Reading: Zephaniah chapter 3 verses 8-20.
Ill:
• Captain of a plane flying over the Atlantic ocean made an announcement;
• We have some good news and some bad news,
• The good news is we are making record time,
• The bad news is we are lost!
• I think that is a good description of the world in which we live;
• And that is how Zephaniah must have felt with his prophecy.
• Most of his book seems to be bad news,
• But for some, it will finish with very good news indeed.
The book as you probably are aware divides into 3 sections:
• Section 1: conveys the prophet’s basic message;
• God’s people are told to repent because there is a judgement coming.
• Section 2: carries the same theme,
• But this time the message is to the surrounding nations, to;
• E.g. Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Cush and Assyria.
• God is not just the God of Israel and Judah but of all people.
• Section 3: Informs us that although the judgement of God will fall on Judah,
• This will not be the last word.
• The good news is that the destruction of the city, would not be the final end.
• Beyond the judgement lay a day of restoration and new life.
Verse 8:
Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD,
“for the day I will stand up to testify.
I have decided to assemble the nations,
to gather the kingdoms
and to pour out my wrath on them—
all my fierce anger.
The whole world will be consumed
by the fire of my jealous anger.
(1). The Day of The Lord.
• You may have noticed that the Lord’s day or ‘the day of the Lord’;
• Has figured again and again through out the book:
• ‘The day of the LORD’ (chapter 1 verse 7)
• ‘The day of the LORD’S sacrifice’ (chapter 1 verse 8)
• ‘The great day of the LORD’ (chapter 1:14)
• ‘The day of the LORD’S wrath/anger’ (chapter 2 verse 2-3)
• ‘The day I will stand up to testify’ (chapter 3 verse 8)
Ill:
• The people of Zephaniah’s day were like the company and crew of the Titanic,
• They were full of the joys of life,
• Dancing cheerfully in the ballroom,
• Unaware of the danger that was lying ahead
Zephaniah the prophet/messenger of God could see the approaching ice-burg:
• Question: What was the approaching ice-burg?
• Answer: His book calls it “The Day of the Lord”.
The expression: “The Day of the Lord”:
• Is not a single day but a period of time, during which God judges His enemies;
• And establishes His kingdom on earth.
• We sometimes refer to it when we pray what’s called the Lord’s prayer,
• E.g. In the expression - “Thy kingdom come”.
• That is the New Testaments way of referring to
• “The Day of the Lord”.
• The day of the Lord for some will be a day of judgement,
• For others a day of salvation.
(2). The judgment of the nations (vs 8).
8 Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD,
“for the day I will stand up to testify.
I have decided to assemble the nations,
to gather the kingdoms
and to pour out my wrath on them—
all my fierce anger.
The whole world will be consumed
by the fire of my jealous anger.
(1). God is mindful (verse 8):
• The language of Zephaniah is very apocalyptic:
• God is not blind to the atrocities and horrors perpetrated by nations,
• Crime does not pass unpunished,
• Eventually the world’s nations are summoned to answer for their deeds.
• We are not told how this will be, or what manner judgement will take,
• But the prophet passionately declares that international justice will take place.
Ill:
• Adolf Hitler may have thought he had escaped judgement,
• When he blew his brains out with a pistol
• But Zephaniah reminds us that he and every other evil and corrupt leader,
• Will one day face the justice and the judgement of God.
Ill:
• Men may seem to win the battle,
• But God will win the war!
(2). God will witness (verse 8).
“For the day I will stand up to testify.”
• When God sits in judgement,
• He is the only competent witness who can be called to testify.
• No-one will be able to question the accuracy of his testimony,
• Or the quality of his character!
• His perfect witness will provide all that is need for the conviction of those before him.
• His testimony will be honest and true!
Ill:
• The picture here in these verses;
• Is not of a modern courtroom, With judge and jury.
• But of a hearing before an absolute monarch (not tyrant for he is honest and fair!),
• Whose own prerogatives have been infringed.
(3). God shall punish (verse 8):
I have decided to assemble the nations,
to gather the kingdoms
and to pour out my wrath on them—
all my fierce anger.
• The phrase “Pour out” denotes the impossibility of resisting all that engulfs them.
• What the nations have sowed, so shall they reap!
Ill: ill:
Parent will punish a naughty child. A Judge will punish a guilty criminal
Ill:
• So a holy God must punish sinful people.
• If he does not then he is not just, not fair and not holy!
• Note: He tells us again and again “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked”.
• But as father of creation and father of his people he will chastise us accordingly!
(3). The Blessing on Gods People (vs 9-13):
“Then will I purify the lips of the peoples,
that all of them may call on the name of the LORD
and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush
my worshipers, my scattered people,
will bring me offerings.
11 On that day you will not be put to shame
for all the wrongs you have done to me,
because I will remove from this city
those who rejoice in their pride.
Never again will you be haughty
on my holy hill.
12 But I will leave within you
the meek and humble,
who trust in the name of the LORD.
13 The remnant of Israel will do no wrong;
they will speak no lies,
nor will deceit be found in their mouths.
They will eat and lie down
and no one will make them afraid.”
Note:
• God’s judgment is not just retributive;
• Giving the wicked the punishment that is their due.
• It is also restorative;
• God will not just restore but recreate his world.
• What Zephaniah describes in his prophecy, Peter also refers to it in his letter:
• Quote: 2 Peter chapter 3 verses 10-14:
“But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment…………………………….. 13But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world where everyone is right with God”.
Ill:
• Metamorphosis will take place;
• Not a tadpole into a frog or a caterpillar into a butterfly,
• But according to Revelation chapter 21;
• God will change this heaven & earth and change it into a new heaven & earth
Zephaniah mentions four facts of restoration:
(1). A people with pure Speech (verse 9).
“Then will I purify the lips of the peoples,
that all of them may call on the name of the LORD
and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
• Earlier in Zephaniah’s prophecy;
• God condemns the priests and the people for being idolatrous,
• They claimed to serve God but they also served Baal.
• The people would swear by the Lord, but they also swore by Molech (chapter 1 verses 4&5)
• The first act of restoration – clean lips,
• Lips that have been purified and are only able to worship and serve the true god.
(2). A people who are reunited (verse 10).
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush
my worshipers, my scattered people,
will bring me offerings.
The separated will be united:
• One of the great curses that came on the nation of Israel was deportation,
• That is, being taken from the promised land and dispersed among the nations.
Ill:
Sin always separates.
• Ill: Genesis: Some of the most saddest words in the entire Bible “Adam where are you?”
• Not geographicly but spiritually - The cry of a father who has just lost his children.
• Quote: Isaiah chapter 59 verse 2:
• “Your sins have separated you from your God”.
Ill:
• Often tell kids at our kids club; only one thing stops us knowing and enjoying God;
• Not age, colour, social standing or you back ground, not your intellect etc – it is sin!
(3). A people who are humble (verse 11-12):
11 On that day you will not be put to shame
for all the wrongs you have done to me,
because I will remove from this city
those who rejoice in their pride.
Never again will you be haughty
on my holy hill.
12 But I will leave within you
the meek and humble,
who trust in the name of the LORD.
God will remove all ‘pride’ (verse 11) and restore ‘meekness and humility’ (verse 12).
Ill:
• Most theologians believe it was pride that led to the devils downfall,
• Ezekiel chapter 28 verses 12-19. ill: verse 17: “Your heart became proud”.
Ill:
• Pride is a major stumbling block to people experiencing God’s salvation.
• Quote: 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 5: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble”
Ill:
• Only once did Jesus actually describe his inner character
• That description is found in Matthew chapter 11 verse 28-29:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am GENTLE and HUMBLE in heart, and you will find rest for your souls".
• Two words: "Gentle and humble" or “Meek and lowly”,
• The very same characteristics God will restore to his fallen creation.
(4). A people who are Rejoicing (verse 13-17).
13 The remnant of Israel will do no wrong;
they will speak no lies,
nor will deceit be found in their mouths.
They will eat and lie down
and no one will make them afraid.”
14 Sing, O Daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O Daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.
17 The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”
4 Reasons to rejoice:
• (1). Sins forgiven (verse 13 & 15a).
• (2). The enemy defeated (verse 15b).
• (3). A peace and a security (verse 13b & 16)
• (4). The presence of the Lord (verse 15b & 17).
• If you cannot rejoice because of those four things,
• Check your pulse I think you are dead (probably are spiritually speaking)
(4). The prophecy fulfilled (Verses 17-20):
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”
18 “The sorrows for the appointed feasts
I will remove from you;
they are a burden and a reproach to you.
19 At that time I will deal
with all who oppressed you;
I will rescue the lame
and gather those who have been scattered.
I will give them praise and honor
in every land where they were put to shame.
20 At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes
before your very eyes,”
says the LORD.
(1). Focus on the Remnant.
Remember that the good news contained in Zephaniahs prophecy;
• Is not universal in scope but selective,
• It is not to everyone but to a few.
• The book of Zephaniah has an emphasis on what’s called ‘the remnant’:
• E.g. chapter 2 verse 7, chapter 2 verse 9, chapter 3 verse 13,
Remnant simply means; those who choose to follow the true God.
• Ill: Remnant of cloth is what’s left after the greater part has been used,
• Ill: In a similar way Christians are God’s remnant in the world today.
• The ‘remnant’ are the small group of people who remain faithful to the Lord.
• Zephaniah tells us that not every Jew will follow the Lord, but a ‘remnant’ always will.
(2). Emphatic Announcement.
• The book has so much to say about human inability,
• But notice it ends by drawing our attention to God’s ability.
• Seven times in verses 18-20 we read the words “I will”;
• The God who promises is the God who can and will deliver on his promises!
• The prophet, tells his readers, he tells ‘the remnant’ that in spite of dark days ahead,
• Grasp firmly and hold onto God’s promise for encouragement, comfort and strength.
(3). Duel fulfilment.
The message of Zephaniah is a simple one:
• Judgment is coming,
• But a blessings will follow for those who heed the warning to repent
Ill:
• The story is told of a man who was passing a used book-store;
• When he spotted a volume in the window, which caught his attention.
• The book was entitled, How to Hug.
• Feeling kind of lonely, he stepped inside to purchase the book.
• To his surprise he discovered that it was Vol. 13 of a certain set of encyclopaedias;
• And this was the section which covered the alphabet from H-O-W to H-U-G, "How to Hug."
Zephaniah is also a book that at first glance isn’t what it seems:
• The prophecy of this book does not have one but a two-part fulfilment,
• It has both an immediate and a future fulfilment.
Immediate fulfilment:
Part of Zephaniah’s prophecy was very quickly put into action;
• It could well have been fulfilled by the Babylonians, 50 years later;
• When they destroyed Judah and took them into captivity.
• The message of restoration perhaps had an initial fulfilment;
• Following Judah’s restoration under Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah.
Future fulfilment:
• But many of the prophecies concerning the destruction of the nations and the earth,
• Have obviously not been fulfilled.
• The four facts of the restoration remnant,
• Have not been completely fulfilled yet, so obviously there is a future fulfilment.
At the end of time the Bible teaches that:
• Jerusalem will be the centre of God’s kingdom on earth,
• All of its inhabitants will be believers.
• The statements here in Zephaniah chapter 3,
• Parallel those of the apostle John 700 years later in Revelation chapter 20-21
But remember:
• The message of Zephaniah is a simple one: Judgment is coming,
• But a blessings will follow for those who heed the warning to repent
Quote Mark Twain:
“His problem was not with the parts of the Bible he didn’t understand,
His problem was with the bits he did understand!”
• The simple truth of God’s word always makes demands,
• Those who respond enter into the blessing of God’s promises!
• Judgment is coming,
• But a blessings will follow for those who heed the warning to repent
