Page 17 - 6-3-16 Friday's Edition

Sunday School
The Day Of The Lord Zephaniah 1:4–6, 14–16; 2:3)
Zephaniah predicted was staggering (Zephaniah 1:2, 3). It sounds worldwide and similar to that of Noah’s day (Genesis 6:5-7). Zephaniah had some things to say to the nations (primarily in chapter 2).
The same outstretched hand that brought God’s peo- ple out of Egypt (Exodus 6:6) was now turned against them. Notice the parallelism against Judah and Jerusalem. God would bring disaster to the Baal worshippers, who sometimes even set up shop in the temple itself. God would bring disaster on the as- trologers and on those who bow down and swear by the Lord. God would bring disas- ter on those who rebelled against him with sins of com- mission—turn back from fol- lowing the Lord and with sins of omission—neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him.
Other sins are mentioned: Leaders were not truly leading (Zephaniah 1:8; 3:3, 4). People were living more by fate than faith (1:9). Some were unrestrained in their un- bridled power (v. 9). Compla-
cency, presumption, and ma- terialism abounded (vv. 12, 18). They failed to trust God or draw near to him (3:2). Some acted corruptly and oth- ers were haughty (vv. 7, 11). Maybe the biggest reason for the coming disaster was plain old sin (1:17) and no desire to be corrected (3:2).
Disciplinarian |
Zephaniah 1:14-16
God’s people did experi- ence some good days during the reign of good King Josiah. But the Lord is in total con- trol. The Lord is the Mighty Warrior. The great day of the Lord or “that day” or “at that time” or “the day of the Lord” or “the day” appear through- out Zephaniah’s prophecy as well as other parts of the Old Testament (Isaiah 13:6; Amos 5:18-20; Malachi 4:5). Most often this phrase does not refer to some cata- clysmic end-times destruc- tion. Mostly it refers to some kind of judgment—often local.
God’s people would be sur- prised that he had turned against them. He would come quickly and give a victory shout. His coming would be
marked with distress and an- guish, trouble and ruin, dark- ness and gloom. The trumpet would announce his coming and even the watchtowers (corner towers) wouldn’t be able to stand against his judg- ment.
Delight |
Zephaniah 2:3
If God’s people turned to him, then disaster could turn to delight. Earlier we were told that Judah did not seek the Lord. Zephaniah pled with God’s people three times to seek the Lord. He called for them to be humble and obey God. He called for them to seek righteousness (jus- tice). If they did this, they might be sheltered (covered) by the Lord himself during this day of the Lord’s anger.
There is a bumper sticker that reads, “Jesus is coming back—and he is not happy.” It is partially true. Jesus is com- ing again (Hebrews 9:28). But God lives in perpetual joy and does not have an occa- sional bad day. However, he does seem to schedule various days of judgment to prepare and purify us.
The Bible is full of contrasts related to God’s people. There was the line of Seth and the way of Cain; the sons of God and the daughters of men; the seed of promise (Isaac) and the house of Ishmael; the kingdom of God and the do- main of darkness; the church and the world; Jerusalem and Babylon; the remnant and the unfaithful. But what if the remnant leaned toward un- faithfulness? The promise (Genesis 12:1-3) could be compromised. So God even had to purge the remnant by coming in judgment against his own people. A disturbing text says that judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17). Zephaniah had
to deliver such a judgment message to God’s people. Their day of reckoning had come.
While Nahum was proph- esying against Nineveh, Habakkuk and Jeremiah were trying to get Judah ready for coming captivity. If Habakkuk and Jeremiah gave the spiri- tual side for coming judg- ment, then Zephaniah gave the secular side. Zephaniah had royal blood running through his veins (the great- great-great-grandson of Hezekiah). He prophesied during the reign of Josiah (Judah’s last great king).
Disaster |
Zephaniah 1:4-6
The judgment of God that
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