Page 116 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook

The Book of Habakkuk

ZEPHANIAH

Prophet: Zephaniah, ‘YHWH hides’ (son of Hezekiah, royal descent)

Date: late 7th B.C. (during reign of Josiah, 640-609 B.C., prior to fall of
Nineveh, 612 B.C., cf. 2:13, likely prior to Josiah’s reforms, 622 B.C.)

Theme: The Day of the LORD: Purge and Purify

Message: The day of the LORD will purge all evil and purify all peoples to worship and rejoice in Him
alone!

Purge Evil (Three Cycles)

Purify Peoples World (2-3) In response to the evil of mankind, YHWH will unleash universal devastation,
“I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth.” The fallout- man, beast, birds, fish,
recalls flood (6:7, 7:23) as a reversal of God’s original creation (1:22)

Jerusalem (4-13) YHWH decrees judgment on His people for three reasons: idols, influence, and
injustice. He desires pure worship, not syncretism (4-6). Because of their idols, influence and injustice,
they will be His festal sacrifice (7-9). On unjust, complacent practical atheists- He promises to unleash
the covenant curses (10-13, Dt. 28:30)

World (14-18) Again, YHWH announces judgment on all humanity– imminent (near, hastening), intense
(day…), and inescapable (mankind, all the earth, full end, all inhabitants). On this day, none of their
objects of trust will be able to deliver them (fortified cities, silver or gold)!)

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