What a wonderful rush of exuberant gladness there is in these words. The purifying doctrines of the gospel, or the pure language of the grace of the lord, would teach men to. Who is zephaniah and why is he important in the bible. Having removed evil from the world, he will allow the remnant of israel to live safely in its land, knowing that god dwells among the people of israel in the land of israel. Yet before we get to that verse, the book, like many prophetic books, is full of alarming brokenness and impending judgement. He will rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah was preaching at the same time as jeremiah in the days of josiah, a few years before nineveh fell. What does it mean that god will rejoice over us with. Josiah was the son of amon, who was the king of judah 2 it is the lord who is speaking now. We can begin to pinpoint exactly when zephaniah prophesied by accounting for a few details in the text. He prophesied at the same time three other prophets were prophesying as well.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Historically, the book of zephaniah was used in the providence of god to. According to the superscription of the book zephaniah 1. The contents of this book have never been familiar, and i doubt that it has been read very much. While we do not know a lot about zephaniah, we do know that he was related to good king hezekiah. Nov 16, 2014 zephaniah, too, was a minor prophet, writing only 3 chapters to make his book. Tzefanya describes the result of hashems judgement in triumphant terms. Book of zephaniah overview insight for living ministries. David guzik commentary on zephaniah 3 describes how the lord rejoices over the restoration of his people, after judgment had been brought to them. In this book, zephaniah announces gods purifying judgment on israel. The timing of the book of zephaniah is also interesting. Bible study guide book of zephaniah saturday, november 3, 2012 background on zephaniah in zephaniah 1.
Historically, the book of zephaniah was used in the providence of god to prepare judah for the reforms and revival under king josiah. This is not the only place where this theme occurs, of course, but it is the most concentrated treatment of the judgment of god as the whole book is devoted to this one theme. The small book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic oracle. Chapter 1 judgment upon judah chapter 2 judgment upon the nations chapter 3 judgment upon jerusalem. Watch our overview video on the book of zephaniah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Read commentary on this popular bible verse and understand the real meaning behind gods word using john gills exposition of the bible.
Zepheniah lesson 3 we will begin this lesson in zephaniah 3. For god so loved the world that he gave his only son john 3. Zephaniahs name means hidden and perhaps this is a play on words to say those that turn to the lord will be hidden from his wrath 2. The swift, short clauses, the triple invocation in the former verse, the triple promise in the latter, the heaped together synonyms, all help the impression. This chapter contains further indictments against the jerusalem community, a prophecy of salvation for judah and the nations with. The wickedness of jerusalemwoe to her who is rebellious and polluted,to the oppressing city. Zephaniah 3 niv bible woe to the city of oppressors. Zephaniah calls the nation to repentance and warns foreign nations to repent as well. She has not trusted in the lord, she has not drawn. God will destroy jerusalems enemies, but he will, also, punish jerusalem for the evil within her. The book tells us that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah, the king of judah from 640 to 609 bc zephaniah 1. Zephaniah is the only prophet to mention four generations of his ancestors.
The lord thy god in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save. The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning of coming judgment and to encourage repentance. From my studies of the holy scriptures, it appears in relation to major judgment that god deals with a remnant those folks who love god and are true to god. Yet this message has its deepest significance when set in contrast to what has come before. This time of restoration of all things, which god has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began acts 3. The lord, your god, is in your midst he will renew you in his love zephaniah 3. There are many people who would like to rule this subject of judgment out of the. Zephaniah 3 the lord rejoices over the restoration of his people a.
Jesus christ has the power and authority to bring about the worldwide restoration process. The name of zephaniah means treasured protected, hidden of jehovah. Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city. While we do not know a lot about zephaniah, we do know that he was related to. However, these facts can be explained in other ways and it seems best not to draw a firm conclusion either way on this point. Below are passages that parallel the thought of zephaniah 3.
May 14, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of zephaniah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In the 18th year of josiahs reign hilkiah the priest found in the temple a copy of the book of the law that had been ignored. Zephaniah 3, new king james version nkjv the bible app. Introduction to zephaniah historical context setting though an occasional voice of protest has been heard,648 few scholars have failed to accept the information in the superscription that the books author prophesied during the reign of josiah 640609 b. Habakkuk who was a contemporary also depicts more the moral view of jeremiah while zephaniah shows in brevity the historical events of judahs and jerusalems fall. What does it mean that god will rejoice over us with singing zephaniah 3. The first verse of this book tells us that the word of yahweh came to zephaniah, the son of cushi, the son of gedaliah, the son of amariah, the son of hezekiah, in the days of josiah, the son of amon, king of judah 1.
So zephaniah spoke of a future restoration when god would step in to the wicked world and change things. The lord your god is with you, the mighty warrior who saves. In very general terms, from the preceding chart it is clear that most of the book deals with judgment zeph 1. The words of zephaniah contain one of my favorite bible verses. The book of zephaniah shows extremely many similarities. If zephaniah is prophesying during manasseh or amons time and josiah is hearing this, then josiah did repent and did clean up the country as best he could, but he could not cancel our gods judgment. It was zephaniah s lot to speak on the most unpleasant subject in the bible the judgment of god. The judgments against judah and jerusalem are turned aside, and the nation or at least a remnant thereof is set free see zephaniah 3. The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning of.
The land was full of oppression and evil and shame. And indeed this is the message of the book, of the advent season, and of christian faith. Among the prophets, this is a unique introduction with its long list of fathers back to zephaniahs great. By describing the three characteristics of those he gathers, the lord warmly encourages us into having a more intimate relationship with him. The little book of zephaniah will never take the place of john 3. Zephaniah pronounces the lords judgment on the whole earth, on judah, on the surrounding nations, on jerusalem and on all nations. She has not obeyed his voice,she has not received correction. Zephaniah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
In this book, zephaniah announces gods purifying judgment on. What does it mean that god will rejoice over us with singing. The lord your god is with you, he is mighty to save. He will show how much he loves you and how happy he is with you. Read commentary on this popular bible verse and understand the real meaning behind gods word using john gills. The book of zephaniah shows extremely many similarities with other prophetic books of the ot. Zephaniah grew up at a time when wicked king after wicked king had filled gods temple with idols until there was no more room for god to dwell with his people. Most people do not realize that the name zephaniah means yahweh has hidden or protected. Our excitement is strengthened as we contemplate that the lord is committed to our wellbeing. I dare say that few have ever heard a sermon on zephaniah. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet zephaniah, and is a part of the book of the twelve minor prophets.
That is a phrase we have seen before in books of prophets esp. Zephaniah 3 is the third and last chapter of the book of zephaniah in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. The lord gave this message to zephaniah when josiah was king. It was zephaniahs lot to speak on the most unpleasant subject in the bible the judgment of god. Zephaniah, too, was a minor prophet, writing only 3 chapters to make his book. Gedaliahs father was amariah, and amariahs father was hezekiah. Zephaniah 3 bible commentary matthew henry concise.
Those true believers are devoid of selfishness, pride, selfsufficiency, and any kind of worship of the devil. Peculiarities in the commentary on joel b zephaniah and the other prophets. The book of zephaniah center point bible institute. The lord your god is among you, a warrior who saves. The false prophets, as the targum and kimchi explain it. The ot describes the day of jehovah mostly under the aspect of judgment compare with paragraph 3. The voice of judgment is softened by gospel promises. Zephaniah foresees the joyful return from captivity in due time. As with each of the 12 minor prophets, the prophecy bears the name of its author, which is generally thought to mean the lord hides compare 2.
In context the passages speak primarily to the nation of israel. Our excitement commences its excitement when we begin to ponder on what our lord has done for us. The thought of a glad god might be a very awful thought. The pleasure of god in the good of his people desiring god. A contrast between a wicked city and a righteous god. She has not obeyed his voice, she has not received correction.
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