The Book of

The Setting of Zephaniah.

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19 Kings of Israel

20 Kings of Judah597 BC

721 BC

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605 BC

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Babylonian Captivity 70 years

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921 BC

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“…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.” Zephaniah 1:1.

605 BC

“… he did evil in the sight of the

LORD, as his father Manasseh

had done.”- II Kings 21:20

“… he did what was right…he did not turn aside to the right hand or

to the left.”- II Kings 22:2

“… he did evil in the sight of the

LORD, according to all that his

fathers had done.”- II Kings 23:32

“… he did evil in the sight of the

LORD, according to all that his

fathers had done.”- II Kings 23:37

The setting of Zephaniah may be best explained by looking again at the account of Josiah, (II Kings 21-23).

721 BC

“… he did what was right in the

sight of the LORD;”

- II Kings 15:34

“… he walked in the way of the

kings of Israel;… made his son pass through the fire,”

- II Kings 16:3

“… he did what was right…

according to all that his father

David had done.- II Kings 18:3

“… he did evil… according to the abominations of

the nations…”- II Kings 21:2

“…did evil… did not depart from

the sins of Jeroboam…“

- II Kings 15:24

“…he did evil… did not depart

from the sins of Jeroboam…“

- II Kings 15:28

“…he did evil in the sight of the LORD,

but not as the kings of Israel who were

before him.“ – II Kings 17:2

The setting of Zephaniah may be best explained by looking again at the account of Josiah, (II Kings 21-23).

Through the sins of Manassah, God’s judgment was coming upon Judah and Jerusalem, (II Kings 21:1-16).

II Kings 21:1-16 – Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.2 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; he raised up altars for Baal, and made a wooden image, as Ahab king of Israel had done; and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.4 He also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, "In Jerusalem I will put My name.“5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.6 Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced

soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.7 He even set a carved image of Asherah that he had made, in the house of which the LORD had said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever;8 "and I will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers-only if they are careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.“9 But they paid no attention, and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had

destroyed before the children of Israel.10 And the LORD spoke by His servants the prophets, saying,11 "Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations (he has acted more wickedly than all the Amorites who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols),12 "therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Behold, I am bringing such calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.13 'And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab; I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.

14 'So I will forsake the remnant of My inheritance and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become victims of plunder to all their enemies,15 'because they have done evil in My sight, and have provoked Me to anger since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.'“16 Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin by which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD.

605 BC

“… he did evil in the sight of the

LORD, as his father Manasseh

had done.”- II Kings 21:20

“… he did what was right…he did not turn aside to the right hand or

to the left.”- II Kings 22:2

“… he did evil in the sight of the

LORD, according to all that his

fathers had done.”- II Kings 23:32

“… he did evil in the sight of the

LORD, according to all that his

fathers had done.”- II Kings 23:37

The setting of Zephaniah may be best explained by looking again at the account of Josiah, (II Kings 21-23).

Through the sins of Manassah, God’s judgment was coming upon Judah and Jerusalem, (II Kings 21:1-16).

The judgment would not happen in the time of Josiah because of his faithfulness, (II Kings 22:1,11-13,16-20).

II Kings 22:1, 11-13 – Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.

11 Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes.12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying,13 "Go, inquire of the LORD for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us."

II Kings 22:16-20 - "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants-all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read-17 'because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.'"‘18 "But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, in this manner you shall speak to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Concerning the words which you have heard-19 "because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the LORD.

20 "Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place."'" So they brought back word to the king.

The Book of

The Setting of Zephaniah.

The Survey of Zephaniah.

The Book of

It has been said that out of the 53 verses in Zephaniah, 43 of those verses are predictive. This makes the book 89% predictive; which in turn, makes the book the most predictive book of the Bible. The book of Zephaniah is a very fascinating book. The three chapters can be broken into three interesting categories:

Judgment has come, Chapter 1:2-6

Zephaniah 1:2-6 "I will utterly consume everything From the face of the land," Says the LORD;3 "I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land," Says the LORD.4 "I will stretch out My hand against Judah, And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, The names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests-5 Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; Those who worship and swear oaths by the LORD, But who also swear by Milcom; (“Molech - god of Ammon”)6 Those who have turned back from following the LORD, And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him."

Judgment has come, Chapter 1:2-6

Judgment will be complete,

Chapter 1:7-13

Zephaniah 1:7-13 - Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.8 "And it shall be, In the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, That I will punish the princes and the king's children, And all such as are clothed with foreign apparel.9 In the same day I will punish All those who leap over the threshold, Who fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.10 "And there shall be on that day," says the LORD, "The sound of a mournful cry from the Fish Gate, A wailing from the Second Quarter, (section of Jerusalem, II Kings 22:14) And a loud crashing from the hills.11 Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh! For all the merchant

people are cut down; All those who handle money are cut off.12 "And it shall come to pass at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And punish the men Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, 'The LORD will not do good, Nor will He do evil.‘13 Therefore their goods shall become booty, And their houses a desolation; They shall build houses, but not inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine."

Judgment has come, Chapter 1:2-6

Judgment will be complete,

Chapter 1:7-13

The fierceness of Judgment,

Chapter 1:14-18

Zephaniah 1:14-18 - The great day of the LORD is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out.15 That day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness,16 A day of trumpet and alarm Against the fortified cities And against the high towers.17 "I will bring distress upon men, And they shall walk like blind men, Because they have sinned against the LORD; Their blood shall be poured out like dust, And their flesh like refuse.“18 Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the LORD'S wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in the land.

Judgment has come, Chapter 1:2-6

Judgment will be complete,

Chapter 1:7-13

The fierceness of Judgment,

Chapter 1:14-18

The call to repentance, Chapter

2:1-3

Zephaniah 2:1-3 - Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation,2 Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the LORD'S fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the LORD'S anger comes upon you!3 Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD'S anger.

Judgment has come, Chapter 1:2-6

Judgment will be complete,

Chapter 1:7-13

The fierceness of Judgment,

Chapter 1:14-18

The call to repentance, Chapter

2:1-3The Judgment against the Nations,

Chapter 2:4-15

Zephaniah 2:4-7 - For Gaza shall be forsaken, And Ashkelon desolate; They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, And Ekron shall be uprooted.5 Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, The nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: "I will destroy you; So there shall be no inhabitant.“6 The seacoast shall be pastures, With shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks.7 The coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; They shall feed their flocks there; In the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the LORD their God will intervene for them, And return their captives.

Judgment has come, Chapter 1:2-6

Judgment will be complete,

Chapter 1:7-13

The fierceness of Judgment,

Chapter 1:14-18

The call to repentance, Chapter

2:1-3The Judgment against the Nations,

Chapter 2:4-15

Zephaniah 2:8-11 - "I have heard the reproach of Moab, And the insults of the people of Ammon, With which they have reproached My people, And made arrogant threats against their borders.9 Therefore, as I live," Says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, And the people of Ammon like Gomorrah-Overrun with weeds and saltpits, And a perpetual desolation. The residue of My people shall plunder them, And the remnant of My people shall possess them.“10 This they shall have for their pride, Because they have reproached and made arrogant threats Against the people of the LORD of hosts.11 The LORD will be awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; People shall worship Him, Each one from his place, Indeed all the shores of the nations.

Judgment has come, Chapter 1:2-6

Judgment will be complete,

Chapter 1:7-13

The fierceness of Judgment,

Chapter 1:14-18

The call to repentance, Chapter

2:1-3The Judgment against the Nations,

Chapter 2:4-15

Zephaniah 2:12 - You Ethiopians also, You shall be slain by My sword."

Judgment has come, Chapter 1:2-6

Judgment will be complete,

Chapter 1:7-13

The fierceness of Judgment,

Chapter 1:14-18

The call to repentance, Chapter

2:1-3The Judgment against the Nations,

Chapter 2:4-15

Zephaniah 2:13-15 - And He will stretch out His hand against the north, Destroy Assyria, And make Nineveh a desolation, As dry as the wilderness.14 The herds shall lie down in her midst, Every beast of the nation. Both the pelican and the bittern Shall lodge on the capitals of her pillars; Their voice shall sing in the windows; Desolation shall be at the threshold; For He will lay bare the cedar work.15 This is the rejoicing city That dwelt securely, That said in her heart, "I am it, and there is none besides me." How has she become a desolation, A place for beasts to lie down! Everyone who passes by her Shall hiss and shake his fist.

Judgment has come, Chapter 1:2-6

Judgment will be complete,

Chapter 1:7-13

The fierceness of Judgment,

Chapter 1:14-18

The call to repentance, Chapter

2:1-3The Judgment against the Nations,

Chapter 2:4-15

Judah will not escape, Chapter 3:1-

8

Zephaniah 3:1-8 - Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, To the oppressing city!2 She has not obeyed His voice, She has not received correction; She has not trusted in the LORD, She has not drawn near to her God.3 Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are evening wolves That leave not a bone till morning.4 Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, They have done violence to the law.5 The LORD is righteous in her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails, But the unjust knows no shame.6 "I have cut off nations, Their fortresses are devastated; I have made their streets desolate, With none passing by. Their cities are destroyed; There is no one, no inhabitant.

7 I said, 'Surely you will fear Me, You will receive instruction' -So that her dwelling would not be cut off, Despite everything for which I punished her. But they rose early and corrupted all their deeds.8 "Therefore wait for Me," says the LORD, "Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All my fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy.

Judgment has come, Chapter 1:2-6

Judgment will be complete,

Chapter 1:7-13

The fierceness of Judgment,

Chapter 1:14-18

The call to repentance, Chapter

2:1-3The Judgment against the Nations,

Chapter 2:4-15

Judah will not escape, Chapter 3:1-

8

The salvation of the remnant,

Chapter 3:9-13

Zephaniah 3:9-13 - "For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord.10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, The daughter of My dispersed ones, Shall bring My offering.11 In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds In which you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your midst Those who rejoice in your pride, And you shall no longer be haughty In My holy mountain.12 I will leave in your midst A meek and humble people, And they shall trust in the name of the LORD.13 The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness And speak no lies, Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, And no one shall make them afraid."

Judgment has come, Chapter 1:2-6

Judgment will be complete,

Chapter 1:7-13

The fierceness of Judgment,

Chapter 1:14-18

The call to repentance, Chapter

2:1-3The Judgment against the Nations,

Chapter 2:4-15

Judah will not escape, Chapter 3:1-

8

The salvation of the remnant,

Chapter 3:9-13

The rejoicing of the remnant,

Chapter 3:14-20

Zephaniah 3:14-20 - Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!15 The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more.16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak.17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.“18 "I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, Who are among you, To whom its reproach is a burden.19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, And gather those who were driven out; I

will appoint them for praise and fame In every land where they were put to shame.20 At that time I will bring you back, Even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I return your captives before your eyes," Says the LORD.

The Book of

The Setting of Zephaniah.

The Survey of Zephaniah.

Lessons From Zephaniah.

Lessons from Zephaniah:

God’s care for the faithful.

Money is not the answer.

Surely we would learn the lesson.

Zephaniah 1:18; Acts 8:20.

Zephaniah 2:3; II Peter 2:9.

Zephaniah 3:7; I Corinthians 10:6.

The Book of

The book of Zephaniah again gives us a glimpse into the great and wonderful plan of God to save man from sin.Are you a part of the kingdom spoken of by the prophets of old established though / by the blood of Jesus?