Book of Zephaniah Chapter 2

 

 

 

3. The last chance for repentance 2.1-4 The scope of divine judgment

 2.1-4 - The nation is shameless and their sin is obvious--they are told to gather together before the fierce anger of the Lord overtakes them. Those who have obeyed God’s law and are meek are told to seek the Lord and they may find a hiding place during the time of wrath. Gaza and Ashdod, enemies of Judah are told they too are going to experience the judgment of God.

1 Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;

2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you.

3 Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.

4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

This is what the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) represents--the final warning trumpet prior to judgment. Now is the time to repent, now is the time for God’s people to seek shelter under His wings. The time has come. Those who truly walk with the Lord are not destined for wrath, but to salvation. The wrath of God is judgment on sin--persecution is another thing altogether. We can expect persecution, but we are not destined to wrath if we are walking in obedience. Some of those who are truly seeking Him will find a “hiding place in the Lord.”

4. Against the nations and their gods 2.5-15

2.5-15 - Now the nations surrounding Judah are given notice of their coming judgment. In these judgments the prophet indicates that Lord will restore His people Judah and they will plunder their enemies. Verse 11 points out how these enemy nations will be humbled by the Lord. Babylon thought in their hearts that they alone were great, but God tells them she is going to be wasted.

5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the Lord is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.

6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.

9 Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.

10 This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts.

11 The Lord will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.

12 Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.

13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.

14 And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds; for he shall uncover the cedar work.

15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

Today we see Israel surrounded by her ancient enemies just as in the day of Zephaniah. In that day the Lord eventually returned the Jews to their land and their enemies were no more--Babylon was destroyed. Verse 11 points out that the Lord does not want to destroy nation after nation, but that the purpose is to have these nations recognize His sovereignty, bow down to Him, and obey his Torah. Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord. At the end of the age this will be reality as all Israel is saved and the millennial reign of Christ is ushered in.

 

Tomorrow: Zephaniah Chapter 3