Zephaniah 1:1-3:20

Introduction

• Zephaniah was the son of Hezekiah, contemporary with Jeremiah. He prophesied in the days of Josiah, 630-608 B.C., 20 years before the first group from Judah was taken into Babylonian captivity.

• II Kings 22:15-20

Message of the book: judgment is coming because of disobedience

Zephaniah 1 – God’s judgment was coming on Judah

• Zephaniah 1:17 – The reason for judgment: sin against the Lord.

Zephaniah 2:1-3:8 – Call to repentance.

• Zephaniah 3:1 – Woe to the city!

Zephaniah 3:9-20 – There would be salvation for a remnant.

• This could be a Messianic prophecy. Physically, Judah never really prospered after returning from captivity. We are the new temple of God (I Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16).

• In Zephaniah 3:13-20, God repeatedly says “I will” do this or that, which would seem to indicate Christ’s activities and the result of them.

Lessons for us:

• The salvation God provides is a gift from the Lord. No one earns or merits it.

• The day of the Lord is a day of gloom and punishment for the wicked, but a day of glory for the righteous.

• Those who respond to the call will be saved. Matthew 11:27-28

• God is always in the midst of His people. I John 1:6-7

• God makes His people to be an upright people.

Next up: Nahum