Judgment on Judah’s Enemies. Zephaniah 2:1-15
INTRODUCTION TO ZEPHANIAH
Zephaniah may have been a great-great-grandson of Hezekiah, Zep_1:1, R.V. He prophesied during the reign of Josiah, probably before the discovery of the Book of the Law, as the evils which he denounced were then removed by the king.
Zephaniah is the prophet of the Day of the Lord. He does not, like Obadiah, Nahum, or Habakkuk, deal with the downfall of any one nation; he is instead a prophet of universal judgment. His message to the nations is parallel to the words of Jesus: “Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish,” Luk_13:4-5.
Zephaniah declares that all nations, even Judah itself, will fall under the divine wrath if they continue to defy the divine law. But his message is more than one of judgment. He shows that God is working for the salvation of mankind and that following judgment there will be revealed new heavens and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness.
“The Day of the Lord”
I. A DAY OF JUDGMENT, Zep_1:1-18; Zep_2:1-15; Zep_3:1-8
1. Upon the Whole Earth, Zep_1:1-3
2. Upon Particular Nations, Zep_1:4-18; Zep_2:1-15; Zep_3:1-8
(1) Judah and Jerusalem, Zep_1:4-18
(Call to Repentance), Zep_2:1-3
(2) Philistia, Moab, Amnion, Ethiopia, and Assyria, Zep_2:4-15
JUDGMENT ON JUDAH’S ENEMIES
Gather yourselves together [in repentance], yes, gather [in submission], O nation without shame,
Before the decree takes effect [and the time for repentance is lost]– The day passes like the chaff [whirled by the wind]– Before the burning and fierce anger of the LORD comes upon you, Before the day of the wrath of the LORD comes upon you.
Seek the LORD [search diligently for Him and regard Him as the foremost necessity of your life], All you humble of the land Who have practiced His ordinances and have kept His commandments; Seek righteousness, seek humility [regard them as vital]. Perhaps you will be hidden [and pardoned and rescued] In the day of the LORD’S anger.
For [this is the fate of the Philistines:] Gaza will be abandoned And Ashkelon a desolation; [The people of] Ashdod will be driven out at noon [in broad daylight] And Ekron will be uprooted and destroyed.
Woe (judgment is coming) to the inhabitants of the seacoast, The nation of the Cherethites [in Philistia]! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; I will destroy you So that no inhabitant will be left.
the [depopulated] seacoast shall be pastures, With [deserted] meadows for shepherds and folds for flocks.
The seacoast will belong To the remnant of the house of Judah; They will pasture [their flocks] on it. In the [deserted] houses of Ashkelon [in Philistia] they [of Judah] will lie down and rest in the evening, For the LORD their God will care for them; And restore their fortune [permitting them to occupy the land]. [Isa_14:29-31; Amo_1:6-8]
“I have heard the taunting of Moab And the revilings of the sons of Ammon, With which they have taunted My people And become arrogant against their territory [by violating Israel’s boundary and trying to seize its land].
“Therefore, as I live,” declares the LORD of hosts, The God of Israel, “Moab will in fact become like Sodom And the sons of Ammon like Gomorrah, A land possessed by nettles and salt pits, And a perpetual desolation. The remnant of My people will plunder them And what is left of My nation will inherit them [as their own].”
This they shall have in return for their pride, because they have taunted and become arrogant against the people of the LORD of hosts.
The LORD will be terrifying and awesome to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down and worship Him, everyone from his own place. [Joe_2:11; Zep_1:4; Zep_3:9]
“You also, O Ethiopians, will be slain by My sword.” [Isaiah 18]
And the LORD will stretch out His hand against the north And destroy Assyria, And He will make Nineveh a desolation [a wasteland], Parched as the desert. [Isa_10:12; Nah_1:1]
Flocks will lie down in her midst, All the animals which range in herds; Both the pelican and the short-eared owl Will roost on the top of Nineveh’s pillars. Birds will sing in the window, Desolation will be on the threshold; For He has uncovered the cedar paneling.
This is the joyous city Which dwells carelessly [feeling so secure], Who says in her heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.” What a desolation she has become, A lair for [wild] animals! Everyone who passes by her will hiss [in scorn] And wave his hand in contempt. [Isa_10:5-34; Isa_47:8, Isa_47:10]
MEEKNESS SAVES, PRIDE DESTROYS
The nation, on the whole, had no remorse, no desire for God; but there were a few meek and lowly souls, and the hope was held out to them that they would be hidden from the coming overthrow. God discriminates in His judgments, and sends His angels to conduct Lot out of Sodom. The judgment of the surrounding nations occupies Zep_2:4-15. Philistia, Moab, Amnion, Ethiopia and Assyria, are mentioned. God never forgets the treatment meted out to His people by their foes, Zep_2:8-10. The captivity of Israel would be turned again, but there was no hope of recovery for the peoples that had rejoiced in their overthrow. What a picture is given in Zep_2:11 of famished gods! It seemed incredible that great Nineveh should become a wilderness, yet so it has been for centuries. Whenever an individual or nation dwells carelessly, destruction is not far away.
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