Peter Barnes: Zephaniah 3:1-8
(19 November 2017)
SERMON NOTES: JERUSALEM SHOULD KNOW BETTER! (Zephaniah 3:1-8)
Jerusalem should know better!
1. The city of God is corrupt.
– 3:1-2. Jerusalem goes her own way, and does what she likes. Calvin called unbelief ‘the mother of all the evil deeds’ that men do.
– the political leaders are corrupt and rapacious – 3:3. They are like roaring lions and evening wolves, when they ought to be protectors of the people. Alastair Campbell: ‘We don’t do God.’ God may not do them (Rom.1:24, 26, 28).
– the religious leaders are no better – 3:4. The Archbishop of Canterbury this week authorised a statement saying that in the interests of transgenderism, English boys should be allowed to go to school in tutus and high heels.
2. The city of God is unteachable.
– 3:5. If God is righteous, the unrighteous have a real problem. A righteous God demands righteousness.
– 3:6. If nature leaves us without excuse – Rom.1:20 – a reading of history should have the same effect.
– 3:7. Calvin: ‘Here God assumes the character of man, as he does often elsewhere: for he does not wait for what is future, as though he was doubtful; but all things, as we know, are before his eyes.’
– Jesus does the same thing in the parable of the tenants – Matt.21:33-37. Isaiah had made a similar point – Isa. 5:3-4.
3. The city of God will be judged with the world.
– 3:8; Luke 21:20-22.
– 2 Cor.13:5a.