Zephaniah, Habakkuk and Jeremiah all prophesied in the same time period. This was just prior to the Chaldean invasion and deportation of Judah, probably during the reign of Josiah. Zephaniah’s name means “Whom Jehovah hides.” Note his genealogy and link with Hezekiah. He was the last of the pre-captivity minor prophets.
Words, Thoughts and Expressions to Trace Out
- “Thus saith the Lord” (1:2,3,10; 2:9; 3:8,20)
- “Hidden of Jehovah” (1:12 – Inability to hide; 2:3 – Invitation to hide; 3:17 – Identity of their hiding place)
- “Day of the Lord” (1:7,8,10,14-18; 2:2,3; 3:8)
- “I will” (1:2,3,4,8,9,12,17; 2:5; 3:9,11,12,18,19,20)
- “He will” or “He shall” (1:18; 2:11,13,14; 3:17)
Outline
Moral Condition which Demanded Judgment (1:1-13)
Majestic Character of the Day of the Lord (1:14-18)
Merciful Call to Seek God (2:1-3)
Merited Condemnation of Surrounding Nations (2:4-15)
- Philistine to the West
- Moab and Ammon to the East
- Ethiopia to the South
- Assyria to the North
Marked Charges against the Leaders (3:1-7)
Marvelous Conversion of the Nation (3:8-13)
Message of Comfort (3:14-20)
The Genesis Motif in Zephaniah
- Universal Judgment as in the Flood (1:2-3)
- Basis for the Judgment (1:4-18)
- Call to Be Hid in the Ark (2:1-3)
- A New Beginning (3:9)
Words of Comfort to the Nation
- Call to Return and Be Hid (2:1-3)
- Call to Rest and Hope (3:8)
- Call to Rejoice and Holiness (3:14-15)
- Call of Reassurance (3:16)
Moral Condition
- Idolatrous (1:4)
- Turned Back (1:6)
- Indifferent (1:6)
- Incorrigible (3:1)
- Iniquitous (3:3-4)
- Insensitive (3:7)
Remnant
- The Meek (2:3)
- Wait upon God (3:8)
- Poor and Afflicted (3:12)
- Burdened (3:19)
“Hold thy peace”
- Refrain from Weeping (Neh 8:11) – The Goodness of God in Recovery
- Refrain from Wrestling (Hab 2:20) – The Greatness of God in His Sovereignty
- Refrain from Words (Zep 1:7) – The Government of God in Severity
- Refrain from Words (Zec 2:13) – The Grace of God in Salvation
Key Words in Each Chapter
- Ch.1 – “I will” and “the Day of the Lord”
- Ch.2 – “Desolation” in verses 4,9,13,14,15 (word in v4 is different in original)
- Ch.3 – “In the midst” in verses 3 (translated “within”),5,11,12,15,17
Practical Ministry in the Book
Shallowness of the Revival
Resources of the Remnant
- Judgment upon the imitators – Philistines
- Judgment upon those linked with believers – Ammon and Moab
- Judgment upon world which influenced her – Egypt and Assyria
Reasons for Spiritual Condition
- People (3:1-2) – Disobedient, incorrigible, indifferent, insensitive
- Princes (3:3) – Avarice, greed, self-advancement, failure in administration
- Prophets (3:4) – Failure to speak for God
- Priests (3:4) – Failure in holiness and teaching Word of God
Results of His Presence in the Midst
- Righteousness (3:5)
- Removal of every foe and rival (3:14-15)
- Rest and Rejoicing (3:17)
- Remnant Testimony (3:12)
