Justice and Mercy: The Message of Zephaniah - Cameron Jungles - 8-14-2013 PM

Justice and Mercy: The Message of Zephaniah (Eastside Baptist/Wed PM/August 14, 2013)

Setting and Context

Ø  Zephaniah – prophet of Judah

§  Lived in Jerusalem

§  Possibly of royal descent (1:1)

Ø  Ministered during reign of King Josiah.

§  640 to 609 B.C.

§  End of Assyria’s dominance.

Ø  Judah in apostasy when Josiah becomes king at the age of 8.

Ø  Book of Law rediscovered in Temple in 18th year of Josiah.

Ø  Zephaniah possibly prophesied during this early period before Josiah’s reforms.

Structure

Ø  God’s Judgment of Judah, with Consequent Wailing (1:2-18)

Ø  God’s Judgment of the Nations (2:1-3:8)

Ø  God’s Redemption of the Remnant, with Consequent Rejoicing (3:9-21)

Message

Ø  Zephaniah the Prophet (1:1)

§  A descendant of a royal, righteous reformer (Hezekiah) who now ministers in the court of a royal, righteous reformer (Josiah).

Ø  The Day of the LORD (1:2-18)

§  Announcement of God’s coming wrath on Jerusalem for its sins (idolatry, injustice, complacent prosperity).

§  Flood-like imagery (Gen 6).

§  Total devastation; wailing in lament; will be inescapable.

Zephaniah 1:14

The great day of the LORD is near-- near and coming quickly. The cry on the day of the LORD is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry.

Zephaniah 1:15

That day will be a day of wrath-- a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness-- 

Ø  God’s Judgment on the Nations (2:1-3:8)

§  Call for Judah to repent: protection from God’s wrath.

§  Five oracles of judgment against five nations (including Judah).

§  Jerusalem’s refusal to repent.

Zephaniah 2:3

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.

Ø  Restoration of the Remnant (3:9-20)

§  The purification of the righteous remnant restored to the land by mercy.

§  Praise instead of lament.

§  Hints of salvation extending beyond the borders of Israel.

Zephaniah 3:14

Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!

Zephaniah 3:15

The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.

Zephaniah 3:16

On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.

Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."

Important Themes

Ø  God is just and will not tolerate idolatry, injustice, oppression, deceit, and pride in wealth.

Ø  God is jealous and will not be shared with other gods or elements of other religions (syncretism).

Ø  God’s justice extends to his covenant people and to all the nations.

Ø  God is merciful and shows grace to an undeserving, humble remnant and grants them salvation.

Ø  God’s mercy to the post-exilic remnant of Judah was just the beginning of the demonstration of his mercy to the nations.

“Jesus Lens” and Application

Ø  “The small book of Zephaniah speaks in powerful ways of both God’s judgment on sin and his gracious act of salvation for the humble and undeserving, thus anticipating the gospel as expressed in the NT.” – Douglas Stuart

Ø   “The judgment and salvation announced in Zephaniah foreshadow God’s final act of bringing judgment and salvation at the return of Jesus Christ.” – Richard Patterson

Ø  As in 2:1-3, those who repent and place their faith in Christ will be shielded from God’s wrath.

Ø  Believers in Christ owe God undivided love and worship.

Ø  Believers in Christ should not put their trust or their joy in the wealth of this world.

Ø  Believers in Christ should treat others with love, justice, & mercy.