Unit: Minor Prophets (Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk)
Theme: Justice Will Come
Lesson Text: Zephaniah 2:1-15
Supplemental Text: Zephaniah 1; 2 Peter 1:2-9
Aim: Be wary of the corruption of the world and turn to Jesus as a means to escape it.
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By Mark Scott
The world is on a collision course with the God of justice. If God did not punish sin, he would be untrue to his word and his nature (Romans 3:26). God is just; he cannot be unjust. But Jesus saves us from that collision. He is the ultimate rescuer. Through Jesus we escape the corruption (judgment?) in the world (2 Peter 1:4). But in the prophet Zephaniah’s era, God’s remnant had yet to deliver Jesus the Savior to the world.
Zephaniah’s name means either “Yahweh hides” or “Yahweh is treasured.” He might have been from the royal line, as Zephaniah 1:1 connected him with the kings of Judah. In fact, he is the only prophet whose genealogy goes back four generations. He prophesied shortly after good King Josiah’s reforms, when Judah’s faith was already turning to seed (609–604 BC). His major theme seemed to be, “Justice will be dispensed when the Day of the Lord comes.”
Justice Dispensed to Judah
Zephaniah 2:1-3
The judgment theme of Zephaniah 1 continued into chapter 2. The prophet summoned the people of God to huddle up (gather yourselves together). In a world of shame and honor, Zephaniah called them a shameful nation. God wanted them to repent before the decree (statute or ordinance) took place; this probably referred to the day of the coming judgment on the nation.
This day would be terrible because it would give display to the anger (snorted nostrils) of the Lord. It would pass quickly like windblown chaff, but it would be severe. God’s people would be wise to humble themselves (become lowly) before the Lord. If they would embrace the Lord’s commands (mispat, i.e., justice), seek righteousness (standards), and seek humility then they would be sheltered (hidden or concealed—like the meaning of Zephaniah’s name) on the day of the Lord’s anger. Jesus is the only real “yom kippur” (day of atonement). He is the one who “covers” us.
Justice Dispensed to the Neighbors
Zephaniah 2:4-15
God’s people had been placed amid some corrupt neighbors. God intended that Israel would be a light to the nations (Isaiah 49:6). They failed in that mission, for the most part. Instead of Israel influencing the nations, the nations influenced Israel. So, the prophet also had to pronounce judgment on the corrupt nations that surrounded Israel. In announcing these judgments, Zephaniah moved from west to east and then from south to north.
Philistia (west): The Philistines were basically “sea people” (most likely from Crete) who had settled on the western edge of the land of Israel. They occupied five major cities on the west coast—four of which are mentioned in the text—Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron. Gath is the only city not mentioned (1 Samuel 6:17). God predicted a time when the cities would be left abandoned and in ruins. In the end, the land would be given over to God’s remnant (residue or remainder), and God would restore their fortunes.
Moab and Ammon (east): Moab and Ammon were among Israel’s closest neighbors. But they failed to care for Israel when Israel was making its march toward the Holy Land. In fact, they opposed Israel. The Moabites, remember, started from an incestuous relationship (Genesis 19:30-38). These people insulted (reviled) Israel and made threats against them. God promised that Moab and Ammon would become like the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah—i.e., weeds, salt pits, and a wasteland. God’s people would be allowed to take advantage of Moab and Ammon by plundering them, inheriting their land, and destroying their idols.
Cush (south): The Cushites (descendants of Cush—Genesis 10:6 and 1 Chronicles 1:8) lived south in the Upper Nile. That area is now southern Egypt and Sudan. The brief word of judgment to them is that they would be slain by the sword.
Assyria (north): Assyria had long since conquered the northern tribes of Israel (722 BC), and their power was shifting to Babylon, but that nation also was judged. The Assyrians had been especially cruel in their deportation of the 10 northern tribes and in their occupation of the land of Israel. So, God decided to stretch out his hand (a metaphoric way to speak of his powerful judgment) against Assyria and Nineveh. The land would shrivel, the desert animals would inhabit the buildings, and the cities would be exposed.
These are not pretty pictures. The only way to hide from the coming Day of the Lord was to be “hidden” in Jesus.
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