Year 3 Day 96

Overview of the Book of Zephaniah

Friday, December 11

Read Zephaniah 1

Think About It:

This book mentions the day of the LORD more than any other book in the Old Testament, clarifying the picture of Judah’s fall to Babylon and the eventual judgment and restoration of all humanity in the future. In this case, it refers primarily to God’s impending time of judgment on the nation of Judah. Zephaniah saw in the day of the LORD the destruction of his country, his neighbors, and eventually the whole earth (Zephaniah 1:2, 4; 2:10). Zephaniah wrote that the day of the LORD was near (1:14), that it would be a time of wrath (1:15), that it would come as judgment on sin (1:17), and that ultimately it would result in the blessing of God’s presence among His people (3:17).

1. Zephaniah doesn’t waste any time getting to the point. Delivering the message of the LORD, he warns of harsh and complete judgment that consumes everything before the LORD. What does Zephaniah prophesy will happen on the day of the LORD?
2. Edward Gibbon in his book, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, described the attitude towards religion in the last days of the Roman Empire. The people regarded all religions as equally true. The philosophers regarded all religions as equally false. The politicians regarded all religions as equally useful. What similarities do you see between the attitude toward religion then and the attitude toward religion now?
3. The term, ‘day of the LORD’ (used more than 25 times in the Bible) does not necessarily refer to one specific day; it speaks of “God’s time.” The idea is that now is the day of man, but the day of man will not last forever. One day, the Messiah will end the day of man and bring forth the day of the LORD. What would you like to see happen before the day of the LORD comes?

Family Time:

Zephaniah’s prophecy comes at an interesting time—when Josiah is King of Judah.

1. Read what God thought about Josiah in 2 Kings 23:25.
2. Now read why God still planned judgement for Judah in 2 Kings 23:26 and 2 Kings 24:3-4.
3. For the specifics on Manasseh’s guilt, see 2 Kings 21:1-16 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-9.