These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “Justice Dispensed” (Zephaniah 2:1-15), by Mark Scott.
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1. How specifically have you been a herald (a messenger or one who proclaims good news) to the people around you this week?
2. Do you think God should punish people who disobey him and don’t believe in him? Why or why not?
Ask two people to read aloud Zephaniah 2:1-15 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask a third person to briefly summarize the passage.
3. Compare and contrast God’s message to the people of Judah (vv. 1-3) with his message to the other nations (Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Cush, and Assyria).
- How is God’s justice applied to both?
- How does God call them to respond (if at all)?
4. God called his people to seek the Lord, righteousness, and humility (v. 3). How can these actions help bring someone to repentance and into a right relationship with God?
5. When God judged and punished the nations, how would the remnant of his people (Judah) benefit?
6. What do you learn about God as judge from this passage? (Also see Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30.)
7. What do you learn about humanity? (See especially v. 11; cf. Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10-11; Revelation 15:4.)
8. These nations were on all sides of Judah. God had told his people he would “make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6; also see Matthew 28:8). God wanted his people to influence the nations (peoples) around them, but often, other nations influenced God’s people toward idolatry, sin, and shamefulness. How do you see people today conforming to the pattern of this world rather than God’s ways and standards?
- What will you change (repent of) so you can “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16)?
9. Based on our study and discussion, complete the sentence: “I will . . .”
10. What do you need from God this week to either (a) allow God to judge and avenge or (b) be an influencer rather than the person being influenced with the people around you?
For Next Week: Read and reflect on Zephaniah 3:9-20. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
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