ZEPHANIAH

Judgment against Judah

Date of Writing

• In the days of Josiah son of Amon,

king of Judah (Zephaniah 1:1).

• A Call for National Repentance.

• Slightly prior to Jeremiah.

• Foretells the Destruction of Nineveh.

640 630 620 610 600 590 580

Kings of Judah

Josiah

Jehoahaz

Jehoiakim

Jehoiachin

Zedekiah

Jerusalem & Temple Destroyed

Fall ofNineveh

Zephaniah

Jeremiah

Daniel

Ezekiel

Nahum

Coming judgment on Jerusalem (1:1-6)

Coming judgment of leaders and wealthy (1:7-13)

God’s judgment against the nation (1:14-18).

Call to repentance (2:1-3).

God’s judgment against the nations (2:4-15).

Coming judgment of leaders (3:1-7)

Coming restoration of Jerusalem (3:8-20)

Zephaniah

Zephaniah 1:2-3

“I will completely remove all things From the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.

3 “I will remove man and beast; I will remove the birds of the sky And the fish of the sea, And the ruins along with the wicked; And I will cut off man from the face of the earth," declares the LORD.

Zephaniah 1:4

So I will stretch out My hand against Judah And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, And the names of the idolatrous priests along with the priests.

Zephaniah 2:1-31 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather, O nation without shame, 2 Before the decree takes effect-- The day passes like the chaff--

Before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, Before the day of the LORD's anger comes upon you.

3 Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden

In the day of the LORD's anger.

Zephaniah 3:8-10 8 "Therefore, wait for Me," declares the LORD,

"For the day when I rise up to the prey. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.

9 "For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

10 "From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, My dispersed ones, Will bring My offerings.

Zephaniah 3:11-1211 In that day you will feel no shameBecause of all your deedsBy which you have rebelled against Me;For then I will remove from your midstYour proud, exulting ones,And you will never again be haughtyOn My holy mountain.12 But I will leave among youA humble and lowly people,And they will take refuge in the name of the

LORD.

Lessons from Zephaniah

• God used the Babylonians to bring severe judgment on Judah and many other nations for their sins.

• Humbly seeking God provides hope for protection from harm.

• The destruction of other nations would one day be to Israel’s advantage.

• God will purify Gentiles and Jews and grant them magnificent blessings after his judgment is complete.

JOEL

Yahweh is God

Date of Joel’s Prophecy

Before the Babylonian Captivity After the Babylonian Captivity

Though Jerusalem is mentioned several times, there is no hint of it having been previously destroyed and rebuilt.

The mention of the “northern army” seems to point to Assyria and/or Babylon as a present threat (2:20).

There are several references to the Temple (1:14).

He speaks of Israel having been scattered among the nations (3:2).

He makes reference to the inhabitants of Judah having been sold to the “sons of Javin” - Greeks (3:6).

Edom is described as having done “violence to the sons of Judah” (3:19).

No mention is made of any kings. Priests and elders are seen as the leaders of the nation (2:16-17). No mention is made of any kings. Priests and elders are seen as the leaders of the nation (2:16-17).

Other Observations

• Joel makes no mention of the northern kingdom of Israel as a separate entity.

• When he does speak of Israel, he uses it in a sense where it seems to refer to a united covenant people of God.

Outline of Joel

1:1 2:1 2:12 2:28 3:1 3:17

Locusts Lord’s Army Lord’s Spirit Judgment Promise

Judah Nations

Present Imminent Future Ultimate

B.C.

Call to Repentance

A.D.

Book Begins: Mourning over Present Desolation

Book Ends: Rejoicing over Future Deliverance

Joel 1:1

The word of the LORD that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel

Joel 1:2-3

2 Hear this, O elders,

And listen, all inhabitants of the land.

Has anything like this happened in your days

Or in your fathers' days?

3 Tell your sons about it,

And let your sons tell their sons,

And their sons the next generation.

Joel 1:4

What the gnawing locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten;

And what the swarming locust has left, the creeping locust has eaten;

And what the creeping locust has left, the stripping locust has eaten.

Joel 1:10

The field is ruined,

The land mourns,

For the grain is ruined,

The new wine dries up,

Fresh oil fails

The field fails,

The land loses,

For the grain is gone,

The wine withers,

Fresh oil fails

Joel 2:12-13

12 "Yet even now," declares the LORD,

"Return to Me with all your heart,

And with fasting, weeping, and mourning;

13 And rend your heart and not your garments."

Blow a trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly (Joel 2:15).

And it will come about after this (2:28).

I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind (2:28).

Your sons and daughters will prophesy (2:28).

Your old men will dream dreams (2:28).

Your young men will see visions (2:28).

And even on the male and female servants (2:29).

I will pour out My Spirit (2:29).

In those days (2:29).

Joel 2:30-31

30 And I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth,

Blood, fire, and columns of smoke.

31 The sun will be turned into darkness,

And the moon into blood,

Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.

Prophecy & Fulfillment

• God’s Spirit to be poured out

• Sons and daughters to prophesy

• Dreams and visions• Blood and fire, and

vapor of smoke• Sun darkened, moon

into blood

• God’s Spirit was poured out

• Men and women prophesied

• Dreams and visions given

• Blood of Jesus shed and tongues of fire given

• Sun darkened at crucifixion

The Day of the Lord

• Destruction from the Almighty (Isaiah 13:6; Joel 1:15).

• Cruel, with fury and burning anger (Isaiah 13:9).

• The Day of the Lord’s Anger (Lamentations 2:22).

• The Day of the Lord will come like a Thief (2 Peter 3:10).

Joel 3:1-21 For behold, in those days and at that time,

When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,

2 I will gather all the nations,

And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.

Then I will enter into judgment with them there

On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel,

Whom they have scattered among the nations;

And they have divided up My land.

Moab

Ammon

OBADIAH

Oracle against Edom

640 630 620 610 600 590 580

Kings of Judah

Josiah

Jehoahaz

Jehoiakim

Jehoiachin

Zedekiah

Jerusalem & Temple Destroyed

Fall ofNineveh

Zephaniah

Jeremiah

Daniel

Ezekiel

Obadiah?

Nahum

Judah

Edom

1:1 1:12 1:15

Vision against Edom

Warning against Edom Israel’s Victory

Edom defeated despite her present strength and security (1-4)

Edom will be thoroughly plundered (5-7)

Edom will be cut off forever (8-10)

Do not... Gloat over your brother's

day Rejoice over the sons of

Judah Enter the gate of My people Gloat over their calamity Loot their wealth Stand at the fork of the road

to cut down their fugitives Imprison their survivors

Day of the Lord coming against the nations (15-16)

Israel will retake their own land (17)

Victorious Israel will rule over the surrounding nations (18-21)

Obadiah 1:3-4

3 "The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, You who live in the clefts of the rock, In the loftiness of your dwelling place, Who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to earth?'

4 "Though you build high like the eagle, Though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down," declares the LORD.

Petra

Lessons from Obadiah

• God cares for his people when they

suffer.

• God warns but will eventually judge those who persecute his people.

• God will give victory to his people.

• God’s faithful people will inherit the kingdom of God in its fullness.

HABAKKUK

The Prayer & Praise of God’s Prophet

640 630 620 610 600 590 580

Kings of Judah

Josiah

Jehoahaz

Jehoiakim

Jehoiachin

Zedekiah

Jerusalem & Temple Destroyed

Fall ofNineveh

Zephaniah

Jeremiah

Daniel

Ezekiel

Obadiah?

Habakkuk

Nahum

1:1 1:12 3:1

Habakkuk’s Problem Habakkuk’s Praise

Problem #1: Why does God allow wicked practices to continue in the land?

Problem #2: Why will God use wicked people to punish others?

God's Answer: I will eventually bring judgment (1:5-11)

God's Answer: I will judge even those whom I use for judgment (2:2-20)

Praise for the Person of God (3:1-3)

Praise for the Power of God (3:4-7)

Praise for the Purpose of God (3:8-16)

Praise because of Faith in God (3:17-19)

Lessons from Habakkuk’s Questions

• God Balances His Books in His own Time

The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.22 How long, O LORD, will I call for help,And Thou wilt not hear?I cry out to Thee, "Violence!"Yet Thou dost not save. (Habakkuk 1:1-2)

33 Why dost Thou make me see iniquity,And cause me to look on wickedness?Yes, destruction and violence are before me; Strife exists and contention arise s.44 Therefore, the law is ignoredAnd justice is never upheld.For the wicke d surround the righte ous;Therefore, justice comes out perverted.(Habakkuk 1:3-4)

"Look among the nations!Observe! Be a stonishe d! Wonder!Because I am doing something in your days--You would not believe if you were told.(Habakkuk 1:5).

Lessons from Habakkuk’s Questions

• God Balances His Books in His own Time

• When God Balances His Books, He does it His own way

Why does God use evil people?

God is Sovereign: Are You not from everlasting... You, O LORD, have appointed them to judge... You, O Rock...

God is Just: Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You can not look on wickedness with favor

Lessons from Habakkuk’s Questions

• God Balances His Books in His own Time

• When God Balances His Books, He does it His own way

• God Balances His Books without Partiality

Five Woes Proclaimed

Lessons from Habakkuk’s Questions

• God Balances His Books in His own Time

• When God Balances His Books, He does it His own way

• God Balances His Books without Partiality

• God Ultimately Balanced His Books upon the Cross

Habakkuk 3:3-5

3 God comes from Teman,And the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah.His splendor covers the heavens,And the earth is full of His praise.4 His radiance is like the sunlight;He has rays flashing from His hand, And there is the hiding of His power.5 Before Him goes pestilence,And plague comes after Him.

Habakkuk 3:13

Thou didst go forth for the salvation of Thy people,For the salvation of Thine anointed. Thou didst strike the head of the house of the evilTo lay him open from thigh to neck. Selah.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail, And the fields produce no food,Though the flock should be cut off from the fold,And there be no cattle in the stalls,18 Yet I will exult in the LORD,I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:19

The Lord God is my strength,And He has made my feet like hinds' feet,And makes me walk on my high places.For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.