Title: Zephaniah Declaring Judgment/Zephaniah 1:7-9
Contents
Zephaniah Declaring Judgment/Zephaniah 1:7-9
1. Name and background
[Zephaniah] means 'the Lord covers' or 'the Lord hides' Did not come. It was because they were practically unable to prophesy under Manasseh and Amon. A long hiatus without a prophet continued in Judah. Zephaniah appeared in the early days of King Josiah, before the Reformation, at the same age as King Josiah, and started prophesying (about 640-630 B.C.) and had a considerable influence on Josiah's Reformation. He prophesied before Jeremiah. Neighboring nations at that time did not interfere with Judah. It was the time of Assyria's decline.
2. Judgment of Judah and Jerusalem
When Zephaniah was active, King Josiah ruled the country well, and from the outside it seemed to be in the age of peace. However, the eyes of the Prophet observed the source of sin hidden in the prosperous and prosperous life of the people. In particular, he attacked the religious culture of Jerusalem as paganism with his Puritan beliefs.
The vines of sin were viewed as fundamentally swept away. (Zep 1:2-3) "I will destroy all things from the face of the earth, says the LORD; I will destroy man and beast, and I will destroy the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, and the stumbling blocks and the wicked; I will destroy man from the face of the earth. I am the LORD, saith the LORD." This is a judgment of annihilation comparable to that of Noah's flood.
First, I will destroy the idols of Baal, and I will wipe out the priests without names, so I rebuke the idolaters. (1:4) "I will spread out my hand over all the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, and I will destroy the remnant of Baal there;
Second, while worshiping the Lord, the oath is a rebuke of what they do, namely, the middle class who worship Jehovah and idols together. (1:5) "Everyone who worships the sun, moon, and holy spirits of heaven on the roof, and everyone who worships and swears to the LORD and swears by Malgam"
The third is that we will get rid of the apostates, that is, those who do not seek the Lord even if there is something to be found out. (1:6) "I will put an end to those who have turned away from the LORD and have not followed the LORD, and those who do not seek or seek the LORD."
Zephaniah prophesied the judgment of Judah and Jerusalem, who had no faith and committed the sin of unbelief. It proceeds with a tragic portrayal of the horrors of war: tribulation, horror, chaos, and howling. But he does not give up hope that there will be mercy among them. Zephaniah cared for the poor and needy, and emphasized the blessings of God to be given to those who repent.
3. Judgment of the Gentiles
It points to the destruction of Judah as well as its neighboring countries, such as Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Cush, and Assyria, by powerful Babylon. Why should the Gentile nations be judged?
The first is that they harassed God's people. (2:8) "I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the reproach of the children of Ammon, that they have reproached my people, and have grown up themselves, and have transgressed their boundaries."
The second is because of the thought that there is only me and that there is no one else but me. (2:15) "This is a delightful city, where he dwells without worry, saying, "I am alone, and there is no one but me." How is it so desolate and a place for wild beasts to lie down? This kind of thinking means that those who disregard God with atheistic thoughts cannot escape God's judgment.
No country is outside of God's interest. There is no nation in which God's power is not beyond the reach of any nation. Therefore, it is said that any nation will receive God's grace as long as they turn from their current sins (3:9-20).
4. Israel's Promise of Salvation
Zephaniah said that Jehovah's work of salvation will purify the people so that the unrighteous will be removed, and those who humblely seek the Lord will be chosen. “Then I will cleanse the lips of the nations, that they may all call on the name of the LORD and serve with one heart” (3:9) The Israelites who returned in this way participate in the salvation of the LORD. I will no longer be proud, I will not practice evil and deceit, I will live in the pastures of the meek and humble and Almighty, without fear (3:14-15) “Sing, O daughter of Zion, sing for joy, O Israel; Rejoice and be glad with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! will not be afraid of being offended." Zephaniah promised an eternal day of joy and joy in the salvation of all peoples. It is the Day of Salvation and the Day of Consolation, the Day of the Lord. However, the 'day of the Lord' is also a day of universal judgment.
5. What to learn
1) Idol worshipers will be judged.
No matter how chosen the people are, if they worship idols and neglect God, they will face the judgment of annihilation. Judgment according to idolatry is no different from that of one's own people or the Gentiles.
2) There is no distinction between believers and non-believers in judgment.
If they have committed the same sin, they do not have their vested rights as believers. God's justice makes no exceptions or privileged classes. Israel may be judged, and the Gentiles may be judged. Zephaniah proclaims the same message both to Israel and to the Gentiles.
3) Judgment Day is also a reward day.
It is a day of reward for those who believe in God, and a day of judgment (punishment) for those who do not. In the end, we can make the Day of Judgment a day of consolation or, conversely, a day of judgment because of our faith. It's like the palm of your hand and the back of your hand. Same day, different results.
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