The Prophet of Doom

The Prophet of Doom

(Zephaniah)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Governing”

Series Title:  “Goodness in G minor”

June 9^th, 2024

Something to think about:

“Zephaniah was almost certainly born during the reign of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah.”^[1]  And he continued to prophecy during the reign of the great reformer King Josiah (Manasseh’s grandson).

According to Biblical scholar, Gordon Bridger,

[Though the days were dark during the reign of Manasseh], God kept Zephaniah safe and kept his Word alive.  As he grew up Zephaniah saw the situation change under God’s sovereign hand.  In 643 bc Manasseh was captured by Assurbanipal of Assyria, and then had a remarkable spiritual conversion.¹⁶  Unfortunately this was too late to undo the damage he had caused; when his son Amon succeeded him, Judah was once again led astray.  God is still in control, however.  Amon was toppled by a ‘people’s revolution’¹⁷ and Josiah, a child of only eight years of age, was placed on the throne in 641 bc. ¹⁸ From early days Josiah began to seek the Lord, and at the age of twenty he began his religious, moral and spiritual reforms.  At the same time Assyria began to decline as a world power.”^[2]

Elizabeth Achtemeier writes, “The ministry of the prophet Zephaniah spanned the years of King Josiah’s reign in Judah (640–609 b.c.).  His was the first prophetic voice to be heard in Judah since the time of Isaiah and Micah, that is, since 701 b.c., and the message he brought from God was radical and universal in its scope.^[3]

Zephaniah prophesies just a couple decades before the Babylonians officially overthrow the southern kingdom and its capital city Jerusalem, tearing down the city walls leaving it defenseless and destroying the Jewish Temple complex.  His warnings are stark, gloomy, and universal.  Not only is GOD going to bring judgment on Judah and Jerusalem, but also on all nations throughout the earth.  Needless to say, wickedness is rampant, and GOD has had enough.  And yet, there is hope even amidst the heaviness of Zephaniah’s declarations.  For hope means that GOD is dealing with evil in a way to set things right.

Key Point:  “GOD’s judgment is a means to hope.”

As we explore the three short chapters of Zephaniah today, we see two specific themes:

•  .

Zephaniah 1:4-6 (NLT),  ⁴ “I will crush Judah and Jerusalem with my fist

and destroy every last trace of their Baal worship.

I will put an end to all the idolatrous priests,

so that even the memory of them will disappear.

⁵ For they go up to their roofs

and bow down to the sun, moon, and stars.

They claim to follow the Lord,

but then they worship Molech,^* too.

⁶ And I will destroy those who used to worship me

but now no longer do.

They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance

or seek my blessings.”

•  .

Zephaniah 3:14-17 (NLT),  ¹⁴ Sing, O daughter of Zion;

shout aloud, O Israel!

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem!

¹⁵ For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment

and will disperse the armies of your enemy.

And the Lord himself, the King of Israel,

will live among you!

At last your troubles will be over,

and you will never again fear disaster.

¹⁶ On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be,

“Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid!

¹⁷ For the Lord your God is living among you.

He is a mighty savior.

He will take delight in you with gladness.

With his love, he will calm all your fears.^*

He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Something to take home:

Judgment and hope go hand in hand.  Judgment means fear for the one who is in opposition to GOD, but it means hope for those who are faithful to Him.  Throughout every generation – Old Testament, New Testament, and now – there has been a remnant of faithful believers who have not bowed down to idols, who have not adopted sinful practices, and who have not become numb to the wickedness of the world.  They have done justice, loved mercy, and walked humbly with GOD.  However, as many as have remained faithful to GOD there are countless others who have compromised their faith by adopting the way of the world, and thus have stood in the crosshairs of GOD’s wrath and judgment. 

Who are you?  Are you one of the compromised masses, or are you a part of the remnant?  Is the thought of GOD’s judgment a fearful thing, or is it a means to hope for you?

Again, the words of John ring true:

1 John 4:16-19 (NLT),  ¹⁶  We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.  God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.  17  And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.  So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

18  Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.  If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.  19  We love each other because he loved us first.

Key Point:  “GOD’s judgment is a means for hope

^[1] Bridger, Gordon. 2010. The Message of Obadiah, Nahum and Zephaniah: The Kindness and Severity of God. Edited by Alec Motyer and Derek Tidball. The Bible Speaks Today. Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press.

¹⁶ 2 Chr. 33:10–17.

¹⁷ 2 Kgs 21:23–24.

¹⁸ 2 Kgs 22:1; 2 Chr. 34:1.

^[2] Bridger, Gordon. 2010. The Message of Obadiah, Nahum and Zephaniah: The Kindness and Severity of God. Edited by Alec Motyer and Derek Tidball. The Bible Speaks Today. Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press.

^[3] Achtemeier, Elizabeth Rice. 1986. Nahum–Malachi. Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press.

^* 1:5 Hebrew Malcam, a variant spelling of Molech; or it could possibly mean their king.

^* 3:17 Or He will be silent in his love. Greek and Syriac versions read He will renew you with his love.