Zephaniah
The introduction to the book of Zephaniah makes it clear that Zephaniah was the great-great grandson of King Hezekiah, and he served during the reign of Josiah of Judah, but it is less certain whether he served before or after the reformation of Josiah in 621 B.C. However, judging from his relentless attacks on idolatry, it is likely that the reform had yet to begin and Judah was still struggling from the godless legacy of Manasseh. If such is the case, Zephaniah’s message would have made an impact on Josiah and contributed to his effort of reform. The name of Zephaniah means the Lord has hidden or protected. The theme of the book is clearly the “Day of the Lord” which appears to point both to punishment of Judah in the not too distant future and the End-time when God will gather them home and severely deal with their enemies.
1:1—The Introduction
(1) What is the relationship between Zephaniah and Josiah? (see 2 Ki. 21-22)
(2) What advantage might he have in the spreading of his message from the Lord?
1:2-6—Declaring World-wide Judgment
(3) Who and what will be affected in the coming judgment of the Lord? (vv. 2-3)
(4) Why does the Lord have to sweep away all living things for the sins of mankind?
(5) The sins of Judah (vv. 4-6)
a. What sinful legacy did Josiah have to deal with
- From his grandfather Manasseh? (2 Ki. 21:3-7)
- From his father Amon? (2 Ki. 21:20-21)
b. How will the Lord deal with these sinful practices one by one? (vv. 4-5; note the worship of Molech included the sacrifice of children in the fire)
c. Why would the Lord even destroy those who bow down and swear by Him? (v. 5)
1:7-13—The Day of the Lord—the Day of the Lord’s Sacrifice
(6) The day of sacrifice (v. 7)
a. Why should the people be silent as the Day of the Lord is near? (v. 7)
b. Why does He call His judgment a “sacrifice”? (a sacrifice is primarily meant to appease the wrath of God)
c. Why does He refer to those He is to judge as being “consecrated”?
(7) Those He has invited (vv. 8-9)
a. Why would He punish the officials and the king’s sons? (v. 8; the king’s sons likely refer to the sons of Manasseh and Amon)
b. Why would He punish those who are clad in foreign clothes? (v. 8b; see 2 Ki. 10:22)
c. Who are those who avoid stepping on the threshold of their gods? (v. 9a, see 1 Sam. 5:5)
d. Who else will God punish? (v. 9b)
(8) The Wailing Over the Judgment (1:10-13)
a. What will the judgment bring to the city of Jerusalem? (v. 10; it appears these locations mentioned all point to the north side of the city)
b. Why will all her merchants wail? (v. 11)
c. “The complacent” (v. 12)
- Why would the Lord punish the complacent?
- In what ways does the church in Laodicea which is rebuked by the Lord (in Revelation) resemble the complacent? (see Rev. 3:15)
- Why does the Lord use the imagery of searching with lamps to find out who are complacent?
d. How does the combined reference to merchants, wealth and complacency reveal the spiritual condition of the people of Judah?
(9) What is the message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
The theme of the Day of the Lord continues which appears to extend beyond Judah to the whole earth.
1:14-16—The Great Day of the Lord
(1) How does the Lord reinforce the urgency of the situation? (v. 14)
(2) We know that Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 B.C. Do you think the people of Judah realize the nearness of their destruction?
(3) What will that day be like (vv. 15-16): Imagine you are one of the first audience and you hear the following description like rapid fire, one after another:
a. The cry is bitter
b. The battle cry of a mighty warrior
c. A day of wrath, distress, anguish
d. A day of trouble and ruin
e. A day of darkness and gloom
f. A day of clouds and blackness
g. A day of trumpet and battle cry!
Will you be shaken? Why or why not?
What then is the meaning of “the Great Day of the Lord”?
1:17-18—A Day of Wrath on All People
(4) How widespread will the distress be?
(5) This distress will cause the people in the world to grope like the blind:
a. What does it mean?
b. What is the reason given?
c. What then will the people of the world be like as they face the wrath of God at the End-time?
(6) How does the Lord depict the scene of death and destruction in v. 17b?
(7) On what do people normally depend for their sense of security? (v. 18a)
(8) Is it of any use on the Day of the Lord?
(9) How does v. 18b sum up this Day of the Lord?
2:1-3—A Call to Repentance
(10) What does the Lord call the nation of Israel? Why?
(11) Why does the Lord call them to gather themselves together?
(12) How should they repent? (v. 3a)
(13) While the Day of the Lord will still come, what might their repentance bring? (v. 3b)
(14) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?