Divided Kingdom II;
Judah Alone
Lesson 15
The prophet Zephaniah /
Introduction to the prophet
Jeremiah
Zephaniah
 Approximately 95 yrs since the Northern
Kingdom was taken into captivity…~ 630625 B.C.; prophesies to Judah / Jerusalem
during the reign of Josiah; a contemporary
of Jerimiah the prophet.
 His name means, “Yahweh Has Hidden”
 He introduces himself going back 4
generations…to Hezekiah
 If this is in reference to King Hezekiah,
Zephaniah is of royal blood and is cousin
to Josiah.
Zephaniah
 Announces the judgment of the LORD
(confirming what had been stated by God
in 2 Kings 21:10-15)
MESSAGE:
 Message of doom…judgment is
coming…chastisement will be severe!
 There are calls to repentance, to give
hope for refuge in time of judgment, not to
avoid judgment.
Zephaniah
The Great Day of the LORD (1:1-18)
 Severe judgment upon the world…
everything will be consumed (vs 2-3).
 God then pronounces doom upon Judah
& Jerusalem. The relics of their religious
apostasy would be destroyed (4-6).
 “The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He
has invited His guests.” (7) All idolaters
will be punished, regardless of position.
 “The great day of the LORD is near…”
(14-18).
Zephaniah
A Call to Repentance (2:1-3)
 Gather to seek the LORD…before the
appointed time arrives.
 Seek the LORD…perhaps you will be
hidden in the day of the LORD’s anger.
Judgment to the Nations (2:4-15)
 Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Ethiopia (Cush),
Assyria / Nineveh
Zephaniah
Assyria /
Nineveh
God’s
punishment of
the nations
(as identified by
Zephaniah)
Judah
Ammon
Philistia
Moab
Ethiopia
(Egypt)
Zephaniah
The wickedness of Jerusalem (3:1-7)
 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted.
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Not obeyed His voice
Not received correction
Not trusted in the LORD
Not drawn near to her God
 Her civic & spiritual leaders had led in the
wickedness.
 After seeing the nations around them fall,
God had hoped Judah would learn the
lessons and turn back to Him. But they
didn’t. (7)
Zephaniah
A Faithful Remnant (3:8-20)
 The LORD states for them to “wait for Me.”
He is talking to those among them who are
meek and righteous.
 Judgment is coming upon all wickedness,
but God will have a remnant of faithful
people.
 He will take away those full of pride and
arrogance, and leave the meek and
humble. “And they shall trust in the name
of the LORD.” (11-12)
Zephaniah
A Faithful Remnant (3:8-20)
 “Sing, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, O
Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your
heart.”
 God would bring them back. He is mighty
to save and He will take great delight in
you.
The prophet Jeremiah: Introduction
 Jeremiah was a priest, the son of Hilkiah.
He was from Anathoth (a few miles
northeast of Jerusalem)
 Jeremiah began his prophetic mission in
the 13th year of king Josiah (~627 B.C.) &
finishes in the 11th year of king Zedekiah
(586 B.C.) “until the carrying away of
Jerusalem captive in the fifth month” – 40
years
The prophet Jeremiah: Introduction
 A good man who cared deeply for the
ways of his God, and for the welfare of the
people.
 A man of great sensitivity, very meek, but
very courageous.
 Part of his message: Do not resist the
Chaldeans; you cannot win. Submit to the
king of Babylon…surrendering to God’s
will is the only way to escape calamity.
The prophet Jeremiah: Introduction
 Chapters 1-10: God calls Jeremiah;
Jeremiah condemns Judah for their sins
and faithlessness
 Chapters 11-28: Jeremiah warned of the
destruction that would be poured out on
Judah
 Chapters 29-38: Jeremiah writes about the
New Covenant and the hope that God
would bring when He delivers them after
the captivity.
The prophet Jeremiah: Introduction
 Chapters 39-52: Jeremiah records the
events of the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.
The prophet Jeremiah: Introduction
 Chapters 50: God promises to rescue His
nation from captivity.
“Israel is like scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away.
First the king of Assyria devoured him; now at last this
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his
bones.” Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of
Israel: “Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,
As I have punished the king of Assyria. But I will bring back
Israel to his home, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan;
His soul shall be satisfied on Mount Ephraim and Gilead. In
those days and in that time,” says the LORD, “The iniquity of
Israel shall be sought, but there shall be none; And the sins of
Judah, but they shall not be found; For I will pardon those
whom I preserve. (Jer. 50:17-20)
Lessons
 God does not forget those who live in an
idolatrous society and yet seek
righteousness & humility (Zeph. 2:3)
 Patience is a virtue that all Christians must
exhibit (Is. 40:31; Prov. 20:22; Heb. 9:28)
 Heaven awaits the remnant that are meek,
humble, and trust in the name of the
LORD! (Zeph. 3:12-13; Mt. 7:13-14)