Major Messages from the Minor Prophets

1
(No Transcript)
2
Major Messages from the Minor Prophets
3
The Prophecy of Zephaniah
Theres a Great Day Coming!
4
Zephaniah the Prophet

• Contemporary with Nahum and Habakkuk
• Great-great-grandson of Hezekiah
• Lived and prophesied during the days of Josiah

5
Background of Zephaniahs Prophecy
6
Zephaniahs Message to Israel

• Look Within11-23
• Look Around24-37
• Look Beyond38-420

7
Gods Judgment of Israel

• I will completely remove all things from the
  face of the earth, declares the Lord. I will
  remove man and beast I will remove the birds of
  the sky and the fish of the sea, and the ruins
  along with the wicked and I will cut off man
  from the face of the earth, declares the Lord.
  (Zephaniah 12-3)

8

• So I will stretch out My hand against Judah and
  against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
  (Zephaniah 14a)
• Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the
  tyrannical city! She heeded no voice She
  accepted no instruction. She did not trust in the
  Lord She did not draw near to her God.
  (Zephaniah 31-2)

9
Gods Judgment of Israels Neighbors

• God would judge Phillistia, Moab Ammon, Cush
  and Assyria
• These pagan nations would also come under Gods
  judgment for sins of cruelty, pride, and
  animosity toward the people of God.

10
Gods Salvation of the
Faithful

• Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth who
  have carried out His ordinances Seek
  righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be
  hidden in the day of the Lords anger.
  (Zephaniah 23)

11

• For then I will give to the peoples purified
  lips, that all of them may call on the name of
  the Lord, to serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
  (Zephaniah 39)

12
Zephaniahs Message for Our Time
13
A powerful vision of Gods nature

• We see Gods wrath against sinners we see Gods
  great love for the righteous.
• Behold the goodness and severity of God (Rom.
  1122).

14
An insightful view into Gods purpose

• God will justly punish the evil doer will
  graciously hide the righteous and deliver them
  from judgment.
• But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,
  in which the heavens will pass away with a roar
  and the elements will be destroyed with intense
  heat, and the earth and its works will be burned
  up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in
  this way, what sort of people

15

• ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
  looking for and hastening the coming of the day
  of God, on account of which the heavens will be
  destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt
  with intense heat! But according to His promise
  we are looking for new heavens and a new earth,
  in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 310-13)

16
A beautiful description of Gods people

• Devoted to the Lord and united in spirit (v. 9)
• Gathered together to make offerings to God (v.
  10)
• Repentant and forgiven of sin (v. 11)
• Humble and dependent upon God (v. 12)

17

• Morally pure and spiritually secure (v. 13)
• Full of joy and peace (v. 14-15)
• Courageous and strong (v. 16)
• A people over whom the Lord rejoices and among
  whom he dwells (v. 17)
• A people whom the Lord gathers to Himself and
  gives His glory (v. 18-20)

18
Theres a great day coming!