Title: God's Judgment Object
Contents
According to the prophecy of the prophet Zephaniah, Zephaniah is the 4th generation descendant of Hezekiah (1) The prophet who prophesied during the 16th King Josiah of Southern Judah (actually before that), it is presumed that he and King Josiah are close friends. Because Josiah is the third-generation descendant of Hezekiah. Then, Josiah's Reformation policy seems to have been carried out under the influence of Zephaniah.
At that time, Judah was in a very difficult political and religious situation as a vassal of Assyria. It was a religiously dark age when the idols of Assyria were brought in under the rule of the previous kings, Manasseh and Amon. At this time, Zephaniah proclaims the judgment of “the day of the Lord” and emphasizes the judgment of the nations as the King of Kings who rules over the whole world and the universe with absolute sovereignty, not as a local deity where God rules only Israel. Although the law was enforced and worship restored through Josiah's reformation, he still sharply points out the religious corruption and sins hidden in various parts of southern Judah and calls for a return to God. Specifically, the sin that judged Israel
1. Idol worshipers (4)
Despite Josiah's powerful reforms, idolatry still remained, leading to the people's corruption. It is the sin of adultery following idolatry. He judges foolish people who deny God the Creator and worship the idols he has bought (Jeremiah 44:15,18-19). Baal, Marim, Sun, Moon, Holy Spirit, Malgam, etc.
2. Those who worship both God and idols (5)
They are religious syncretists who swear to Jehovah and swear to pagan idols like Malgam. In short, they are opportunists. They are worse than unbelievers. (Deuteronomy 32:15-26) Only God is God (1 Kings 18:21) You must not serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24)
3. Those who neither seek nor seek Jehovah (6)
Those who deny God He has no interest in God. In fact, that is how they feel comfortable (Psalm 14:1) because their heart is darkened and hardened.
Now, they say that they do not worship what they see or worship, but if they love and serve more than God, they are idols.