Study 1 From the Book of Zephaniah is: Zephaniah 1
The effects of God’s universal judgment (verses 2, 3) upon Judah
and Jerusalem are described in detail (verses 4-13). The chapter ends with a terrifying picture of
the day of the Lord (verses 14-18)
1.
On whom particularly will God’s judgment fall according to this
chapter, and why? Can you think of any modern counterparts to the sinful
actions described?
2.
Having considered the reasons for judgment, now ponder the
accompaniments of the day of the Lord in verses 14-18. What may we learn from
these about God’s view of sin? Cf. Pr.
11:4; Ezk.
Notes
1.
Verse 4. To ‘cut off… the
name of’ mean to ‘obliterate the memory of’
2.
Verse 5. ‘Milcom’: a
foreign deity of this or a similar name was worshipped in several of the
countries surrounding Judah.
3.
Verse 12. ‘Thickening
upon their lees’: cf. Je. 48:11. This picture, taken from the wine-trade,
refers to the sedimentation of wine. The
idle, stagnant, muddy-minded men in Jerusalem, who thought they could settle
down in their godless indifference, will be punished.
