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ZEP H A N I A H 1
page 836
that one day we will never fear again but will live with the Lord forever in a place of
goodness and perfect peace.
Key verses in Zephaniah
1:12 “I will search with lanterns
in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to
punish those who sit complacent in
their sins. They think the Lord will
do nothing to them, either good
or bad.”
2:3 Seek the Lord, all who are
humble, and follow his commands.
Seek to do what is right and to live
humbly. Perhaps even yet the Lord
will protect you—protect you from
his anger on that day of destruction.
2:7 For the Lord their God will
visit his people in kindness and
restore their prosperity again.
3:9 Then I will purify the speech
of all people, so that everyone can
worship the Lord together.
be no more haughtiness on my holy
mountain. Those who are left will be
the lowly and humble, for it is they
who trust in the name of the Lord.
3:17 For the Lord your God is
living among you. He is a mighty
savior. He will take delight in you
3:11-12 On that day you will no
longer need to be ashamed, for you with gladness. With his love, he
will no longer be rebels against me. will calm all your fears. He will
I will remove all proud and arrogant rejoice over you with joyful
people from among you. There will
songs.
1
The Lord gave this message to Zephaniah
when Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah.
Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah.
Coming Judgment against Judah
2 “I will sweep away everything
from the face of the earth,” says the Lord.
3 “I will sweep away people and animals alike.
I will sweep away the birds of the sky and
the fish in the sea.
I will reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble,*
and I will wipe humanity from the face of
the earth,” says the Lord.
4 “I will crush Judah and Jerusalem with my fist
and destroy every last trace of their Baal
worship.
• Presence of God
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6
7
8
Z E PH A NIA H 1 :7
Justice and judgment are aspects of
God’s relationship to us. If we were
awaiting the jury’s verdict in a courtroom, we would certainly be respectful and silent. Considering our great
sinfulness before God, it would be
foolish to enter his presence and not
demonstrate respect for his power (and
right) to condemn us. We will maintain
a healthy sense of awe before God if
we remember that we can stand before
him without sin only because of Jesus’
sacrifice for us. If it were up to our own
efforts and goodness, we could never
expect anything but a verdict of guilty.
9
10
I will put an end to all the idolatrous priests,
so that even the memory of them will
disappear.
For they go up to their roofs
and bow down to the sun, moon, and
stars.
They claim to follow the Lord,
but then they worship Molech,* too.
And I will destroy those who used to
worship me
but now no longer do.
They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance
or seek my blessings.”
Stand in silence in the presence of the
Sovereign Lord,
for the awesome day of the Lord’s
judgment is near.
The Lord has prepared his people for
a great slaughter
and has chosen their executioners.*
“On that day of judgment,”
says the Lord,
“I will punish the leaders and princes
of Judah
and all those following pagan customs.
Yes, I will punish those who participate in
pagan worship ceremonies,
and those who fill their masters’ houses
with violence and deceit.
“On that day,” says the Lord,
“a cry of alarm will come from the
Fish Gate
and echo throughout the New Quarter
of the city.*
1:3 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. 1:5 Hebrew
Malcam, a variant spelling of Molech; or it could possibly
mean their king. 1:7 Hebrew has prepared a sacrifice and
sanctified his guests. 1:10 Or the Second Quarter, a newer
section of Jerusalem. Hebrew reads the Mishneh.