The book of zephaniah center point bible institute. Yet before we get to that verse, the book, like many prophetic books, is full of alarming brokenness and impending judgement. The false prophets, as the targum and kimchi explain it. While we do not know a lot about zephaniah, we do know that he was related to good king hezekiah. The contents of this book have never been familiar, and i doubt that it has been read very much. She has not obeyed his voice,she has not received correction. And indeed this is the message of the book, of the advent season, and of christian faith. The lord, your god, is in your midst he will renew you in his love zephaniah 3. As with each of the 12 minor prophets, the prophecy bears the name of its author, which is generally thought to mean the lord hides compare 2.
A contrast between a wicked city and a righteous god. Watch our overview video on the book of zephaniah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The timing of the book of zephaniah is also interesting. This chapter contains further indictments against the jerusalem community, a prophecy of salvation for judah and the nations with. In this book, zephaniah announces gods purifying judgment on israel. She has not obeyed his voice, she has not received correction.
Zephaniah 3 is the third and last chapter of the book of zephaniah in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. Below are passages that parallel the thought of zephaniah 3. He prophesied at the same time three other prophets were prophesying as well. What does it mean that god will rejoice over us with singing zephaniah 3. The land was full of oppression and evil and shame. What does it mean that god will rejoice over us with singing. There are many people who would like to rule this subject of judgment out of the. The ot describes the day of jehovah mostly under the aspect of judgment compare with paragraph 3. Our excitement is strengthened as we contemplate that the lord is committed to our wellbeing. By describing the three characteristics of those he gathers, the lord warmly encourages us into having a more intimate relationship with him. Zephaniah 3, new king james version nkjv the bible app. The lord your god is with you, the mighty warrior who saves.
I dare say that few have ever heard a sermon on zephaniah. The lord your god is among you, a warrior who saves. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet zephaniah, and is a part of the book of the twelve minor prophets. Habakkuk who was a contemporary also depicts more the moral view of jeremiah while zephaniah shows in brevity the historical events of judahs and jerusalems fall. Book of zephaniah overview insight for living ministries. Zephaniah grew up at a time when wicked king after wicked king had filled gods temple with idols until there was no more room for god to dwell with his people. In the 18th year of josiahs reign hilkiah the priest found in the temple a copy of the book of the law that had been ignored. This time of restoration of all things, which god has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began acts 3. Zephaniah foresees the joyful return from captivity in due time. While we do not know a lot about zephaniah, we do know that he was related to.
He will show how much he loves you and how happy he is with you. If zephaniah is prophesying during manasseh or amons time and josiah is hearing this, then josiah did repent and did clean up the country as best he could, but he could not cancel our gods judgment. The book tells us that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah, the king of judah from 640 to 609 bc zephaniah 1. The book of zephaniah shows extremely many similarities. Zephaniah calls the nation to repentance and warns foreign nations to repent as well. He will rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3 niv bible woe to the city of oppressors. However, these facts can be explained in other ways and it seems best not to draw a firm conclusion either way on this point. The book isnt exactly like curling up with a comforting psalm or an inspirational parable of jesus. The words of zephaniah contain one of my favorite bible verses.
Most people do not realize that the name zephaniah means yahweh has hidden or protected. Gedaliahs father was amariah, and amariahs father was hezekiah. The thought of a glad god might be a very awful thought. The little book of zephaniah will never take the place of john 3. Zephaniah 3 the lord rejoices over the restoration of his people a. It was zephaniah s lot to speak on the most unpleasant subject in the bible the judgment of god. The name of zephaniah means treasured protected, hidden of jehovah. Zephaniah pronounces the lords judgment on the whole earth, on judah, on the surrounding nations, on jerusalem and on all nations.
Zephaniah is the only prophet to mention four generations of his ancestors. Read commentary on this popular bible verse and understand the real meaning behind gods word using john gills. Introduction to zephaniah historical context setting though an occasional voice of protest has been heard,648 few scholars have failed to accept the information in the superscription that the books author prophesied during the reign of josiah 640609 b. Who is zephaniah and why is he important in the bible. Historically, the book of zephaniah was used in the providence of god to prepare judah for the reforms and revival under king josiah. Nov 16, 2014 zephaniah, too, was a minor prophet, writing only 3 chapters to make his book. Tzefanya describes the result of hashems judgement in triumphant terms. The small book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic oracle. The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning of. God will destroy jerusalems enemies, but he will, also, punish jerusalem for the evil within her.
The swift, short clauses, the triple invocation in the former verse, the triple promise in the latter, the heaped together synonyms, all help the impression. According to the superscription of the book zephaniah 1. Our excitement commences its excitement when we begin to ponder on what our lord has done for us. That is a phrase we have seen before in books of prophets esp. Zepheniah lesson 3 we will begin this lesson in zephaniah 3. The first verse of this book tells us that the word of yahweh came to zephaniah, the son of cushi, the son of gedaliah, the son of amariah, the son of hezekiah, in the days of josiah, the son of amon, king of judah 1. The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning of coming judgment and to encourage repentance. Zephaniahs name means hidden and perhaps this is a play on words to say those that turn to the lord will be hidden from his wrath 2. Dec, 2009 the judgments against judah and jerusalem are turned aside, and the nation or at least a remnant thereof is set free see zephaniah 3. Having removed evil from the world, he will allow the remnant of israel to live safely in its land, knowing that god dwells among the people of israel in the land of israel. The lord your god is with you, he is mighty to save. The purifying doctrines of the gospel, or the pure language of the grace of the lord, would teach men to.
Bible study guide book of zephaniah saturday, november 3, 2012 background on zephaniah in zephaniah 1. From my studies of the holy scriptures, it appears in relation to major judgment that god deals with a remnant those folks who love god and are true to god. Yet this message has its deepest significance when set in contrast to what has come before. Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city.
We can begin to pinpoint exactly when zephaniah prophesied by accounting for a few details in the text. It was zephaniahs lot to speak on the most unpleasant subject in the bible the judgment of god. Chapter 1 judgment upon judah chapter 2 judgment upon the nations chapter 3 judgment upon jerusalem. Those true believers are devoid of selfishness, pride, selfsufficiency, and any kind of worship of the devil. Josiah was the son of amon, who was the king of judah 2 it is the lord who is speaking now. Read commentary on this popular bible verse and understand the real meaning behind gods word using john gills exposition of the bible. Zephaniah was preaching at the same time as jeremiah in the days of josiah, a few years before nineveh fell.
What a wonderful rush of exuberant gladness there is in these words. Zephaniah 3 bible commentary matthew henry concise. What does it mean that god will rejoice over us with. In very general terms, from the preceding chart it is clear that most of the book deals with judgment zeph 1. David guzik commentary on zephaniah 3 describes how the lord rejoices over the restoration of his people, after judgment had been brought to them. The wickedness of jerusalemwoe to her who is rebellious and polluted,to the oppressing city. For god so loved the world that he gave his only son john 3. Among the prophets, this is a unique introduction with its long list of fathers back to zephaniahs great. Peculiarities in the commentary on joel b zephaniah and the other prophets. Jesus christ has the power and authority to bring about the worldwide restoration process. Josiah was the son of amon, who was the king of judah. Historically, the book of zephaniah was used in the providence of god to. This is not the only place where this theme occurs, of course, but it is the most concentrated treatment of the judgment of god as the whole book is devoted to this one theme. So zephaniah spoke of a future restoration when god would step in to the wicked world and change things.
The lord thy god in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save. The voice of judgment is softened by gospel promises. The judgments against judah and jerusalem are turned aside, and the nation or at least a remnant thereof is set free see zephaniah 3. The pleasure of god in the good of his people desiring god. She has not trusted in the lord, she has not drawn. In context the passages speak primarily to the nation of israel. The book of zephaniah shows extremely many similarities with other prophetic books of the ot. The lord gave this message to zephaniah when josiah was king. In this book, zephaniah announces gods purifying judgment on. May 14, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of zephaniah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah, too, was a minor prophet, writing only 3 chapters to make his book.
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