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Zephaniah

Zephaniah. Zephaniah. Zephaniah. (Zep 1:1 NKJV) The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon , king of Judah. Our Introduction Matthew Henry.

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Zephaniah

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  1. Zephaniah

  2. Zephaniah

  3. Zephaniah • (Zep 1:1 NKJV) The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah,in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

  4. Our IntroductionMatthew Henry • Here is, I. The title-page of this book (Zep_1:1), in which we observe, 1. What authority it has, and who gave it that authority; it is from heaven, and not of men: It is the word of the Lord. 2. Who was the instrument of conveying it to the church. His name was Zephaniah, which signifies the servant of the Lord, for God revealed his secrets to his servants the prophets.

  5. Our Introduction • The pedigree of other prophets, whose extraction we have an account of, goes no further back than their father, except Zecharias, whose grandfather also is named. But this of Zephaniah goes back four generations, and the highest mentioned is Hizkiah; it is the very same name in the original with that of Hezekiah king of Judah (2Ki_18:1), and refers probably to him; if so, our prophet, being lineally descended from that pious prince, and being of the royal family,

  6. Our Introduction • could with the better grace reprove the folly of the king's children as he does, Zep_1:8. 3. When this prophet prophesied - in the days of Josiah king of Judah, who reigned well, and in the twelfth year of his reign began vigorously, and carried on a work of reformation, in which he destroyed idols and idolatry. Now it does not appear whether Zephaniah prophesied in the beginning of his reign;

  7. Our Introduction • if so, we may suppose his prophesying had a great and good influence on that reformation. When he, as God's messenger, reproved the idolatries of Jerusalem, Josiah, as God's vice-regent, removed them; and reformation is likely to go on and prosper when both magistrates and ministers do their part towards it. If it were towards the latter end of his reign that he prophesied,

  8. Our Introduction • we sadly see how a corrupt people relapse into their former distempers. The idolatries Josiah had abolished, it should seem, returned in his own time, when the heat of the reformation began a little to abate and wear off. What good can the best reformers do with a people that hate to be reformed, as if they longed to be ruined?

  9. Judgment: complete destruction • (Zep 1:2-3 NKJV) "I will utterly consume everything From the face of the land," Says the LORD; {3} "I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land," Says the LORD.

  10. Judgment is Coming! • (Zep 1:4 NKJV) "I will stretch out My hand against Judah, And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, The names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests;

  11. Worshiping God and Molech • (Zep 1:5 NKJV) Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; Those who worship and swear oaths by the LORD, But who also swear by Milcom; • (Zep 1:5 NIV) those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the LORD and who also swear by Molech,

  12. We are to look to Him! • (Zep 1:6 NKJV) Those who have turned back from following the LORD, And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him."

  13. The day of the LORD • (Zep 1:7 NKJV) Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.

  14. The day of the Lord's sacrifice, • (Zep 1:8 NKJV) "And it shall be, In the day of the Lord's sacrifice, That I will punish the princes and the king's children, And all such as are clothed with foreign apparel.

  15. Strange apparelDifferent Views • “all such as are clothed with strange apparel” — the princes or courtiers who attired themselves in costly garments, imported from abroad; partly for the sake of luxury, and partly to ingratiate themselves with foreign great nations whose costume as well as their idolatries they imitated, • JFB

  16. Strange apparelDifferent Views • And all such as are clothed with strange apparel - Israel was reminded by its dress, that it belonged to God. It was no great thing in itself; “a band of dark blue Num_15:38; Deu_22:12 upon the fringes at the four corners of their garments.” But “the band of dark blue” was upon the high priest’s mitre, with the plate engraved, “Holiness to the Lord” Exo_28:36, Albert Barnes

  17. Strange apparelDifferent Views • fastened upon it; “with a band of dark blue” also was the breastplate Exo_39:21 bound to the ephod of the high priest. So then, simple as it was, it seems to have designated the whole nation, as “a kingdom of priests, an holy nation” Exo_19:6. It was appointed to them, “that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, -- Albert Barnes

  18. Strange apparelDifferent Views • and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring; that ye may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy unto your God” Num_15:39-40 -- Albert Barnes

  19. Strange apparelDifferent Views • Strange apparel - I really think this refers more to their embracing idolatrous customs and heathen usages, than to their changing their dress. They acquired new habits, as we would say; customs, that they used as they did their clothing - at all times, and in every thing. -- Adam Clarke • So there you have three different views.

  20. leap over the threshold • (Zep 1:9 NKJV) In the same day I will punish All those who leap over the threshold, Who fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.

  21. Those that leap on the threshold • “those that leap on the threshold” — the servants of the princes, who, after having gotten prey (like hounds) for their masters, leap exultingly on their masters’ thresholds; or, on the thresholds of the houses which they break into [Calvin]. Jerome explains it of those who walk up the steps into the sanctuary with haughtiness. Rosenmuller translates, “Leap over the threshold”; -- JFB

  22. Those that leap on the threshold • namely, in imitation of the Philistine custom of not treading on the threshold, which arose from the head and hands of Dragon being broken off on the threshold before the ark (1Sa_5:5). . . . Calvin’s view agrees best with the latter clause of the verse. • fill ... masters’ houses with violence, etc. — that is, with goods obtained with violence, etc. -- JFB

  23. The sound of a mournful cry • (Zep 1:10 NKJV) "And there shall be on that day," says the LORD, "The sound of a mournful cry from the Fish Gate, A wailing from the Second Quarter, And a loud crashing from the hills.

  24. O inhabitants of the Mortar, • (Zep 1:11 NKJV) Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh! For all the merchant people are cut down; All those who handle money are cut off. • Compare: • (Zep 1:11 NASB) "Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar, For all the people of Canaan will be silenced; All who weigh out silver will be cut off.

  25. O inhabitants of the Mortar, • Maktesh - Calmet says this signifies a mortar, or a rock in form of a mortar, and was the name of a quarter of Jerusalem where they hulled rice, corn, etc., according to St. Jerome. Some think the city of Jerusalem is meant, where the inhabitants should be beat and pounded to death as grain is pounded in a mortar.

  26. Complacency will be punished • (Zep 1:12 NKJV) "And it shall come to pass at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And punish the men Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, 'The LORD will not do good, Nor will He do evil.'

  27. No reward for their Labor • (Zep 1:13 NKJV) Therefore their goods shall become booty, And their houses a desolation; They shall build houses, but not inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine."

  28. The great day of the LORD • (Zep 1:14 NKJV) The great day of the LORD is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out.

  29. The great day of the LORD • (Zep 1:15 NKJV) That day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress,A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness,

  30. The great day of the LORD • (Zep 1:16 NKJV) A day of trumpet and alarm Against the fortified cities And against the high towers.

  31. Judgment is coming • (Zep 1:17 NKJV) "I will bring distress upon men, And they shall walk like blind men, Because they have sinned against the LORD; Their blood shall be poured out like dust, And their flesh like refuse."

  32. Gold Shall be able to deliver them • (Zep 1:18 NKJV) Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the Lord's wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in the land.

  33. O undesirable nation • (Zep 2:1-2 NKJV) Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, {2} Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the Lord's fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord's anger comes upon you!

  34. The Lord May Spare the Righteous • (Zep 2:3 NKJV) Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the Lord's anger.

  35. The land of the Philistines: • (Zep 2:4-5 NKJV) For Gaza shall be forsaken, And Ashkelon desolate; They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, And Ekron shall be uprooted. {5} Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, The nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: "I will destroy you; So there shall be no inhabitant."

  36. The land of the Philistines: • (Zep 2:6-7 NKJV) The seacoast shall be pastures, With shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks. {7} The coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; They shall feed their flocks there; In the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the LORD their God will intervene for them, And return their captives.

  37. I have heard the reproach • (Zep 2:8 NKJV) "I have heard the reproach of Moab,And the insults of the people of Ammon, With which they have reproached My people, And made arrogant threats against their borders.

  38. "Surely Moab shall be like Sodom • (Zep 2:9 NKJV) Therefore, as I live," Says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, And the people of Ammon like Gomorrah; Overrun with weeds and saltpits, And a perpetual desolation. The residue of My people shall plunder them, And the remnant of My people shall possess them."

  39. He will reduce to nothing all the gods • (Zep 2:10-11 NKJV) This they shall have for their pride, Because they have reproached and made arrogant threats Against the people of the LORD of hosts. {11} The LORD will be awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; People shall worship Him, Each one from his place, Indeed all the shores of the nations.

  40. He will Destroy Assyria • (Zep 2:12-13 NKJV) "You Ethiopians also, You shall be slain by My sword." {13} And He will stretch out His hand against the north, Destroy Assyria,And make Nineveh a desolation, As dry as the wilderness.

  41. Herds shall lie down in her midst • (Zep 2:14 NKJV) The herds shall lie down in her midst, Every beast of the nation. Both the pelican and the bittern Shall lodge on the capitals of her pillars; Their voice shall sing in the windows; Desolation shall be at the threshold; For He will lay bare the cedar work.

  42. This is the rejoicing city • (Zep 2:15 NKJV) This is the rejoicing city That dwelt securely, That said in her heart, "I am it, and there is none besides me." How has she become a desolation, A place for beasts to lie down! Everyone who passes by her Shall hiss and shake his fist.

  43. Woe to her who is rebellious • (Zep 3:1-2 NKJV) Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, • To the oppressing city! • {2} She has not obeyed His voice, • She has not received correction; • She has not trusted in the LORD, • She has not drawn near to her God.

  44. Zephaniah 3:3-4 NKJV • Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; • Her judges are evening wolves That leave not a bone till morning. • {4} Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; • Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, • They have done violence to the law.

  45. The LORD is righteous • (Zep 3:5 NKJV) The LORD is righteous in her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails, But the unjust knows no shame.

  46. God can destroy nations • (Zep 3:6 NKJV) • "I have cut off nations, • Their fortresses are devastated; • I have made their streets desolate, • With none passing by. • Their cities are destroyed; • There is no one, no inhabitant.

  47. Zephaniah 3:7 NKJV • I said, 'Surely you will fear Me, • You will receive instruction'; • So that her dwelling would not be cut off, • Despite everything for which I punished her. • But they rose early and corrupted all their deeds.

  48. “Wait for Me.”(Zep 3:8 NKJV) • "Therefore wait for Me," says the LORD, • "Until the day I rise up for plunder; • My determination is to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, • To pour on them My indignation, • All my fierce anger; • All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy.

  49. A pure language • (Zep 3:9-10 NKJV) "For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord. {10} From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, The daughter of My dispersed ones, Shall bring My offering.

  50. “A pure language” • “turn to the people a pure language” — • that is, changing their impure language I will give to them again a pure language (literally, “lip”). Compare for this Hebrew idiom, 1Sa_10:9, Margin. The confusion of languages was of the penalty sin, probably idolatry at Babel (Gen_11:1-6, Margin, where also “lip” expresses language, and perhaps also religion; Zep_3:4, -- JFB

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