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

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  Steph: This is The Dwelling Place from Entrusted Ministries.
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  Steph: I'm Stephanie Hickox.
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  Steph: As we study the book of Zephaniah, this minor prophet's message will be undeniable as he mentions the day of the Lord twenty-three times in three chapters.
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  Steph: The day of the Lord is mentioned here more than any other book of the Bible, and therefore it's known as apocalyptic literature.
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  Steph: This eleventh hour prophet spoke of the impending judgment upon Israel's enemies, as well as Judah and Jerusalem herself Zephaniah's name means Yahweh has hidden or Yahweh sheltered or stored up.
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  Steph: He is unlike the other prophets
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  Speaker 44: in that he begins his book with a genealogy
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  Steph: The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah."
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  Steph: It's most likely that the reason he mentioned his genealogy is that he was of royal lineage.
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  Steph: The Hezekiah mentioned here is probably King Hezekiah, and this would make Zephaniah a cousin of King Josiah, perhaps giving him an opportunity to speak into Josiah and his reign.
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  Steph: It's not clear the exact date that Zephaniah wrote his message of judgment And his message of hope.
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  Steph: But because there is no mention of the extensive reforms that Josiah brought about in the land, it seems probable that Zephaniah wrote before Josiah made these drastic changes.
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  Steph: And that would place the book from about 635 to 625 also during the time of the prophet Jeremiah.
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  Steph: Now, when we talk about the day of the Lord, like most prophecies, there is a near-sighted meaning and a far-sighted meaning.
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  Steph: Judgment was coming soon for the nation But there is also a day where everyone will be judged, and much of the book points to that time his message speaks a strong rebuke toward the nations that act unjustly toward
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  Steph: God's people And when his people act like the surrounding nations, there is judgment for them as well.
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  Steph: Zephaniah's description of the wrath of God that will be carried out is truly harsh, and that's why chapter three in God's restoration of his people is so beautifully powerful and poetic.
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  Steph: And there's a verse describing God's love for you that you've likely encountered and delighted in before Zephaniah reveals an undoing of the creation account.
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  Steph: If we think back to Genesis one and two, each time a day was described, it had both an evening and a morning, and that's just like the day of the Lord.
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  Steph: There will be judgment, but it will be followed by a time of peace and joy and that's why this book can end with such hope After the genealogy in chapter one, God's words are direct and abruptly issued.
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  Steph: I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth," declares the Lord.
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  Steph: I will sweep away man and beast.
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  Steph: I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble with the wicked.
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  Steph: I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth," declares the Lord.
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  Steph: I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests, along with the priests, those who
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  Steph: bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the Lord, and yet swear by Milcom, those who have turned back from following the Lord, who do not seek the Lord
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  Steph: or inquire of him.
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  Steph: Be silent before the Lord God, for the day of the Lord is near."
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  Steph: This judgment is going to be even more severe than the flood because it will extend even to the fish.
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  Steph: God condemns those who worship pagan gods and also those who have fallen into synchronism, the people that worship Yahweh and the foreign gods.
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  Steph: Because God is a jealous God, he does not want to share our allegiance or our affections.
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  Steph: He's worthy of our entire hearts I think this is really convicting for us, as most of us probably live in a first world nation with incredible comforts and blessings.
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  Steph: It's truly difficult to see ads over and over every day promising to make us happy, and to still find our sufficiency in Christ.
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  Steph: I was recently led in worship by Shane Bernard, and he confessed that the opening line of Psalm 23 wrecked him.
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  Steph: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
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  Steph: in relatable transparency he shared he is a professional wanter And he's certainly not alone.
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  Steph: While we're looking at the cultures that negatively affected God's people, we also need to evaluate how we're being impacted by the culture around us.
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  Steph: And whenever necessary, we need to cut off the temptations that threaten our pure-hearted devotion to the Lord I appreciate how definitive verse seven is.
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  Steph: Be silent before the Lord God, for the day of the Lord is near."
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  Steph: It makes me think of Psalm 46, Be still and know that I am God."
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  Steph: The phrasing might be similar, but it has such a different connotation.
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  Steph: As the psalmist declared peace for those that know God, While this prophet declares fear and reverence from
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  Speaker 44: those that have turned from the Lord
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  Steph: Chapter one continues, At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent.
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  Steph: Those who say in their hearts, The Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill,' their goods shall be plundered and their homes laid waste.
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  Steph: Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; Though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.
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  Steph: For the great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast.
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  Steph: This is like the most terrifying game of hide and seek ever.
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  Steph: This image of the Lord searching for anyone who is not wholeheartedly devoted to Him.
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  Steph: My Moody commentary says that the phrase complacent could also be translated stagnant in spirit.
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  Steph: It literally means thick in their sediment, and it stems from an expression about wine that was fermented too long, so it became syrupy and undrinkable.
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  Steph: it indicates men who have become spiritually stuck, unmoved, unconcerned, and unaffected by the circumstances surrounding them.
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  Steph: They're so comfortable that they don't even believe that God acts to bless or punish people, which Hebrews eleven-six tells us could not be further from the truth After Zephaniah describes more of the conditions of the day of the
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  Steph: Lord, the chapter ends, I will bring distress on mankind so that they shall walk like the blind because they have sinned against the Lord.
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  Steph: Their blood shall be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.
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  Steph: Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them.
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  Steph: On the day of the wrath of the Lord, in the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed.
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  Steph: For a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth."
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  Steph: You might wonder, is this a literal fire?
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  Steph: Because that phrasing occurs so much throughout the Bible regarding the judgment of the Lord, scholars do tend to believe that this will be a literal destruction of the Earth.
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  Steph: Yet in the mercy of the Lord in chapter two, there is still hope for people with contrite hearts.
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  Steph: In verse three, Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do His just commands.
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  Steph: Seek righteousness, seek humility.
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  Steph: Perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord."
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  Steph: Next, Zephaniah records specific judgments against the enemies of Israel, beginning with the Philistines, then the Moabites and the Ammonites, as well as the Cushites, which relates to Ethiopia, and next the Assyrians and Nineveh itself.
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  Steph: Verse eleven tells us, The Lord will be awesome against them, for He will famish all the gods of the earth, and to Him shall bow down, each in its place, all the lands of the nations."
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  Steph: And in the rebuke of Nineveh, 2:15 2:15 describes, This is the exultant city that lived securely, that said in her heart, 'I am, and there is no one else.'
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  Steph: What a desolation she has become, a lair for wild beasts, I am and there is no one else.
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  Steph: I think that's terrifying to read that the pride of Nineveh attempts to claim this title that can only fit God alone.
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  Steph: The very name of the all-sufficient, all-sustaining God of the universe, I Am And next, I'll read chapter three in its entirety because it's powerful to hear the harsh judgment and then conclude with the coming restoration.
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  Steph: And now God isn't speaking to Nineveh.
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  Steph: He speaks to the very city He has chosen for Himself, Jerusalem Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city.
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  Steph: She listens to no voice.
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  Steph: She accepts no correction.
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  Steph: She does not trust in the Lord.
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  Steph: She does not draw near to her God.
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  Steph: Her officials within her are roaring lions.
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  Steph: Her judges are evening wolves that leave nothing till the morning.
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  Steph: Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men.
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  Steph: Her priests profane what is holy.
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  Steph: They do violence to the law.
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  Steph: The Lord within her is righteous.
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  Steph: He does no injustice.
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  Steph: Every morning, he shows forth his justice.
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  Steph: Each dawn, he does not fail, but the unjust knows no shame.
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  Steph: I have cut off the nations, their battlements are in ruins.
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  Steph: I have laid waste to their streets so that no one walks in them.
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  Steph: Their cries have been made desolate without a man, without an inhabitant.
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  Steph: I said, "Surely you will fear me.
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  Steph: You will accept correction.
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  Steph: Then your dwelling will not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you."
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  Steph: But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt.
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  Steph: Therefore, wait for me," declares the Lord, for the day when I rise up to seize the prey.
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  Steph: For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger, for in the fire of my jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed.
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  Steph: For at that time, I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.
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  Steph: From beyond the rivers of Cush, my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering.
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  Steph: On that day, you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me."
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  Steph: For then I will remove from your midst your proudly exalted ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.
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  Steph: But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly.
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  Steph: They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord, those who are left in Israel.
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  Steph: They shall do no injustice and speak no lies.
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  Steph: Nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue.
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  Steph: For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
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  Steph: Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion.
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  Steph: Shout, O Israel.
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  Steph: Rejoice and exalt with all your heart, o daughter of Jerusalem, the Lord has taken away the judgments against you.
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  Steph: He has cleared away your enemies.
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  Steph: The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst.
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  Steph: You shall never again fear evil.
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  Steph: on that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not, O Zion.
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  Steph: Let not your hands grow weak.
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  Steph: The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save.
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  Steph: He will rejoice over you with gladness.
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  Steph: He will quiet you by his love.
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  Steph: He will exalt over you with loud singing.
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  Steph: I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
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  Steph: Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors, and I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
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  Steph: At that time I will bring you in, at that time when I gather you together, for I will make you renowned and praised among the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the
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  Steph: Lord.
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  Steph: After reading about Jerusalem's priests and leaders, how they accept no correction and do not draw near to God, Zephaniah wrote how different the Lord is.
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  Steph: He is righteous, bringing forth justice, and he never fails And after God uses all of these consequences and tribulation to purify His people, He will gather them, and their hearts will be entirely different.
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  Steph: Everyone will speak purely, calling upon the name of the Lord together The people will have been transformed by God's process, and this is one of the three blessings and benefits of the Messianic Kingdom.
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  Steph: God has transformed his people to become humble and lowly, people who seek to dwell with the Lord.
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  Steph: Next, God promises joy.
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  Steph: They have been forgiven, and God has defeated their enemies.
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  Steph: And finally, the promised future king will reign.
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  Steph: The King of Israel, the Lord, is in their midst They don't need to fear.
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  Steph: And the third blessing is that God is gathering His people.
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  Steph: Together they will worship Him.
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  Steph: I've always treasured 3:17, The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save.
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  Steph: He will rejoice over you with gladness.
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  Steph: He will quiet you by His love.
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  Steph: He will exult over you with loud singing."
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  Steph: And it feels even more special to me as I held my newborn niece yesterday These blessings are so extensive that they couldn't only apply to when the people came back from captivity.
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  Steph: This refers to Jesus Christ reigning on the throne.
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  Steph: The people have been purified.
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  Steph: Those that remain have been refined by suffering And so they're able to be steadfast before the Lord as never before.
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  Steph: Jesus promised in this world we will have troubles, but He has overcome and He will overcome.
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  Steph: And I assure you, the joy and peace of His reign is worth waiting for Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are righteous, and in you is no injustice.
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  Steph: You never fail, and in you we find refuge If many of us are honest, it's difficult to picture you tenderly rejoicing over us and singing with gladness.
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  Steph: I pray you would give us a better understanding of your devoted love for us and that it would cause
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  Speaker 44: us to diligently draw near to you.
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  Steph: As we read about the very deserved judgment, we're convicted of the times that we covet the things that our culture offers us, and of the complacency in our hearts and in our family members.
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  Steph: We want to be people who seek correction and draw near to you.
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  Steph: I pray your Holy Spirit would be at work in us, in our husbands, and in our kids to bring this about May we be people that cause you great delight and gladness, Jesus.
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  Steph: You are the one true king, and you are worthy of it all.
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  Steph: It's in your name we pray, amen