This week,
we shall finish the study of Zephaniah in the Old Testament and begin the study
of the book of Revelation in the New Testament.
Having called Judah to repentance, the Lord continues to pronounce judgment on their neighboring enemies, citing Philistia in the west, Moab and Ammon in the east, Cush to the south and Assyria to the north as examples of God’s judgment that will extend to all enemies of Israel:
2:4-7—Philistia (see Note 1 below)
(1) What kind of destruction is predicted for these cities on the west coast of Palestine? (v. 4)
(2) Strictly speaking, the Philistines are not Canaanites; like the Israelites, they are settlers in the land of Canaan. What does the inclusion of them as Canaanites mean? (v. 5; Deut. 9:4)
(3) Apart from total destruction, what will the land of this long-time foe of Israel, who has been like a thorn on their side, be like one day? (vv. 6-7)
(4) V. 7b: “will restore their fortunes” can be translated as “will bring back their captives” (K&D, 447)—In either case, what is the double-message given to the people of Josiah’s time who enjoyed relative prosperity and peace?
2:8-11—Moab and Ammon—They are mentioned together as geographically they are located in the Trans-Jordan region east of Israel (see Note 2 below)
(5) How did Moab and Ammon mistreat the people of God? (v. 8)
(6) While we cannot be sure of any specific incidents referred to by this allegation, see Amos 1:13–2:3 concerning even more horrific sins committed by both.
(7) In what ways will their fate be like Sodom and Gomorrah? (v. 9; see Gen. 19:24-25)
(8) How will the remnant of God’s people benefit from their demise? (v. 9b)
(9) With the judgment
of these former enemies of Israel as examples (v. 10), consider the following:
a. What will God do to all nations who do not worship Him? (v. 10a)
b. What will be the final outcome of God’s judgment upon them? (v. 10b)
2:12—Cush (see Note 3 below)
(10) In this one-liner, what is said of the once powerful people of Cush?
(11) What does “by my sword” indicate?
2:13-15—Assyria (see Note 4)
(12) What will be the fate of this once awesome world power, as represented by its most important city of Nineveh? (v. 13)
(13) The utter ruin of this city (v. 14)
a. What will remain of its glorious architecture?
b. What will inhabit the land instead of people?
(14) In its prime, how did the city look upon itself? (v. 15)
(15) How will those who pass it by (likely referring to tourists of today) look upon it?
(16) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note 1:
The Philistines were sea people who came into Palestine in the 12th and 11th centuries B.C. from Caphtor (or Crete; thus they are called “Kerethites" as well) their original home (Amos 9:7). The Philistines had long been enemies of Israel even since the time of their settlement in the Promised Land. Some of the well-known conflicts between them include those of Samson in the time of the Judges (Jdg. 13-16) and of David and Goliath (1 Sam. 17). Their five major cities often mentioned in the Bible were Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron (see Jos. 13:3 for example). Only four cities are mentioned by Zephaniah likely for the sake of rhyming with the verbs (in Hebrew) used for their destruction (K&D, 447). The prophecy was fulfilled in 604/3 BC when Nebuchadnezzar overran Ashkelon after a siege.
Note 2:
Moab was traditionally an enemy of Israel and hostility between the two nations went back to the days of the Exodus. Historically Ammon’s relationship with Israel was also unfriendly (Jdg. 11:4-33; 1 Sam. 11:1-11; 2 Sam. 10; 1 Ki. 4:13-19; 2 Ki. 24:2). Note in particular Amos’ rebuke of Ammon (Amos 1:13-15). The end of Moab as an independent nation seems to have come in 582 B.C. when Nebuchadnezzar, no doubt because of a rebellion, marched against Moab. Ammon eventually fell victim to the Arabs before the middle of the 6th century B.C. and ceased to exist as an independent nation (see NICOT, Jeremiah, 701, 716).
Note 3:
Cush probably refers to Egypt which was once ruled by the Cushites (Ethiopians) in the late 8th and early 7th centuries BC.
Note 4:
The Assyrians were the dominate world power that destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. And this prophecy of her destruction found its fulfillment in the capture of Nineveh by the Babylonians and their allies in 612 BC.
“He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria, leaving Nineveh utterly desolate and dry as the desert.” (Zeph. 2:13)
While the prophet Nahum basically devotes an entire book to prophecy against the sins and eventual destruction of Nineveh, the prophet Zephaniah only uses a few verses to speak about the same things. However, in summary form, the words of Zephaniah bring out the major sin of Nineveh, that of its pride: “I am the one! And there is none besides me” (2:15).
Why does the Lord hate pride? The Apology of the Augsburg Confessions puts it well, “It is inherent in man to despise God” (Quoted in NIV Application Commentary, 312), and arrogance, in essence, is a breach of the First Commandment, in that we put ourselves in God’s place.
The prophet Zephaniah also summarizes the judgment that would befall this city of pride: “leaving Nineveh utterly desolate and dry as the desert” (2:13).
At the time of my writing, (November 2016), the Iraqi army, backed by the US, is in the course of retaking the city of Mosul (from the hands of ISIS) in which the once-powerful Nineveh was once located. From what we witness from TV, we can see how these words of prophecy about its destruction have been fulfilled even to these last days. Once again, the words of God have withstood of test of time, and in this case, for over 2,700 years.
The Sinful City of Jerusalem—From the pronouncement of judgment on her neighboring nations, the oracle returns its focus on Jerusalem:
(1) What are the three particular sins highlighted by the Lord? (v. 1)
(2) The sin of rebellion (v. 2)
a. How rebellious is she? (v. 2a)
b. What have contributed to her rebellion? (v. 2b)
(3) The sin of oppression (v. 3)
a. Who are the ones that oppress the people?
b. The officials and the ruler of God’s people:
- For what has God appointed them to do?
- What have they turned into?
(4) The sin of defilement (v. 4)
a. What have prophets been appointed by God to do?
b. What have they turned out to be?
c. What have priests been appointed by God to do?
d. In what ways can priests profane God’s sanctuary? (see Lev. 21)
(5) In spite of the sins of Jerusalem (vv. 5-7)
a. God’s continued presence (v. 5)
- Has the Lord left her? (v. 5a)
- What does the Lord—who is righteous and does no wrong—do every morning without fail within Jerusalem?
- How has Jerusalem treated His words of justice declared every morning (likely referring to the law recited through their daily sacrifice)?
b. The nations as God’s warning (vv. 6-7)
- What has God already done to (some of) the nations (mentioned in chapter 2)? (v. 6)
- What did God expect Jerusalem to learn from their demises and why? (v. 7a)
- How has Jerusalem responded instead? (v. 7b)
(6) God’s wrath on that day (v. 8)
a. What does the Lord call His hearers to do? (v. 8)
b. While the sins of Jerusalem are chastised, on whom will the wrath of God be poured?
c. Why?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
“The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.” (Zeph. 3:5)
In the midst of rebuking Jerusalem of her sins of oppression, rebellion and defilement (3:1), the Lord bares His soul and tells Jerusalem that He is still “within her”—He has not left her; and He still dispenses His justice morning by morning—not in the sense of judgment, but in dispensing His words to them through their daily sacrifices. James Bruckner aptly reminds us of the lyrics of Lina Sandell’s hymn—Day by Day—which beautifully depicts God’s goodness and patience with us. Let’s pause and reflect on these wonderful words borne out of Lina’s witness of the drowning of her father a few years before 1865:
1
Day by day and with each passing moment,Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best―
Lovingly, it’s part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
2
Ev’ry day the Lord Himself is near meWith a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.
3
Help me then in every tribulationSo to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised Land.
3:9-13—The Conversion of the Remnant—The transformation of the remnant of Israel is marked by an inclusio featuring their lips (or mouths).
(1) What will happen when their lips are purified? (vv. 9-10)
a. What is the implication of calling on the name of the Lord? (see Acts 2:21)
b. What does “shoulder to shoulder” mean?
c. How widespread will this conversion be? (v. 10)
(2) No more shame (vv. 11-12)
a. Why will there be no more shame? (v. 11a)
b. Who does the removing of the proud and the restoration of the humble and meek?
c. What is the key to this transformation? (v. 12b)
(3) Peace and security (v. 13)
a. What can they expect when they are transformed into a people with no deceit and lie?
3:14-17—God’s promise of His presence—twice the Lord promises His presence
(4) What does God call Himself in the first promise? (vv. 14-16)
(5) As the King of Israel, what will He do so that they do not have to fear anymore? (v. 15a)
(6) How should they respond to such a promise? (v. 14)
(7) What does God call Himself when He reiterates this promise? (v. 17)
(8) The implications of this name are rich (v. 17). Try to apply each of these implications to yourself:
a. He is mighty to save, so what do you have to fear?
b. He will take great delight in you: What does it mean to you?
c. He will quiet you with His love or He is silent in His love: Which of these two translations speak to you most?
d. He will rejoice over them with singing: Who does the singing? You or the Lord?
(9) “At that time” (vv. 18-20)
a. How might these appointed feasts be turned into a time of sorrow for the Jews historically? (v. 18; see Zech. 8:19)
b. What does the Lord promise them (the scattered remnant) in this respect?
c. How will it be accomplished? (vv. 19a, 20a)
d. The Jews have historically suffered from anti-semitic hostility around the world: What does the Lord promise them in this respect? (vv. 19b, 20b)
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
“The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save; He will take great delight in you; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zeph. 3:17)
Although the prophecy of future restoration and return to their homeland might not be appreciated by Zephaniah’s immediate audience, because the destruction of Jerusalem was still in the future and their nation was still intact, however, to the exiles in the decades and centuries that followed, it has to be a most moving message, especially in God’s promised presence which includes these precious nuggets (3:17) which equally apply to all of us, New Testament believers in Christ:
- He is mighty to save: Indeed, there is nothing we need to fear in life.
- He will take great delight in you: We know for sure that God loves us, but at times we might wonder if He likes us. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this promise leaves us knowing that even when we may not live up to our expectation, or His, like the remnant of Israel, He takes total delight in us.
- He will quiet you with His love—This can be translated as “He will love you with a silent love”. It means that even during a time when we think God appears to be silent, we can be assured that His love for us has not changed, and will never!
- He will rejoice over you with singing. Such love from God should send us to rejoice with singing, but as it turns out, God is the one who rejoices in singing simply because we have repented and put our trust in Him.
What an amazing God we have.