Zephaniah 1:1-18
Q.1. During what period of time did Zephaniah prophesy? Why will God stretch out His hand against Judah? What made the people complacent? – (Zeph.1:1-13)
Zephaniah was the final messenger, before Jerusalem was destroyed, and Judah taken to Babylon. He ministered at the time of the godly King Josiah, who had followed the wicked reigns of Manasseh and Amon. God would stretch out His hand against the idolatrous priests – 5 And those who bow down on the housetops to the host of heaven, and those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom, 6 And those who have turned back from following the Lord, and those who have not sought the Lord or inquired of Him (Zeph.1:5-6). The leaders played down the looming judgment, by arguing – … Who say in their hearts, `The Lord will not do good or evil!’ (Zeph.1:12). It is never wise to presume upon God.
Q.2. Does history confirm that the day of destruction was near? Why was God’s judgment coming? How could God treat His people that way? – (Zeph.1:14-18)
In keeping with the message from God to Josiah from the prophetess Huldah, the Lord destroyed the nation as He had promised – 24 … “Behold, I am bringing evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods (2 Chr.34:24-25). But Josiah was promised that he would not see the devastation that God would bring on the nation, because he had tried to turn the people back to God (c.f. 2 Chr.34:26-28). God declared through Zephaniah, that a day of wrath was coming – I will bring distress on men so that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord; And their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung (Zeph.1:17). God would act – in the fire of His jealousy … even as He had warned through Moses, and repeatedly through His prophets (Zeph.1:18 c.f. Dt.28:45-68).