Zephaniah Proclaiming Hope in the Shelter of God - PowerPoint Presentation

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ZephaniahProclaiming Hope in the Shelter of GodSlide2

Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah—Yahweh has Sheltered

Zephaniah preached during the reign of Josiah (Zeph. 1:1)

In the years leading up to this period, commitment to God had drastically diminished Slide3

Proclaiming Hope

2 Kings 21:1-9

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. Slide4

Proclaiming Hope

2 Kings 21:1-9

He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an

Asherah

pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done. Slide5

Proclaiming Hope

2 Kings 21:1-9

He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.” In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. Slide6

Proclaiming Hope

2 Kings 21:1-9

He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and

spiritists

. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger. Slide7

Proclaiming Hope

2 Kings 21:1-9

He took the carved

Asherah

pole he had made and put it in the temple, of which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. Slide8

Proclaiming Hope

2 Kings 21:1-9

I will not again make the feet of the Israelites wander from the land I gave their forefathers, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them and will keep the whole Law that my servant Moses gave them.”Slide9

Proclaiming Hope

2 Kings 21:1-9

But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.

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Proclaiming Hope

2 Kings 21:19-22

Amon

was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother’s name was

Meshullemeth

daughter of

Haruz

; she was from

Jotbah

. Slide11

Proclaiming Hope

2 Kings 21:19-22

He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. He walked in all the ways of his father; he worshiped the idols his father had worshiped, and bowed down to them. He forsook the Lord, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the Lord.

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Proclaiming Hope

The Temple of God was in disrepair

(2 Kings 22:1-7) Slide13

Proclaiming Hope

The Temple of God was in disrepair

(2 Kings 22:1-7)

The Book of the Law had been lost and was not being obeyed (2 Kings 22:8-13)Slide14

Proclaiming Hope

The Temple of God was in disrepair

(2 Kings 22:1-7)

The Book of the Law had been lost and was not being obeyed (2 Kings 22:8-13)

Josiah, the last godly king in Judah before the exile, instituted reforms and tried to turn the people back to YahwehSlide15

Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah’s Message in 5 Parts

1. God will bring punishment on JudahSlide16

Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah 1:4-13

“I will stretch out my hand against Judah

and against all who live in Jerusalem.

I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal,

the names of the pagan and the idolatrous priests—

those who bow down on the roofs

to worship the starry host, Slide17

Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah 1:4-13

and who also swear by

Molech

,

those who turn back from following the Lord

and neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him.

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord,

for the day of the Lord is near.

The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;

he has consecrated those he has invited. Slide18

Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah 1:4-13

On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice

I will punish the princes

and the king’s sons

and all those clad

in foreign clothes.

On that day I will punish

all who avoid stepping on the threshold,

who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit. Slide19

Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah 1:4-13

“On that day,” declares the Lord,

“a cry will go up from the Fish Gate,

wailing from the New Quarter,

and a loud crash from the hills.

Wail, you who live in the market district;

all your merchants will be wiped out,

all who trade with silver will be ruined. Slide20

Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah 1:4-13

At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps

and punish those who are complacent,

who are like wine left on its dregs,

who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing,

either good or bad.’

Their wealth will be plundered,

their houses demolished. Slide21

Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah 1:4-13

They will build houses

but not live in them;

they will plant vineyards

but not drink the wine.

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Proclaiming Hope

Deuteronomy 6:10-12

When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plantSlide23

Proclaiming Hope

Deuteronomy 6:10-12

—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

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Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah’s Message in 5 Parts

2. The people of Israel had forgotten that their God had sheltered them.

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Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah’s Message in 5 Parts

3. They had forgotten their commitment and had turned to dualistic religion.

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Proclaiming Hope

Zepaniah

3:1-5.

Woe to the city of oppressors,

rebellious and defiled!

She obeys no one,

she accepts no correction.

She does not trust in the Lord,

she does not draw near to her God. Slide27

Proclaiming Hope

Zepaniah

3:1-5.

Her officials are roaring lions,

her rulers are evening wolves,

who leave nothing for the morning.

Her prophets are arrogant;

they are treacherous men.

Her priests profane the sanctuary

and do violence to the law. Slide28

Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah 3:1-5

The Lord within her is righteous;

he does no wrong.

Morning by morning he dispenses his justice,

and every new day he does not fail,

yet the unrighteous know no shame.

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Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah’s Message in 5 Parts

4. The people of Israel turned from seeking God’s will to seeking their own Slide30

Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah’s Message in 5 Parts

5. As a result of their breaking covenant, God brings devastating punishment upon themSlide31

Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah 3:7-8

I said to the city,

‘Surely you will fear me

and accept correction!’

Then her dwelling would not be cut off,

nor all my punishments come upon her.

But they were still eager

to act corruptly in all they did. Slide32

Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah 3:7-8

Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord,

“for the day I will stand up to testify.

I have decided to assemble the nations,

to gather the kingdoms

and to pour out my wrath on them—

all my fierce anger. Slide33

Proclaiming Hope

Zephaniah 3:7-8

The whole world will be consumed

by the fire of my jealous anger.

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Proclaiming Hope

Even in the CONSEQUENCES of their corrupt, selfish, and sinful behavior…

God gives hope to the hurting.

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Proclaiming Hope

Zepaniah

3:14-17

Sing, O Daughter of Zion;

shout aloud, O Israel!

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,

O Daughter of Jerusalem! Slide36

Proclaiming Hope

Zepaniah

3:14-17

The Lord has taken away your punishment,

he has turned back your enemy.

The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;

never again will you fear any harm. Slide37

Proclaiming Hope

Zepaniah

3:14-17

On that day they will say to Jerusalem,

“Do not fear, O Zion;

do not let your hands hang limp.

The Lord your God is with you,

he is mighty to save.

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Proclaiming Hope

Zepaniah

3:14-17

He will take great delight in you,

he will quiet you with his love,

he will rejoice over you with singing.”

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Proclaiming Hope

Lessons from

Zepaniah

1. We are never too far from the shelter of God’s redemptive love.

2. God will allow us to go through hardships, if they will bring us closer to repentance and closer to him.

3. Repentance is always the best option for reconciliation