Zephaniah
BOOK OVERVIEW
The prophecy takes place during the reign of Josiah (640–609 b.c.), a significant Judean king (2 Kings
21:26-23:20; 2 Chron 33:25-35:27). The northern kingdom of Israel had already been exiled, in 722 b.c., so “Israel”
(Zeph 2:9; Zeph 3:13-15) does not refer to it. Rather, these references speak of the remainder of the nation of Israel:
Judah and its capital, Jerusalem.
Josiah was a reforming king, trying to reestablish acceptable worship practices that had fallen out of use
since the time of his great-grandfather Hezekiah (2 Kings 21:1-26). Even after a religious reform, not all lives are
changed. No matter how clear the call to repentance, there were always those who refused to respond and who need
to hear the prophetic word afresh.
THEME
The theme of Zephaniah, one preached more consistently by him than by any other prophet, is the “day of
the Lord” (1:7, etc.). This approaching day shows two faces: one of judgment against those who sin against God, and
one of blessing for those who follow him. God will show himself just in both punishment and praise.
KEY THEMES
1. God will judge the whole earth (1:2–3, 17–18; 3:8), Judah (1:4-16; 3:1-7) and her pagan neighbors (2:4-8) alike.
2. God, as covenant keeper, will bless his people when they return to their covenant relationship with him (3:11–20).
3. God will extend blessing and grace to all peoples and nations (3:9–10).
4. Judgment and blessing occur both in the near future for the prophet and his audience (1:4–18; 2:3) and also in the
more distant future (3:8–9, 11, 13–17).
5. There is no such thing as a second-generation child of God. Every generation must own God’s covenant, not
relying on the faith of a previous generation.
OUTLINE:
1. Introduction (1:1)
2. Judgment Coming Against Judah (1:2–6)
3. The Day of the Lord (1:7–3:20)
a. Day of sacrifice and punishment (1:7–9)
b. The coming wrath (1:10–18)
i. Against God’s people (1:10–16)
ii. Against all humanity (1:17–18)
iii. Repentance is still possible (2:1–3)
iv. Nations warned (2:4–3:8)
1. Philistines (2:4–7)
2. Moab and Ammon (2:8–11)
3. Cush (2:12)
4. Assyria (2:13–15)
5. Jerusalem (3:1–7)
6. Summary of warnings (3:8)
v. Anticipation of hope (3:9–20)
1. Conversion of the nations (3:9–10) (remnant of Romans 9)
2. Judah’s return (3:11–13)
3. Joyful song (3:14–17)
4. God’s promised restoration (3:18–20)
Practical Application: With a few adjustments in names and situations, this prophet of 8th century B.C. could
stand in our pulpits today and deliver the same message of judgment of the wicked and hope for the faithful.
Zephaniah reminds us that God is offended by the moral and religious sins of His people. God's people will not escape
punishment when they sin willfully. Punishment may be painful, but its purpose may be redemptive rather than
punitive. The inevitability of the punishment of wickedness gives comfort in a time when it seems that evil is
unbridled and victorious. We have the freedom to disobey God but not the freedom to escape the
consequences of that disobedience. Those who are faithful to God may be relatively few but He will bless them.
DISCUSS / CONSIDER
1. Refer to Zephaniah 1:4-18 – “the day of the Lord is at hand…the day of the Lord is near and hastens quickly.” The
day of the Lord was near for Jerusalem and Judah at that time because the Babylonian armies were right there on the
horizon and were about to conquer Israel. God judged and punished Jerusalem and Judah because they had absorbed
the pagan culture around them. Are we guilty of this sin? How much of the pagan culture have we absorbed?
2. God judged the sin of idolatry. When God allowed the Babylonians to conquer Judah and Jerusalem, the sin of
idolatry was judged and removed. When the Jews went into captivity in Babylon there was no more idol worship. An
idol is anything that takes the place of God as #1 in your life. What are some of your idols?
Haggai
BOOK OVERVIEW
The word of the Lord comes to Haggai in what is believed to be between late August and mid-December of
520 b.c. Haggai motivates the leaders (Zerubbabel and Joshua) and the people of God to consider their current
economic and spiritual circumstances and to renew their efforts to complete the work of temple restoration.
The Persian ruler Cyrus the Great (559–530 b.c.) captured Babylon in 539. His edict in 538 b.c. permitted
the return of Jews to Jerusalem so that they might rebuild the temple (Ezra 1–2). Initial work stalled, however, when
opposition arose (Ezra 3:1–4:5).
The events within the book of Haggai take place during the reign of Darius I (522–486 b.c.), a general who
rose to power following the death of Cyrus’s son Cambyses (530–522). The specific mention of the “second year of
Darius” (Hag. 1:1) places the book firmly in the year 520 b.c. Darius’s support was vital for the completion of the
temple (Ezra 5–6).
KEY THEMES
1. The restoration of God’s house. Temple restoration highlights the Lord’s desire to renew a covenant
relationship with his people, characterized by his presence (1:13; 2:4–5). A decaying temple signifies a decaying
relationship and brings defilement rather than holiness to the people (2:14).
2. The prophetic word is the divine Word. The divine message comes “by the hand of Haggai” (1:1, 3; 2:1, 10),
is characterized by “thus says the Lord” (1:2, 5, 7; 2:6, 11), is a message “to Haggai” (2:20), is characterized by
“declares the Lord” (1:9, 13; 2:4 [3x], 8, 9, 14, 17, 23 [3x]), is the “voice of the Lord their God” (1:12), and is the “Lord’s
message” (1:13).
3. The Lord is sovereign. The phrase “Lord of hosts” occurs 14 times in these 38 verses (see 1:2). The Lord gives
the divine word, controls the fortunes of his people (1:9; 2:17, 19) and nations (2:6–8), directs nature (1:10), motivates
his people to action (1:14; 2:4), and establishes and deposes kingdoms (2:20–23).
4. The people must work. A restored house will bring pleasure and glory to the Lord (1:8) and convey blessing to
the people (2:19), but there is work to be done. Physical labor (1:14) is urged in the form of numerous imperatives
(1:7–8; 2:4–5). But there is also “heart” work to be done, as evidenced by the call to consider past experience in light
of the present inaction (1:5–7; 2:15–19).
5. The restoration of David’s house. Zerubbabel, the heir of David, is promised an elevated status (2:23). The
Lord, who had taken off the “ring” of the David’s kingdom (Jer. 22:24–27), now promises to wear it once again. As in
the OT (2 Samuel 7; Ps. 2:6), the NT understanding unites king and temple. It is only as the temple is rebuilt (Matt.
26:61; 27:40; John 2:18–22) that Christ Jesus, from the line of David, is installed as the messianic King (Rom. 1:1–4),
thus fulfilling the promises to Zerubbabel (Matt. 1:1, 12–13; Luke 3:27).
After the exile, the Lord is renewing his promises to his people and calls on them to finish rebuilding the temple so
that he might be with them and fulfill his promises to bless the whole world through them (2:9), particularly through
the Messiah from the house of David (2:23).
OUTLINE:
1. Introduction: Reluctant Rebuilders (1:1–2)
2. Consider Your Ways: Fruitless Prosperity (1:3–12)
a. Work without satisfaction (1:3–11)
b. General response: obedience and fear (1:12)
3. Promise and Progress (1:13–15a)
a. God’s promise (1:13)
b. Specific response: work begins (1:14–15a)
4. The Former and Latter Glory of This House (1:15b–2:9)
a. Comparing past and present (1:15b–2:3)
b. Acting based on the past (2:4–5)
c. An image of God’s house restored (2:6–9)
5. Consider Your Ways: Holiness and Defilement; Repentance and Blessing (2:10–19)
a. Analogy: holiness and defilement (2:10–14)
b. Consider life before restoration began: you did not turn (2:15–17)
c. Consider life since restoration began: I will bless (2:18–19)
6. Zerubbabel: The Signet Ring (2:20–23)
a. Destruction upon kingdoms (2:20–22)
b. An image of David’s house restored (2:23)
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
In today’s modern world we spend a lot of time worrying about the next big thing; the next phone app, the
next new car, upgrades to our homes, etc… In the days of Haggai the chosen people of God were seemingly
prosperous. They had great harvests; there was little want for food or any convenience of the time. Their homes were
well furnished and taken care of; and nothing seemed like it could get any better. But in all the time that the people
were focused outward and downward, God was being ignored inward and upward. We need to spend less time
marking importance to items that are fleeting, and more time devoted to items that have a truer meaning. Items like
our Lord God and his chosen people.
DISCUSS / CONSIDER
1. Review Haggai 2:3-5. Some of the Jews who were involved in rebuilding the temple had seen the glory of Solomon’s
temple before it was destroyed. Because of the comparison some of them were discouraged. Haggai’s second sermon
was given to encourage the people. The sermon could have been entitled, “The Presence of the Lord is More
Important than the Glory of the Place.” In other words, stop talking about the “good old days” because something
more important is at stake. Do comparisons discourage you in your service for the Lord?
2. Read Haggai 1:7-8. The Lord does not say that believers should not have nice houses, but that their priorities need
to be in order. When beautiful houses and materialism take precedence over the work of the Lord, a believer needs to
take a hard look at his priorities. How involved are you in serving the Lord?
3. Review Haggai 1:12-14. The people listened to Haggai’s sermon, then they acted on it. They had a complete change
of heart, reversing their priorities from self-centeredness to God-centeredness. One of the greatest blessings from the
Lord is His presence, both then and now. See Haggai 1:13 and Hebrews 13:5. Do you know the intimate presence of
the Lord in your life in day to day living