Zephaniah Review: Prophecies of Judah's Judgment and the Day of the Lord
Dive into the book of Zephaniah, where prophecies about Judah's impending judgment and the imminent Day of the Lord unfold. Explore themes of divine punishment, captivity, and the importance of waiting for the Lord amidst the evil rulers and teachers of Jerusalem.
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Presentation Transcript
Divided Kingdom II Lesson 16 Jeremiah Part II Review message from chapters 1-6 Chapters 7-20 A few passages from chapters 23, 25, and 31 Sunday July 7, 2024
Jonah / Amos / Hosea Jeroboam II 41yrs Uzziah 52yrs Zechariah 6 months Shallum 1 month Menahem 10yrs Pekahiah 2yrs Pekah 20yrs Jotham 16yrs Ahaz 16yrs Hezekiah 29yrs Isaiah Hoshea 9yrs Micah Fall of Samaria 721 BC Manasseh 55yrs Amon 2yrs Josiah 31yrs Zephaniah Jehoahaz 3mos Jeremiah Jehoaiakim 11yrs Jehoiachin 3mos Zedekiah 11yrs Fall of Judah 586 BC
Zephaniah- Review Most likely the Great-Great Grandson of Hezekiah and cousin of King Josiah (ref 1:1) Josiah s reign 640- 609 BC He Prophecied during Josiah s reign (same timeframe as Jeremiah) around 627BC ; Over 95 years since Northern Kingdom was taken by Assyria; about 20 years prior to 1st captives being taken to Babylon and 40 until Jerusalem is destroyed He pronounces Doom on Judah (social status/ riches will not help); because of Manasseh s abominations, God will wipe Jerusalem like a dish Assyria is weakening; Babylon will take them down in 612 BC becoming the powerful nation in the region
Zephaniah- Review The use of Day of the Lord throughout Zephaniah and other books refers to a future day of Judgement In this case, the future Judgement is coming soon for Judah and other surrounding nations who were given over to evil and idolatry God makes it clear that even the humble/righteous can only hope to be hidden -not saved (2:3) Punishment/Captivity IS coming Zephaniah s name also means hidden in The LORD
Zephaniah- Review God says- I will utterly consume everything from the face of the earth (1:2) The people are told to be silent in the presences of the Lord, for the day of the Lord is near (1:7) God says -I will search Jerusalem and punish the people for: Complacency (stagnant spirit)/Ritualist Worship (no heart) Those who say The Lord will not do Good or Evil- nothing is going to happen (1:12)
Zephaniah- Review The sad condition of Jerusalem and her evil rulers and teachers The righteous are instructed to wait for the Lord (wait for His Judgement to end) True worship will then be restored by a humble remnant (ref 3:8-13) These promises point to a small physical remnant who will return to the land as well as the future kingdom of God made up of the spiritual minded people of the earth
Jeremiah- Review He was from Anathoth (just north of Jerusalem) He is the son of Hilkiah; This Hilkiah is possibly the High Priest during Josiah s reign Years of prophecy: 13th year of Josiah (627 BC) until around 586 BC- Fall of Jerusalem; about 40 years He cared deeply for God and the people (He weeps for the people); also wrote Lamentations (expression of sorrows) He was very meek but also very courageous His message: Do not resist captivity His own community wanted to kill him for speaking God s word
Jeremiahs Call-Review Ref 1:6-10 Jeremiah says- I don t know how to speak for I am a youth God responds: Go where I send, and speak what I tell you Do not be afraid I am with you The Lord touches his mouth and put His Words on Jeremiah s mouth
Jeremiahs Call- Review 2 Visions (Ref 1:11-16) God asks Jeremiah, what do you see? 1- Branch of an Almond Tree God says: You have seen well for, I am ready to watch My Word to see that it is fulfilled 2- Boiling Pot pouring out from the north; God says from the north, I will bring punishment; Babylon is coming soon Do not be dismayed if the people reject you ; For I am with you
Judahs Unfaithfulness-Review The honeymoon phase (early days) of the relationship with God was full of kindness and love (ref 2:1-3) God says, what did I do to make cheat on me? (ref 2:5) Her unfaithfulness is described; full of idolatry and self interest God pleaded with her (Israel/Judah) to return -but she refused (ref 3:1,7) God has tried love, mercy, and being long suffering to them, but most have had no interest in submitting to Him
Judahs Unfaithfulness-Review God said that Judah is worse than Israel-WOW (ref 3:11) How can this be? (ref 3:7, 10); They saw Israel s demise but only turned to God with a partial heart; Judah, the treacherous sister of Israel A Call to Repent (ref 3:14-4:2) God desires a faithful remnant with a pure heart to serve Him
Judahs Unfaithfulness- Review Overwhelming Punishment If No Repentance (4:3 6:30) What God really wants is a circumcised heart (ref 4:4); not physical, but a people who are 'cut to the heart and willing to submit to His will God tells Jeremiah to run to and fro to look for one righteous man (ref 5:1-5); (ref Gen 18 Sodom-Abraham couldn t find 10 faithful men); results of search: The pitiful poor don t know God (None found) The great they will know (Nope-None found) Their stubborn condition described (ref 5:30-31); the people love their evil lives
Judahs Unfaithfulness-Review Overwhelming Punishment If No Repentance (4:3 6:30) Destruction IS coming (ref 6:1-30) Why? (Ref 6:14-16) All are false-they have no shame, no repentance Therefore, they have no chance of survival
Judahs Unfaithfulness Jeremiah is Commanded to Speak at the Temple (7:1-10:25) God tells Judah -repent and you can stay in the land (ref 7:1-11) God says do not believe the lying prophets (ref 7:4) God commands Jeremiah, Do not pray for these people (ref 7:16) Read 7:17-19; they are a stubborn, idolatrous people How Sad? God knows their hearts and that they are unwilling to repent God repeats what He has always told His people: (back to the Exodus) Obey and I will be with you ,else I will not be with you (Ref 7:23-24)
Judahs Unfaithfulness Jeremiah is Commanded to Speak at the Temple (7:1-10:25) Judah s Sins are cataloged in chapter 8 (deceit, no repentance, lack of knowledge, covetousness, false living, idolatry, etc ) Ref 8:11-12 (people are false, have no shame) Jeremiah mourns for Judah again (read 9:1); We see why he is called the weeping prophet-He truly loves the people Idols (10:3-5) vs. God (10:12-13); Read why there is NO comparison There is ONLY ONE GOD and He rules the universe!
Judahs Unfaithfulness Conspiracy Against God and Jeremiah (11-12) God tells Jeremiah to speak to Judah: I will be your God, if you will be My People (ref 11:3-4); Did they need this reminder? Absolutely! They have broken the covenant made with Him over and over Conspiracy Against God (read 11:9-11); Judah has broken the covenant-calamity is coming Conspiracy Against Jeremiah (read11:18-19); Jeremiah is safe in God s hands but those that wanted to kill him are no more than dead men walking (ref 11:22-23) Again: God says, Do not pray for these people (11:14)
Judahs Unfaithfulness Conspiracy Against God and Jeremiah (11-12) Jeremiah asks God: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? (Read 12:1) Do we ever feel this way? God answers Jeremiah God replies: They will be given a chance to learn and correct or be destroyed (12:14-17)
Judahs Unfaithfulness The ruined Sash/Girdle (waistband) Read 13:1-5 Jeremiah is commanded to bury it near the Euphrates river (near Babylon) What happens to a garment that is left outside in the weather? It is ruined-good for nothing (ref 13:7) The same result will happen to Judah because of their pride, idolatry and self-will (ref 13:8-11)
Punishment and False Prophets Severe Drought comes upon Judah (Read 14:2-4) Jeremiah Prays For Mercy (14:7-9) However, God again says, Do not pray for these people, I will not listen (14:11-12) False Prophets continue to say nothing bad is going to happen (Ref 14:13-16); God says I will pour out their wickedness on them
God Will Judge This People God says, Even if Moses or Samuel stood before me, My heart would not be with this people (Ref 15:1-2) God tells Jeremiah to buy a Potter s Flask (Vessel) Break it in front of the people and tell them God will break you (19:3)
Conspiracy Against Jeremiah (chapter 18) (Read 18:1-4) God sends Jeremiah to the Potter s house to watch him mold clay God tells Jeremiah to tell the people that God, like the potter, can keep you or destroy you; however, they reject Jeremiah s word and want to kill him (ref 18:5-12) Judah rejects God s words and plots against Jeremiah (18:12,18)) Pashhur (the priest!) beats Jeremiah and then puts him in stocks (ref 20:1) But even when Jeremiah is suffering persecution, God s Word burns in his heart and he cannot contain it (20:9); Lesson? True zeal for God s word can overcome the persecution we face
Shepherds Leading The People (Ref 23:1-6) Bad leadership compared to Perfect Leadership Contrast between the shepherds of Judah and future good shepherds including Jesus, our loving Shepherd (leading with a pure heart)
God Will Restore a Physical Remnant Physical remnant will be restored after 70 Years of Babylonian Captivity (606-536 BC) (Read 25:11-12) The prophecy occurs in the 4th year of Jehoiakim, 1st year of Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, 23 years into Jeremiah s prophecies (ref 25:1-3); He is no longer a youth
Message to the Leaders/Shepherds: The Lion is coming for you! the peaceful dwellings are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD. He has left His lair like the lion (Jer 25:37-38) Photo by Steve Klein
God Will Restore A Spiritual Remnant Hints of Spiritual Kingdom to come (Read 31:31-34); God s Word would be written on their heart (spiritual remnant); A new Covenant They shall be my people, and I will be their God (ref 31:33)
Lessons God is longsuffering, but sin will be punished because He is Just God desires all to return to Him and submit Bad people may prosper, and good people may suffer but all will be judged according to their deeds There is ONLY one God Don t listen to bad advice (when they say it is peace / No it isn t when you go against God s will)
Lessons We need to have a circumcised heart and be willing to repent when we sin Don t excuse ourselves from serving (I am too young, too old, too busy, etc. ) God keeps His promises The church is the fulfillment of the faithful remnant that God promised to give His mercy and love
