lord God has had enough!! (v 2 -3)

Other e.g. of “Day of the Lord”

Past• Flood (Gen 6,7) • Sodom and Gomorrah ( 18,19)• The ten plagues of Exodus • Destruction of Israel (1 Kings 17, Lev 26:14-39 , Isaiah … )

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The Day of the Lord God has had enough!! (v 2 -3)

Patterns in “Day of the Lord” : Noah, The Flood

- Men’s wickedness increased and cause God pain (Gen 6:5,6)- A way out for the ‘righteous remnants’ - Destruction is total and extensive in its calamity (Gen 7:22,23)- Sudden and unexpected. (Matt 24:37-39) - Distressed

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The Day of the Lord

Judgment Deserved (1:4-6)Judgment Declared (1:7-9)Judgment Described (1:10-16)Judgment Deflected (2:1-3)

God has had enough!!

The Day of the Lord

11The Day of the Lord

Judgment Deserved (1:4-6)

Idolatry … !!Going after false gods.

.... bowing down/worship v5….. neither seek the Lord nor inquire of himv6

Idolatry is - a misrepresentation of God- a way of cutting God to size by representing him with physical objects or nature- following a deception and ignoring the consequences ( Rom 1)

12The Day of the Lord

Judgment Declared (1:7-9)

Warning!!

V 7 .. A sacrifice AND those consecratedWhat/who is sacrificed?

Idolatry is - a misrepresentation of God- a way of cutting God to size by representing him with physical objects or nature- following a deception and ignoring the consequences ( Rom 1)

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• Kings, princes, king’s sons, those clad in foreign clothes• Those who avoided stepping on the threshold• Violence and deceit

13The Day of the Lord

Judgment Described (1:10-16)

Punishments !!• Locations : Fish Gate, New Quarter, from the hills,

market district (v10)• People : merchants, those trading in silver, those

think the Lord will do nothing (v11)• How: wealth plundered (v13)• When: near and coming (v14)• Agent of punishment: warriors (14-16)

14The Day of the Lord

Judgment Described (1:10-16)

15The Day of the Lord

Judgment Deflected (1:10-16)

Redemption !!• Redemption through seeking the Lord. (2:3 cf 1:6)• Characteristics of those seeking the Lord - righteousness and humility (v3)