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The Book of Zephaniah
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Book of Zephaniah: Historical Overview
Zephaniah calls God's people
to repentance and hope.
Will you? Will I respond?
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A. SELF-EXAMINATION (Zeph. 1:1-2:3)
What we are like and really deserve. B. DESPERATE NEED OF REPENTANCE (Zeph. 2:4-3:8) Because His judgment is thorough and fair, and His covenant is grounded in His love, there exists a greater plan, which if we humble ourselves, can take part in. C. CALL TO JOY (Zeph. 3:9-20) The excitement of participating in God's will! |
Historical Introduction
Zephaniah the prophet prophesied during the reign of King Josiah, who ascended his throne in 639 BC. at the age of eight years old (2 Chronicles 34-35). The book of Zephaniah was written before 629 BC when Josiah found and eagerly read the holy scriptures discovered in the temple. He later celebrated a great Passover feast and cleansed both the temple and the priests. At this time, Assyria had already captured the northern kingdom of Israel. Over a hundred years had passed. God was now ready to destroy Judah the southern kingdom. But because of Josiah's reform, the fall of Judea was postponed until shortly after Josiah's time. Zephaniah's message no doubt played a key part in this revival.
"1 The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah son of Cushi,
son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah,
in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah,"
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It is sobering to skim the list of judgments in this book or in any prophetical book. God does not take sin lightly; He has stated His legal case to judge Judah for her unfaithfulness. But God intervened in His own court presentation. In beckoning words, He interrupts His accusations and pleads for reform and brings bright hope.
This is a beautiful picture of how God, through Christ, intervened on behalf of sinners' judgment 600 years later. The written judgments might look as if they were inevitable, but we see this as a faulty evaluation. Josiah was one who responded to God, and God mercifully responded by putting off the severe judgment. Josiah's responsive heart to Zephaniah's message brought a great revival. This situation was imprinted into history itself to let any of God's people know that if His people would bow down to the Lord in humility and voluntarily cleanse their lives, seek His will and act upon His holy person, then God would come and bless them.
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Zephaniah study - Call to Revival
Gathering Before His Throne
Relevance to our Lives | Historical | Overview
A.Voluntarily Gathering 1:1-2:3 Questions | Notes | Outline
B.Willingly Gathering 2:3-3:13 Questions | Notes | Outline
C. Gladly Gathering 3:14-3:20 Questions | Notes | Outline
Zephaniah Bible Study Questions: Complete set
Other Old Testament prophetic studies: Isaiah Haggai Micah
Notes
Zephaniah's background
Zephaniah was the great grandson of Hezekiah, supposably the good king of the past.
Zephaniah's message
In the first chapter, he speaks out on the peoples' sins and retells Judah's doom. The second chapter depicts the doom of Judah's enemies, namely the Philistines, Moab, Amon, Ethiopia, and Assyria. The condemnation of Jerusalem and the restoration of Israel are mentioned in the last chapter.