Immersion bible studies, inspired by a fresh translationthe common. The joining of synonyms in this way emphasizes the degree of the characteristic being described. Three times god says i will sweep away in chapter 1 verses 1 and 2. Shaped with the individual in mind, immersion bible studies encourage simultaneous engagement both with the word of god and with the god of the word to become a new creation in christ. The book of zephaniah is a short announcement of gods impending judgment on judah 1. Luxury and extravagance might be seen on every hand. On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me. Journey inside the pages of scripture to meet a personal god who enters individual lives and begins a creative work from the inside out.
The book of zephaniah shows extremely many similarities with other prophetic books of the ot. He situates the reading of zephaniah in the early sixth century b. Zephaniah warned of an impending judgment while providing hope for the faithful. Among the prophets, this is a unique introduction with its long list of fathers back to zephaniahs great. Zephaniah summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of zephaniah for bible study or sunday school lessons. The prophecy by zephaniah is a companion to that of habakkuk. Zephaniahs message of judgment and encouragement contains three major doctrines. It was zephaniahs lot to speak on the most unpleasant subject in the bible the judgment of god.
This is not the only place where this theme occurs, of course, but it is the most concentrated treatment of the judgment of god as the whole book is devoted to this one theme. The book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic source of wisdom. Zephaniah pronounces the lords judgment on the whole earth, on judah, on the surrounding nations, on jerusalem, and on all nations. Despite the fact that zephaniah warns judah of impending doom, the prophecy is dual, and the major fulfillment of his prophecy is yet future. They are saying that god will never intervene in judgment this way. Doom is eminent but zephaniahs message also includes gods restoration of all things to a world of peace. Zephaniah was the grandson of hezekiah, but we cannot be sure that this hezekiah was the same hezekiah who ruled jerusalem during the time of isaiah. Zephaniah paints the picture powerfully with the repeated description, a day of i.
His word came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. Zephaniah, book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. Sweeneys keen reading of this small, prophetic book opens new doors for hebrew bible research. During the time of the minor prophets, the nation of israel had divided into two separate countries, each with its own government. Zephaniahs message of judgment and encouragement contains three major. When god had a message for the people, he spoke through the prophets.
Read and study zephaniah 3 with the versebyverse bible commentary. First is a description of the day of the lord that is coming against judah and jerusalem. The book of zephaniah poses a full range of interpretive and hermenutical issues for the modern reader. Zephaniah wrote it shortly before the fall of judah in the southern kingdom. Zephaniah has another cycle of denunciation against judah 3. Zephaniah predicts that god has bigger plans than the end of the world. The prophet zephaniah lived during the reign of the righteous king josiah of judah from 640 to 609 bc. What kings of judah preceded zephaniahs prophetical work, and what king.
The book of hosea consists of fourteen chapters, which was the record for a minor prophet until zechariah tied it a couple centuries later. The small book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic oracle. The day of the lord is at hand, a terrible day for those who have rebelled. Zephaniah and his contemporaries, jeremiah and habakkuk, were some of the prophets god used to pronounce this warning message. Summary of the book of zephaniah the story of the bible. Like other old testament prophets, zephaniah is a book rich in literary forms and features. Eventually, the babylonian empire destroyed nineveh as prophesied by nahum, and later destroyed jerusalem as prophesied by habakkuk and zephaniah. It wont stop at judahthe whole world will be punished. No other prophets ancestry is traced back four generations, so this seems intended to associate zephaniah with the great reforming king of judah. This was an amazing book that was written in the way that you could just relate. People today are saying what these two prophets said they would say so long ago. This prophetic concept refers to any intervention of god in.
All together the 16 prophets are called the latter prophets, as they began writing after the division of the united kingdom of israel. The book consists of a series of independent sayings, many of which are rightly attributed to zephaniah, written probably about 640630 bc. Immersion bible studiesmicah, nahum, habakkuk, zephaniah. Zephaniah was a prophet of doom in the true sense of the word. The book tells us that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah, the king of judah from 640 to 609 bc zephaniah 1. Book of zephaniah, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. The book of zephaniah was written from 640609 bc, during the reign of king josiah who brought spiritual renewal and reform to judah after the long and devastating reign of king manasseh.
Book of zephaniah, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the. The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning of. Book of zephaniah overview insight for living ministries. As we prepare to study the literal and spiritual senses of the book of zephaniah, lets look at some historical facts that will help us enter into the eternal message of the lords word. Bible study guide book of zephaniah saturday, november 3, 2012 background on zephaniah in zephaniah 1.
This summary of the book of zephaniah provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and. By this the godly harmony is shown in the prophecies of such different men who have lived at totally different times but who always presented the one goal of god. Watch our overview video on the book of zephaniah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Zephaniah contemporary of jeremiah preached around 625 bc king manasseh is dead after a reign of 55 years the most evil king in judah he was the exact opposite of his father king hezekiah.
Described as the day of the lord, the day of judgment is pictured as a time of darkness, of anguish and distress, of destruction and plunder of cities, and. Joel also opens his prophecy with a description of a great locust plague, which he likens to the day of the lord that is coming in the future. Zephaniah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The books prologue identifies zephaniah as the greatgreatgrandson of hezekiah. The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning of coming judgment and to encourage repentance. Written to zephaniah addressed the jews in judah and all later bible readers. Thus the period from 640 to 622 is the likely time for the giving of the prophecy. This is book number 8 in the summary of the 12 minor prophets of the bible. Book of zephaniah simple english wikipedia, the free. The book of zephaniah, the ninth book of the twelve minor prophets, is written in three chapters. His description of the day of the lord, however, has entered deeply. The dominant theme of the book is the day of the lord, which the prophet sees approaching as a consequence of the sins of judah.
Sssh major lessons from minor prophets judgment is coming, but grace and mercy are still available for those who earnestly seek for it. The prophets jonah, nahum, habakkuk, and zephaniah all spoke to a nation that had to deal with violent enemies. Its about this time that god sends the prophet zephaniah with a startling. The book of zephaniah was written during the reign of king josiah, likely in the early part of his reign, between 635 and 625 bc. Bible book list access the niv cultural backgrounds study bible notes when you upgrade to bible gateway plus. Peters description of the day of the lord is remarkably similar 2 pet. The book of zephaniah is a book of the bible and is thought to be written by zephaniah son of cushi son of gedaliah son of amariah son of hezekiah, in the days of king josiah son of amon of judah the book begins by telling of gods judgement on the kingdom of judah. The emphasis in the book of zephaniah is upon judgment. Zephaniah intro, new international version niv the. Zephaniahs message was not just for ancient judah but also for our day. There are many people who would like to rule this subject of judgment out of the.
We can begin to pinpoint exactly when zephaniah prophesied by accounting for a few details in the text. The book of zephaniah download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. The northern ten tribes had already been carried into assyria nearly a century before, c. Zephaniahs ministry occurred during the reign of josiah, king of judah. Historical background and summary of the book of zephaniah in. The book of zephaniah, the early discourses of jeremiah, and 2ki 2123 furnish a vivid picture of the social, moral, and religious conditions in judah at the time zephaniah prophesied. The good king josiah reigns, and he has directed people back to god. While jonah took his message to the city of nineveh, the others faced the crisis of a new power. Zephaniah is the ninth of the minor prophets, the last 12 books of the old testament. The book of the twelve follows the writings of the four major prophets, isaiah, jeremiah, ezekiel, and daniel. The book is concerned throughout with the day of the lord. The purpose of this book was to show the complacent southern kingdoms that they were wicked, god used a prophet zephaniah. This book records the prophets sober description of the day of the lord, which oftrepeated phrase was in reference to the impending destruction of jerusalem and the future great tribulation when god would punish all nations. The book of zephaniah center point bible institute.
48 902 363 154 640 1320 961 285 1488 1361 800 275 1228 1319 724 1008 1268 130 1315 288 771 803 730 72 1481 1156 1143 942 650 989 1241 773