Post by professorc on Nov 10, 2015 5:43:34 GMT -5
The Book of Zephaniah
CONTENT: Oracles of coming CATASTROPHIC judgments against Jerusalem (thus Judah) and surrounding nations, plus an oracle of restoration for a remnant of Judah.
Prophet: Zephaniah of Jerusalem, possibly of the royal lineage of Hezekiah.
-His name means “Jehovah has treasured or secreted.”
Date of Prophetic Activity: Sometime during the reign of Josiah of Judah (640-604 B.C.)
Emphases:
• The Coming Day of Yahweh
• Judgment against Judah for her SINS
• Yahweh as God of all the nations
• Judgments against the nations
• Eventual salvation of a REMNANT of Judah
OVERVIEW OF ZEPHANIAH
During the reign of Josiah, Judah’s last good king), Zephaniah, who was possibly a member of the royal court, received a word from Yahweh, announcing that “the day of the LORD (Yahweh) is near.” (1:7,14,18; 2:3).
The BURDEN of his prophecy is God’s judgment on Judah for her idolatry and complacent wickedness (1:3-18a’ 3:1-5). But also included are a call to repentance (2:1-3), judgments against other nations (2”4-15), and the promise of restoration for a faithful remnant (3:9-20)
Thus, as you will quickly recognize, Zephaniah---the 9th of the 12th Minor Prophets---carries through with all the significant concerns found in the Israelite prophetic tradition.
SPECIFIC ADVICE FOR READING ZEPHANIAH
The historical context of Zephaniah is in some ways similar to that of Habakkuk (2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chron. 34-35).
God’ judgment is being pronounced primarily because Jerusalem continues to be a city of religion, but not of PURE YAHWISM, while at the same time—also over against pure Yahwism—there is little concern for social justice.
Zephaniah has a CHIASTIC STRUCTURE…this will help you in your reading.
A. God’s Judgment of Judah, with Consequent Wailing (1:2-18(
a. God’s Judgment of the Nations (2:1-3:8)
B. God’s Redemption of the Remnant, with Consequent Rejoicing (3:9-21).
All of this is expressed in brilliant and powerful images. Note, for example, his DELIBERATE placing of God’s judgment on Judah and Jerusalem in images and language that ECHO the Flood account in Genesis 6.
This is related to Zephaniah’s frequent use of hyperbole (purposeful exaggeration for effect). Thus, for example, he predicts at several points that God will destroy the whole earth and all its inhabitants (1:2-3, 18-3:8), yet also predicts a great future both for the peoples (3:9) and for Israel (3:10-19).
Such overstatement IS NOT to be TAKEN LITERALLY. Its effectiveness lies in the people’s taking seriously the extent of the tragedy that awaits them.
The small book of Zephaniah speaks in powerful ways of both God’s judgment on sin and His gracious act of SALVATION for the humble and undeserving, thus anticipating the gospel as expressed in the NT.
CONTENT: Oracles of coming CATASTROPHIC judgments against Jerusalem (thus Judah) and surrounding nations, plus an oracle of restoration for a remnant of Judah.
Prophet: Zephaniah of Jerusalem, possibly of the royal lineage of Hezekiah.
-His name means “Jehovah has treasured or secreted.”
Date of Prophetic Activity: Sometime during the reign of Josiah of Judah (640-604 B.C.)
Emphases:
• The Coming Day of Yahweh
• Judgment against Judah for her SINS
• Yahweh as God of all the nations
• Judgments against the nations
• Eventual salvation of a REMNANT of Judah
OVERVIEW OF ZEPHANIAH
During the reign of Josiah, Judah’s last good king), Zephaniah, who was possibly a member of the royal court, received a word from Yahweh, announcing that “the day of the LORD (Yahweh) is near.” (1:7,14,18; 2:3).
The BURDEN of his prophecy is God’s judgment on Judah for her idolatry and complacent wickedness (1:3-18a’ 3:1-5). But also included are a call to repentance (2:1-3), judgments against other nations (2”4-15), and the promise of restoration for a faithful remnant (3:9-20)
Thus, as you will quickly recognize, Zephaniah---the 9th of the 12th Minor Prophets---carries through with all the significant concerns found in the Israelite prophetic tradition.
SPECIFIC ADVICE FOR READING ZEPHANIAH
The historical context of Zephaniah is in some ways similar to that of Habakkuk (2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chron. 34-35).
God’ judgment is being pronounced primarily because Jerusalem continues to be a city of religion, but not of PURE YAHWISM, while at the same time—also over against pure Yahwism—there is little concern for social justice.
Zephaniah has a CHIASTIC STRUCTURE…this will help you in your reading.
A. God’s Judgment of Judah, with Consequent Wailing (1:2-18(
a. God’s Judgment of the Nations (2:1-3:8)
B. God’s Redemption of the Remnant, with Consequent Rejoicing (3:9-21).
All of this is expressed in brilliant and powerful images. Note, for example, his DELIBERATE placing of God’s judgment on Judah and Jerusalem in images and language that ECHO the Flood account in Genesis 6.
This is related to Zephaniah’s frequent use of hyperbole (purposeful exaggeration for effect). Thus, for example, he predicts at several points that God will destroy the whole earth and all its inhabitants (1:2-3, 18-3:8), yet also predicts a great future both for the peoples (3:9) and for Israel (3:10-19).
Such overstatement IS NOT to be TAKEN LITERALLY. Its effectiveness lies in the people’s taking seriously the extent of the tragedy that awaits them.
The small book of Zephaniah speaks in powerful ways of both God’s judgment on sin and His gracious act of SALVATION for the humble and undeserving, thus anticipating the gospel as expressed in the NT.