Peter Barnes Zephaniah 1:1-3
(15 October 2017)
SERMON NOTES: THE JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH (Zeph.1:1-3)
Zephaniah lived before the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem about 587 B.C. King Josiah is mentioned, who reigned from 640-609 B.C. Zephaniah emphasises the Day of the Lord e.g. 1:14-16. He spoke of judgment more than mercy, but there is a most memorable depiction of God’s grace in 3:15, 17.
- Who is this prophet?
– 1:1. This is most unusual – a genealogy which goes back four generations. Habakkuk, Obadiah, Haggai and Malachi are given no genealogy – Hab.1:1; Obad.1. Often we are only told where the prophet comes from – Amos 1:1; Mic.1:1; Nahum 1:1. With Hosea, Joel and Jonah, we have one generation – Hos.1:1; Joel 1:1; and with Zechariah, we are given two previous generations – Zech.1:1.
– it seems that Zephaniah was of royal descent, going back to Hezekiah. God called His prophets from all sorts of backgrounds. Ezekiel was a priest and a prophet, and Jeremiah was of a priestly family. Amos was a shepherd and tenderer of sycamore trees – Amos 7:14-15. Zephaniah’s name means ‘Yahweh has hidden’ or Yahweh has protected’.
- When Zephaniah speaks, God speaks.
– 1:1; the word of the Lord came to Zephaniah. See Hag.1:1; Zech.1:1; Mal.1:1. The expression ‘declares the Lord’ is twice used (1:2-3).
– 2 Peter 1:21. Note 2 Kings 22:8-13.
- God judges all the earth.
– 1:2-3. Like the days of Noah – Gen.6:7. See Gen.18:25; 2 Pet.3:10-11.
– Richard Dawkins: ‘The God of the Old Testament is … a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser … a capriciously malevolent bully.’ Not so – Ex.34:6-7a; John 3:16-18.