#157. Zephaniah: The Day of the Lord and A God Who Will Delight in You | Bible for Moms

Steph: 00:00:00

This is The Dwelling Place from Entrusted Ministries.

2

: 00:00:03

I'm Stephanie Hickox.

3

: 00:00:04

As we study the book of Zephaniah,

4

: 00:00:06

this minor prophet's message will be

undeniable as he mentions the day of the

5

: 00:00:10

Lord twenty-three times in three chapters.

6

: 00:00:13

The day of the Lord is mentioned

here more than any other book

7

: 00:00:15

of the Bible, and therefore it's

known as apocalyptic literature.

8

: 00:00:19

This eleventh hour prophet spoke of

the impending judgment upon Israel's

9

: 00:00:23

enemies, as well as Judah and Jerusalem

herself Zephaniah's name means Yahweh has

10

: 00:00:28

hidden or Yahweh sheltered or stored up.

11

: 00:00:31

He is unlike the other prophets

12

: 00:00:33

Speaker 44: in that he begins

his book with a genealogy

13

: 00:00:35

Steph: The word of the Lord that came

to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the

14

: 00:00:39

son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son

of Hezekiah in the days of Josiah,

15

: 00:00:44

the son of Amon, king of Judah."

16

: 00:00:46

It's most likely that the reason

he mentioned his genealogy is

17

: 00:00:50

that he was of royal lineage.

18

: 00:00:52

The Hezekiah mentioned here is probably

King Hezekiah, and this would make

19

: 00:00:55

Zephaniah a cousin of King Josiah,

perhaps giving him an opportunity

20

: 00:01:00

to speak into Josiah and his reign.

21

: 00:01:02

It's not clear the exact date that

Zephaniah wrote his message of judgment

22

: 00:01:06

And his message of hope.

23

: 00:01:07

But because there is no mention of

the extensive reforms that Josiah

24

: 00:01:11

brought about in the land, it seems

probable that Zephaniah wrote before

25

: 00:01:14

Josiah made these drastic changes.

26

: 00:01:16

And that would place the book

from about 635 to 625 also during

27

: 00:01:22

the time of the prophet Jeremiah.

28

: 00:01:24

Now, when we talk about the day

of the Lord, like most prophecies,

29

: 00:01:28

there is a near-sighted meaning

and a far-sighted meaning.

30

: 00:01:31

Judgment was coming soon for the nation

But there is also a day where everyone

31

: 00:01:36

will be judged, and much of the book

points to that time his message speaks

32

: 00:01:40

a strong rebuke toward the nations

that act unjustly toward God's people

33

: 00:01:44

And when his people act like

the surrounding nations, there

34

: 00:01:47

is judgment for them as well.

35

: 00:01:49

Zephaniah's description of the wrath of

God that will be carried out is truly

36

: 00:01:53

harsh, and that's why chapter three

in God's restoration of his people is

37

: 00:01:57

so beautifully powerful and poetic.

38

: 00:01:59

And there's a verse describing God's love

for you that you've likely encountered

39

: 00:02:03

and delighted in before Zephaniah reveals

an undoing of the creation account.

40

: 00:02:08

If we think back to Genesis one and

two, each time a day was described, it

41

: 00:02:12

had both an evening and a morning, and

that's just like the day of the Lord.

42

: 00:02:16

There will be judgment, but it

will be followed by a time of

43

: 00:02:19

peace and joy and that's why

this book can end with such hope

44

: 00:02:23

After the genealogy in chapter one, God's

words are direct and abruptly issued.

45

: 00:02:27

" I will utterly sweep away everything from

the face of the earth," declares the Lord.

46

: 00:02:32

" I will sweep away man and beast.

47

: 00:02:34

I will sweep away the birds of the

heavens and the fish of the sea,

48

: 00:02:37

and the rubble with the wicked.

49

: 00:02:39

I will cut off mankind from the face

of the earth," declares the Lord.

50

: 00:02:42

" I will stretch out my hand against

Judah and against all the inhabitants of

51

: 00:02:46

Jerusalem, and I will cut off from this

place the remnant of Baal and the name

52

: 00:02:50

of the idolatrous priests, along with

the priests, those who bow down on the

53

: 00:02:54

roofs to the host of the heavens, those

who bow down and swear to the Lord, and

54

: 00:02:59

yet swear by Milcom, those who have

turned back from following the Lord, who

55

: 00:03:03

do not seek the Lord or inquire of him.

56

: 00:03:05

Be silent before the Lord God,

for the day of the Lord is near."

57

: 00:03:09

This judgment is going to be even

more severe than the flood because

58

: 00:03:13

it will extend even to the fish.

59

: 00:03:15

God condemns those who worship pagan

gods and also those who have fallen

60

: 00:03:19

into synchronism, the people that

worship Yahweh and the foreign gods.

61

: 00:03:23

Because God is a jealous God,

he does not want to share our

62

: 00:03:26

allegiance or our affections.

63

: 00:03:28

He's worthy of our entire hearts I

think this is really convicting

64

: 00:03:31

for us, as most of us probably

live in a first world nation with

65

: 00:03:35

incredible comforts and blessings.

66

: 00:03:37

It's truly difficult to see ads

over and over every day promising

67

: 00:03:41

to make us happy, and to still

find our sufficiency in Christ.

68

: 00:03:45

I was recently led in worship by Shane

Bernard, and he confessed that the

69

: 00:03:49

opening line of Psalm 23 wrecked him.

70

: 00:03:51

" The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall not want."

71

: 00:03:54

in relatable transparency he

shared he is a professional wanter

72

: 00:03:58

And he's certainly not alone.

73

: 00:04:00

While we're looking at the cultures that

negatively affected God's people, we

74

: 00:04:04

also need to evaluate how we're being

impacted by the culture around us.

75

: 00:04:08

And whenever necessary, we need to cut

off the temptations that threaten our

76

: 00:04:12

pure-hearted devotion to the Lord I

appreciate how definitive verse seven is.

77

: 00:04:16

" Be silent before the Lord God,

for the day of the Lord is near."

78

: 00:04:20

It makes me think of Psalm 46, " Be

still and know that I am God."

79

: 00:04:25

The phrasing might be similar, but

it has such a different connotation.

80

: 00:04:28

As the psalmist declared peace for

those that know God, While this prophet

81

: 00:04:32

declares fear and reverence from

82

: 00:04:34

Speaker 44: those that

have turned from the Lord

83

: 00:04:36

Steph: Chapter one continues, " At

that time I will search Jerusalem

84

: 00:04:40

with lamps, and I will punish

the men who are complacent.

85

: 00:04:43

Those who say in their hearts, ' The

Lord will not do good, nor will

86

: 00:04:46

he do ill,' their goods shall be

plundered and their homes laid waste.

87

: 00:04:50

Though they build houses,

they shall not inhabit them;

88

: 00:04:53

Though they plant vineyards, they

shall not drink wine from them.

89

: 00:04:56

For the great day of the Lord is

near, near and hastening fast.

90

: 00:05:00

This is like the most terrifying

game of hide and seek ever.

91

: 00:05:04

This image of the Lord

searching for anyone who is not

92

: 00:05:06

wholeheartedly devoted to Him.

93

: 00:05:08

My Moody commentary says that the

phrase complacent could also be

94

: 00:05:12

translated stagnant in spirit.

95

: 00:05:14

It literally means thick in their

sediment, and it stems from an expression

96

: 00:05:18

about wine that was fermented too long,

so it became syrupy and undrinkable.

97

: 00:05:23

it indicates men who have become

spiritually stuck, unmoved,

98

: 00:05:26

unconcerned, and unaffected by the

circumstances surrounding them.

99

: 00:05:30

They're so comfortable that they

don't even believe that God acts

100

: 00:05:33

to bless or punish people, which

Hebrews eleven-six tells us could

101

: 00:05:37

not be further from the truth

102

: 00:05:38

After Zephaniah describes more of the

conditions of the day of the Lord,

103

: 00:05:42

the chapter ends, " I will bring

distress on mankind so that they

104

: 00:05:45

shall walk like the blind because

they have sinned against the Lord.

105

: 00:05:48

Their blood shall be poured out

like dust and their flesh like dung.

106

: 00:05:52

Neither their silver nor their

gold shall be able to deliver them.

107

: 00:05:55

On the day of the wrath of the

Lord, in the fire of his jealousy,

108

: 00:05:59

all the earth shall be consumed.

109

: 00:06:01

For a full and sudden end he will make

of all the inhabitants of the earth."

110

: 00:06:05

You might wonder, is this a literal fire?

111

: 00:06:07

Because that phrasing occurs so much

throughout the Bible regarding the

112

: 00:06:11

judgment of the Lord, scholars do

tend to believe that this will be

113

: 00:06:14

a literal destruction of the Earth.

114

: 00:06:16

Yet in the mercy of the Lord in

chapter two, there is still hope

115

: 00:06:19

for people with contrite hearts.

116

: 00:06:20

In verse three, " Seek the

Lord, all you humble of the

117

: 00:06:23

land, who do His just commands.

118

: 00:06:26

Seek righteousness, seek humility.

119

: 00:06:28

Perhaps you may be hidden on the

day of the anger of the Lord."

120

: 00:06:31

Next, Zephaniah records specific judgments

against the enemies of Israel, beginning

121

: 00:06:37

with the Philistines, then the Moabites

and the Ammonites, as well as the

122

: 00:06:40

Cushites, which relates to Ethiopia, and

next the Assyrians and Nineveh itself.

123

: 00:06:46

Verse eleven tells us, " The Lord

will be awesome against them, for He

124

: 00:06:50

will famish all the gods of the earth,

and to Him shall bow down, each in its

125

: 00:06:54

place, all the lands of the nations."

126

: 00:06:56

And in the rebuke of Nineveh, 2:15 2:15

describes, " This is the exultant city

127

: 00:07:01

that lived securely, that said in her

heart, 'I am, and there is no one else.'

128

: 00:07:06

What a desolation she has

become, a lair for wild beasts,

129

: 00:07:10

I am and there is no one else.

130

: 00:07:12

I think that's terrifying to read that

the pride of Nineveh attempts to claim

131

: 00:07:17

this title that can only fit God alone.

132

: 00:07:19

The very name of the all-sufficient,

all-sustaining God of the universe, I

133

: 00:07:24

Am And next, I'll read chapter three

in its entirety because it's powerful

134

: 00:07:28

to hear the harsh judgment and then

conclude with the coming restoration.

135

: 00:07:32

And now God isn't speaking to Nineveh.

136

: 00:07:34

He speaks to the very city He has

chosen for Himself, Jerusalem

137

: 00:07:38

Woe to her who is rebellious and

defiled, the oppressing city.

138

: 00:07:42

She listens to no voice.

139

: 00:07:44

She accepts no correction.

140

: 00:07:46

She does not trust in the Lord.

141

: 00:07:47

She does not draw near to her God.

142

: 00:07:49

Her officials within

her are roaring lions.

143

: 00:07:52

Her judges are evening wolves that

leave nothing till the morning.

144

: 00:07:56

Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men.

145

: 00:07:58

Her priests profane what is holy.

146

: 00:08:01

They do violence to the law.

147

: 00:08:02

The Lord within her is righteous.

148

: 00:08:04

He does no injustice.

149

: 00:08:06

Every morning, he shows forth his justice.

150

: 00:08:09

Each dawn, he does not fail,

but the unjust knows no shame.

151

: 00:08:13

I have cut off the nations,

their battlements are in ruins.

152

: 00:08:16

I have laid waste to their streets

so that no one walks in them.

153

: 00:08:20

Their cries have been made desolate

without a man, without an inhabitant.

154

: 00:08:25

I said, "Surely you will fear me.

155

: 00:08:27

You will accept correction.

156

: 00:08:29

Then your dwelling will not be

cut off according to all that

157

: 00:08:32

I have appointed against you."

158

: 00:08:33

But all the more they were eager

to make all their deeds corrupt.

159

: 00:08:37

" Therefore, wait for me," declares

the Lord, " for the day when

160

: 00:08:40

I rise up to seize the prey.

161

: 00:08:42

For my decision is to gather nations,

to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon

162

: 00:08:47

them my indignation, all my burning

anger, for in the fire of my jealousy,

163

: 00:08:52

all the earth shall be consumed.

164

: 00:08:54

For at that time, I will change the speech

of the peoples to a pure speech, that

165

: 00:08:58

all of them may call upon the name of

the Lord and serve him with one accord.

166

: 00:09:02

From beyond the rivers of Cush,

my worshipers, the daughter of my

167

: 00:09:06

dispersed ones, shall bring my offering.

168

: 00:09:09

On that day, you shall not be put

to shame because of the deeds by

169

: 00:09:12

which you have rebelled against me."

170

: 00:09:14

For then I will remove from your midst

your proudly exalted ones, and you shall

171

: 00:09:18

no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.

172

: 00:09:21

But I will leave in your midst

a people humble and lowly.

173

: 00:09:24

They shall seek refuge in the name of

the Lord, those who are left in Israel.

174

: 00:09:28

They shall do no injustice

and speak no lies.

175

: 00:09:31

Nor shall there be found in

their mouth a deceitful tongue.

176

: 00:09:34

For they shall graze and lie down,

and none shall make them afraid.

177

: 00:09:38

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion.

178

: 00:09:40

Shout, O Israel.

179

: 00:09:41

Rejoice and exalt with all your heart,

o daughter of Jerusalem, the Lord has

180

: 00:09:45

taken away the judgments against you.

181

: 00:09:47

He has cleared away your enemies.

182

: 00:09:49

The King of Israel, the

Lord, is in your midst.

183

: 00:09:52

You shall never again fear evil.

184

: 00:09:54

on that day it shall be said to

Jerusalem, " Fear not, O Zion.

185

: 00:09:58

Let not your hands grow weak.

186

: 00:10:00

The Lord your God is in your

midst, a mighty one who will save.

187

: 00:10:04

He will rejoice over you with gladness.

188

: 00:10:06

He will quiet you by his love.

189

: 00:10:08

He will exalt over you with loud singing.

190

: 00:10:11

I will gather those of you who

mourn for the festival so that you

191

: 00:10:14

will no longer suffer reproach.

192

: 00:10:16

Behold, at that time I will deal

with all your oppressors, and I will

193

: 00:10:20

save the lame and gather the outcast,

and I will change their shame into

194

: 00:10:24

praise and renown in all the earth.

195

: 00:10:26

At that time I will bring you in, at

that time when I gather you together,

196

: 00:10:31

for I will make you renowned and

praised among the peoples of the

197

: 00:10:34

earth when I restore your fortunes

before your eyes, says the Lord.

198

: 00:10:38

After reading about Jerusalem's priests

and leaders, how they accept no correction

199

: 00:10:43

and do not draw near to God, Zephaniah

wrote how different the Lord is.

200

: 00:10:47

He is righteous, bringing forth

justice, and he never fails

201

: 00:10:50

And after God uses all of these

consequences and tribulation to purify

202

: 00:10:54

His people, He will gather them, and

their hearts will be entirely different.

203

: 00:10:59

Everyone will speak purely, calling

upon the name of the Lord together

204

: 00:11:03

The people will have been transformed

by God's process, and this is

205

: 00:11:06

one of the three blessings and

benefits of the Messianic Kingdom.

206

: 00:11:10

God has transformed his people to

become humble and lowly, people

207

: 00:11:13

who seek to dwell with the Lord.

208

: 00:11:15

Next, God promises joy.

209

: 00:11:17

They have been forgiven, and

God has defeated their enemies.

210

: 00:11:20

And finally, the promised

future king will reign.

211

: 00:11:23

The King of Israel, the Lord, is in

their midst They don't need to fear.

212

: 00:11:27

And the third blessing is that

God is gathering His people.

213

: 00:11:30

Together they will worship Him.

214

: 00:11:32

I've always treasured 3:17, " The

Lord your God is in your midst,

215

: 00:11:36

a mighty one who will save.

216

: 00:11:38

He will rejoice over you with gladness.

217

: 00:11:40

He will quiet you by His love.

218

: 00:11:42

He will exult over you with loud singing."

219

: 00:11:44

And it feels even more special to me

as I held my newborn niece yesterday

220

: 00:11:48

These blessings are so extensive

that they couldn't only apply to when

221

: 00:11:51

the people came back from captivity.

222

: 00:11:53

This refers to Jesus Christ

reigning on the throne.

223

: 00:11:56

The people have been purified.

224

: 00:11:58

Those that remain have been refined

by suffering And so they're able to be

225

: 00:12:01

steadfast before the Lord as never before.

226

: 00:12:04

Jesus promised in this world we

will have troubles, but He has

227

: 00:12:08

overcome and He will overcome.

228

: 00:12:10

And I assure you, the joy and peace of

His reign is worth waiting for Heavenly

229

: 00:12:15

Father, we thank you that you are

righteous, and in you is no injustice.

230

: 00:12:20

You never fail, and in you we find refuge

If many of us are honest, it's difficult

231

: 00:12:25

to picture you tenderly rejoicing

over us and singing with gladness.

232

: 00:12:29

I pray you would give us a better

understanding of your devoted love

233

: 00:12:33

for us and that it would cause

234

: 00:12:34

Speaker 44: us to

diligently draw near to you.

235

: 00:12:36

Steph: As we read about the very deserved

judgment, we're convicted of the times

236

: 00:12:40

that we covet the things that our culture

offers us, and of the complacency in

237

: 00:12:44

our hearts and in our family members.

238

: 00:12:46

We want to be people who seek

correction and draw near to you.

239

: 00:12:50

I pray your Holy Spirit would be

at work in us, in our husbands,

240

: 00:12:54

and in our kids to bring this about

241

: 00:12:56

May we be people that cause you

great delight and gladness, Jesus.

242

: 00:12:59

You are the one true king,

and you are worthy of it all.

243

: 00:13:03

It's in your name we pray, amen