Zephaniah

I. Introduction
   A. Zephaniah
   B. "God has hidden," or "God has protected"
   C. Discussion of the day of the LORD and all that means
   D. Let us consider the book

II. Zephaniah: The Details
   A. Authorship
      1. Portion of Zephaniah's genealogy given (Zephaniah 1:1)
      2. Descendant of Hezekiah the king?
      3. Nothing known regarding final compiler
   B. Dating
      1. Dated to reign of Josiah (Zephaniah 1:1)
      2. Thus, 640-612 BCE (cf. Zephaniah 3:13)
      3. Last great moment of hope in days of kings of Judah
   C. Audience
      1. Judah 
      2. Much we can gain from it
   D. Purpose
      1. To reveal the word of God that came to Zephaniah
      2. To proclaim the day of the LORD: condemnation for sinners, 
         blessing for believers

III. Zephaniah: The Story
   A. Judgment on Judah (Zephaniah 1)
      1. Introduction; God to sweep everything from face of earth; 
         man and beast, birds and fish; man to be cut off 
         (Zephaniah 1:1-3)
      2. Hand of God against Judah, Jerusalem; those serving Baal, 
         Milcom, other idols, those not serving God or inquiring of 
         Him to be cut off (Zephaniah 1:4-6)
      3. Call for silence before God; God has prepared sacrifice; on 
         day of sacrifice, officials, those in foreign attire, those 
         leaping over threshold, those practicing violence to be 
         punished (Zephaniah 1:7-9)
      4. Cries to be heard on that day throughout Jerusalem; traders, 
         merchants cut off; those complacent to be punished, 
         plundered, will not prosper (Zephaniah 1:10-13)
      5. Day of the LORD near; day of wrath, devastation, darkness 
         against cities (Zephaniah 1:14-16)
      6. Distress to be brought on mankind; walking as blind because 
         of sin; blood, flesh poured out; will not be able to be 
         delivered by silver or gold; earth to be consumed in 
         jealousy of the LORD; He will make full and sudden end 
         (Zephaniah 1:17-18)
   B. The Day of the LORD (Zephaniah 2-3)
      1. Shameless nation to gather together before day of LORD 
         against them; humble to seek LORD so as to be hidden on day 
         of LORD's anger; Philistia to be devastated (Zephaniah 2:1-4)
      2. Woe to Cherethites of the seacoast; word of LORD against 
         Canaan, Philistia; God will make thorough destruction; 
         seacoast to become pastureland; seacoast to become Judean 
         possession when God restores their fortunes (Zephaniah 2:5-7)
      3. God has heard the taunts of Moab and Ammon against Judah; as 
         God lives, Moab and Ammon to be as Sodom, Gomorrah, a 
         wasteland; Judeans who remain to plunder them because of 
         their taunts; LORD against them, will famish gods of earth, 
         all nations to bow to Him; Cushites also to suffer God's 
         sword (Zephaniah 2:8-12)
      4. Assyria also to be destroyed, Nineveh made a desolation; 
         animals to live there; city now exultant, proud, but will be 
         made desolate; all will hiss and shake fist who pass by 
         (Zephaniah 2:13-15)
      5. Woe to rebellious, defiled, oppressing city, who does not 
         listen to God or trust in Him; officials as roaring lions, 
         judges as wolves; prophets as fickle and treacherous, 
         priests profane the holy and violate law; LORD is righteous, 
         just; shows forth His justice, but unjust have no shame 
         (Zephaniah 3:1-5)
      6. Nations cut off, streets laid waste, their cities desolate; 
         God expected Judah to see this and learn to accept 
         correction, not meet same fate; yet they corrupted their 
         deeds, thus wait for God when He rises up to seize prey; God
         will gather nations and pour out His wrath on Judah; all 
         earth to be consumed (Zephaniah 3:6-8)
      7. Speech of peoples to be made pure speech that day; all to 
         call upon LORD's name and serve Him together; offerings to 
         be brought from beyond Cush; will not be put to shame that 
         day despite rebellion; proud and arrogant to be removed that 
         day, lowly and humble to remain; they will seek refuge in 
         name of God, will be righteous; none will make them afraid 
         (Zephaniah 3:9-13)
      8. Zion to sing and rejoice, for LORD has taken away judgment 
         against you, cleared enemies; LORD in their midst, will not 
         again fear evil; Zion not to fear, let hands grow weak; God 
         in their midst, will save, rejoice over them, quiet them with
         His love, exult with singing; He will gather those who mourn 
         so as to not suffer reproach; God to deal with oppressors, 
         will save lame, gather outcast, change shame into praise; 
         God to bring them in, make them renowned and praised among 
         people on earth, fortunes restored (Zephaniah 3:14-20)

IV. Zephaniah: Important Passages
   A. Zephaniah 3:13 / Revelation 14:5
   B. Zephaniah 3:14-20

V. Conclusion
   A. Zephaniah the quintessential prophet
      1. Day of judgment, condemnation upon the sinful of people of 
         God, nations who rise against them
      2. Promise of future day of restoration for God's people
      3. All of these fears and hopes wrapped up in the "day of the 
         LORD"
   B. Let us learn from Zephaniah and serve God while we have time!
   C. Invitation/songbook