ZEPHENIAH LESSON 3


     We will begin this lesson in Zephaniah 3:1 "Woe to her that is
filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!"

     This is speaking of Jerusalem. God will destroy Jerusalem's
enemies, but He will, also, punish Jerusalem for the evil within her.
They are polluted with false gods and idols. They have rebelled
against their God, and committed spiritual adultery. They thought
themselves to be above others, and they oppressed those around them,
because of their arrogance. They thought they would never be
destroyed, because of their relationship with God.

     Zephaniah 3:2 "She obeyed not the voice; she received not
correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her
God."

     This speaks of rebellion toward God. God had sent judges,
teachers, and prophets to warn them, and they still did not live the
faithful life. God loved them dearly. He wanted to bless them. He sent
prophet after prophet, warning them of the consequences of
unfaithfulness. It seemed the more prophets He sent to warn them, the
further they wandered away from God. They did not repent of their
sins. He drew nigh to her, but she did not draw nigh to God. She put
her trust in the heathen nations around her, and not in God.

     Zephaniah 3:3 "Her princes within her [are] roaring lions; her
judges [are] evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow."

     We have spoken, in these lessons before, that being a prince of
the people, carries with it a great responsibility to take care of the
people. It seems, the princes did not want any responsibility for the
people. They just wanted to rule, and take what they could from the
people. The judges were greedy and ferocious. They, too, took more
than they needed, and left the people ravaged.

     Zephaniah 3:4 "Her prophets [are] light [and] treacherous
persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done
violence to the law."

     This is a terrible state of affairs, when the spiritual leaders
have gone bad. Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come to
you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."  The
very leaders, who were to uphold the law, have destroyed it. They not
only forgot to teach the law, but they polluted the sanctuary with
false gods. They are the blind leading the blind. Matthew 15:14 "Let
them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead
the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." The prophets of that day
had power to influence others. The problem is, some of the prophets
were false prophets. Their messages were not from God. Their messages
were something they dreamed up themselves, for their own advantage.

     Zephaniah 3:5 "The just LORD [is] in the midst thereof; he will
not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he
faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame."

     God dwelt in the midst of His people. The LORD was the only holy
One upon the earth. His law was perfect. The people's inability to
keep the law was where the problem came from. They had walked away
from the Light of God, and made a habit of sinning. They know no
shame, because they have committed so many sins their consciences have
become dull. God still shines His Light where the people are caught up
in sin, but He will not always remain there. He left the temple in
Jerusalem, before the destruction by Babylon.

     Zephaniah 3:6 "I have cut off the nations: their towers are
desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their
cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none
inhabitant."

     The nations, here, are, probably, speaking of the nations around
them, but it is true of Israel, as well. God sent His judgements to
cause them to repent, and turn back to God.  Israel had trusted in
their military strength to save them from the enemy.  They had even
made agreements with worldly countries to help them in their wars. The
truth is their strength lay in God's protection of them.  When they
stopped trusting in God, their strength was gone. In their journey to
the promised land, they had won every battle when the Ark of the
Covenant went before them. When they did not have it going before
them, they lost.  This, in itself, should have told them of their
inability to do anything without God.

     Zephaniah 3:7 "I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt
receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off,
howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, [and] corrupted all
their doings."

     God used examples of other countries He had judged, to show
Israel and Judah that they must repent. The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom. The fear, in this, is speaking of reverence. God
wanted their love and respect. God wanted to instruct them in His
ways, but they were not interested in doing what He wanted. They did
what was right in their own sight.  God had told them, over and over,
of the punishment, if they did not repent of their sins and walk in
His ways.  They did not heed His warnings. The chastisement God sent
was to punish them for their sins and cause them to reach out to Him
for help. All of the warnings, and chastisement, were to cause them to
repent, instead they just went deeper and deeper into sin.

     Zephaniah 3:8  "Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until
the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [is] to
gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon
them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all the earth
shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy."

     Those, who are to wait, are the saved. They are admonished to
wait for this day. The nations gathered, here, are speaking of that
time of the great battle of Armageddon. There has never really been a
time in past history, when all of mankind was caught up in battle like
this. The earth will be destroyed by God's fire, and a new heaven and
a new earth will come forth from God. Revelation 16:16 "And he
gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue
Armageddon."

     Zephaniah 3:9 "For then will I turn to the people a pure
language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve
him with one consent."

     At the tower of Babel, God punished the sinful people by changing
their language, so they could not understand each other. This has
always been a problem in understanding people of other nations. This
is a reversal of that. God will, now, return them all to the same
language so they might understand each other. This speaks of a time of
total agreement of people of many nations. This will be that peace
that Jesus Christ brings. People of all nations will be converted to
the Lord.

     Zephaniah 3:10 "From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants,
[even] the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering."

     Revelation 15:4 "Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy
name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and
worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest."

     Zephaniah 3:11 "In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy
doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will
take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and
thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain."

     All Israel shall be turned to the Lord, and they will no longer
be a haughty people, believing they are the only children of God. They
had thought themselves better than the rest of the world, because they
alone, had the law of God. This was all removed in the coming of their
Messiah who brought salvation to all the world. Matthew 3:9 "And think
not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I
say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children
unto Abraham."  Romans 3:27 "Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded.
By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith."

     Zephaniah 3:12 "I will also leave in the midst of thee an
afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the
LORD."

     The followers of Jesus Christ are the humble people of the world.
They have to give up all their conceit and arrogance to come to
Christ. The power to live the Christian life lies in the ability to
trust in the name of Jesus. Matthew 5:3 "Blessed [are] the poor in
spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  Luke 6:20  "And he
lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed [be ye] poor:
for yours is the kingdom of God."  Philippians 2:10 "That at the name
of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in
earth, and [things] under the earth;"  Philippians 2:11 "And [that]
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory
of God the Father."

     Zephaniah 3:13 "The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor
speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth:
for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid."

     The remnant of Israel, throughout the Bible, is the group who
have never bowed their knee to Baal. This just means they have never
worshipped false gods. They have always remained faithful to God.
These are those people who are holy, because He is holy. They are not
interested in sin. They are interested in pleasing God. They have all
the good habits of Christ, because Christ lives in them. These are
speaking of those who have made Christ their Lord. I John 3:9
"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth
in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

     Zephaniah 3:14  "Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be
glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem."

     The joy of the daughters of Jerusalem, is the fact that they have
been restored. People from all over the world will come to worship
there. This promise of the coming greatness of Jerusalem, is spoken
just after the prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction. The victory of the
Lord over sin, and the promise of the restoration of Jerusalem, should
make them rejoice in their hearts.

     Zephaniah 3:15 "The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath
cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, [even] the LORD, [is] in the
midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more."

     The following Scripture is about the very same thing. Hebrews
8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins
and their iniquities will I remember no more." They are forgiven and
restored. Revelation 12:10 "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,
Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and
the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down,
which accused them before our God day and night."

     Zephaniah 3:16 "In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear
thou not: [and to] Zion, Let not thine hands be slack."

     This is said about the natural Israelite, and to the church
{Zion}, spiritual Israel. There will be nothing to fear, because the
Lord will be with His own.

     Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is]
mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest
in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."

     The might of man cannot be compared to that of God. God created
the world, and all that is in it. He controls everything. Acts 4:12
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."  Revelation
21:3 "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the
tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they
shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be]
their God." The love that God has for man is that agape love. It is
love that is so great, that God sent His Son to die on the cross to
save our souls. There is joy in heaven over one sinner who receives
Christ as his Saviour.

     Zephaniah 3:18 "I will gather [them that are] sorrowful for the
solemn assembly, [who] are of thee, [to whom] the reproach of it [was]
a burden."

     Those who were sorrowful of losing daily fellowship with God at
the temple, will be brought again and restored.

     Zephaniah 3:19 "Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict
thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven
out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have
been put to shame."

     This is speaking of Israel's restoration to their land. It, also,
speaks of restoring her reputation as God's people in all the world.
God will destroy the enemies of Israel, and all of God's people,
including the church. This last destruction of the enemies of God, and
His people, occurs just before Jerusalem is totally restored.

     Zephaniah 3:20 "At that time will I bring you [again], even in
the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise
among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before
your eyes, saith the LORD."

     God will gather His people from all over the world, and bring
them to Jerusalem. This is speaking of that great gathering in the end
times, when all of God's people come home. In the spiritual realm,
this is speaking of all the believers in Christ. In the physical, this
is speaking of all the true Jews from all over the world coming home
to Israel. God keeps His promises. "Saith the LORD" means there is no
question about this happening. God said it, it will be.















                      Zephaniah 3 Questions


1.  Woe to her that is _________ and ___________.
2.  This speaking of ____________.
3.  What are they polluted with?
4.  How were they oppressive to others?
5.  Verse 2 speaks of __________ toward God.
6.  Who had God sent to warn them?
7.  God drew nigh to Judah, but Judah did what in return?
8.  Who did she put her trust in?
9.  Being a prince to the people, carries with it great ___________.
10. Describe the judges in verse 3.
11. Even the _____________ leaders have gone bad.
12. Quote Matthew chapter 7 verse 15.
13. The people's ______________ to keep the law was where the problem
    came from.
14. Why did they know no shame?
15. Who are the nations in verse 6?
16. What had been proof to them on their journey to the promised land,
    that God was their strength?
17. The _______ of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
18. They were interested in walking in their ______ _______.
19. What was the chastisement of God for?
20. Who are those that are to wait upon the Lord?
21. Verse 8 is about what battle?
22. Quote Revelation chapter 16 verse 16.
23. When had God confused the language?
24. What nations will come and worship God?
25. Why had Israel been haughty in the past?
26. Quote Matthew chapter 3 verse 9.
27. Who does verse 12 say will trust in the Lord?
28. Quote Philippians chapter 2 verses 10 and 11.
29. Who are the remnant of Israel?
30. Quote 1 John chapter 3 verse 9.
31. Quote Hebrews chapter 8 verse 12.
32. Why will there be nothing to fear?
33. Quote Acts chapter 4 verse 12.
34. The tabernacle of God is with ________.
35. What is one word for God's kind of love?
36. Whose reputation does God restore?
37. Where will God bring His people to?