Old Testament Prophets

Class 13 – Zephaniah

1. Review last week – questions?

1. Nahum
   
   

2. Overview and Historical
1. Name ‘Zephaniah’ means “the Lord Hides”.
2. His is the 9^th of the ‘Minor Prophets’.
3. Sometime between 640 BC and 621 BC – sometime around the beginning (whether before or afterwards) of King Josiah’s reforms.
4. Opening genealogy is interesting in that it ends with Hizkiah – while Zephaniah doesn’t say so, the most likely reason to include this is that this was King Hizkiah (Hezekiah); as a result, Zephaniah was probably of royal blood and probably had access to the highest levels of government.

                                                               i.      ie., he was the worst of the Kingdom and was well placed to preach against it. 

5. Additionally, the first name in the genealogy is ‘Cushi’ – or ‘African’. While it might be a name that might also indicate he was African and not, therefore, a pure bred Hebrew.
6. Zephaniah clearly expects a foreign invasion; it is not clear who or from which direction this invasion is to come. It could be Assyrians (although they are waning), Babylonians (who will ascend but have not done so yet) or Scythians (these were raiding tribes from around the Black Sea – they raided along coastal routes as far as Egypt but probably wouldn’t account for the destruction Zephaniah anticipates). None really fit exactly.
   
   

2. Structure
1. Superscription
2. Oracles against Judah
3. Oracles against Nations (Philistines, Moab, Ammon, Ethiopia and Assyria).
4. Oracles of Salvation.
   
   
5. The pattern follows what we have seen in other prophetic books.
   
   
6. As in earlier books, much of the book is poetical. Read 1:15
   
   Jerome’s translation:
   Days of wrath and doom impending,
   David’s word with Sibyl’s blending,
   Heaven and earth in ashes ending.
   
   This became a hymn that was used in much of the church for hundreds of years – especially as part of a requiem.
   
   

3. Theological Message
1. Themes of judgment, grace and mercy predominate.
2. “The Day of the Lord” – the time when God vindicates his own honor and appears in destructive judgment against sin where ever it might be found (Israel or the Nations). (see vs 1:3)
3. Despite this judgment of divine fury, we also see God’s faithfulness and mercy to the faithful remnant. (vs 3:12-13).
   
   

4. Approaching the New Testament
1. The theme “the Day of the Lord” is often repeated in the New Testament by Paul and others. John made use of imagery from Zephaniah in Revelations.
2. Zephaniah – like most prophets – looked forward to a day when all nations would acknowledge and worship God. In fact, in some sense, this is the present Christian reality as the Church – the New Israel – consists of both Jew and Gentile alike.
   
   

5. Readings
   
   

6. Next time – Joel.

Vs 115-16 The Day of Wrath

FALSE HEARTS REVEALED ON THE DAYO JUDGMENT. GREGORY THE GREAT: But let them hear how the prophet Zephaniah holds out over, them the power of divine rebuke, saying, 'Behold, the Day of the Lord comes, great and horrible, the day of wrath, that day; a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of cloud and whirlwind, day of trumpet and clamor, upon all fenced cities and upon all lofty corners." For what is expressed by fenced cities but minds suspected and surrounded ever with a fallacious defense; minds which, as often as their fault is attacked, suffer not the darts of truth to reach them? And what signified by lofty corners (a wall being always double in corners) but insincere hearts; which while they shun the simplicity of truth, are in manner doubled back on themselves in the crookedness of duplicity, and, what is worse, from their fault of insincerity lift themselves in their thoughts with the pride of prudence? Therefore the Day of the Lord comes full of vengeance rebuke upon fenced cities and lofty corners, because the wrath of the last judgment both destroys human hearts that have been closed by defenses against the truth and unfolds such as have been folded up in duplicities. For then the fenced cities fall. For souls that God has not penetrated will be damned. Then the lofty cornets tumble, because hearts which erect themselves the prudence of insincerity are prostrated by sentence of righteousness. PASTORAL CARE 11

Vs 2:11

ISLANDS ARE A TYPE OF THE GENTILES.

JEROME: Let us, however, speak also of the churches as islands. Moreover, Scripture says in another place, "Many islands are converted to me,"' Would you know that churches are called islands? The prophet Isaiah says in the name of the Lord, "Speak to the inhabitants of this isle."^° "Let the many isles be glad." Even as islands have been set in the midst of the sea, churches have been established in the midst of this world, and they are beaten and buffeted by different waves of persecution. Truly these islands are lashed by waves every day, but they are not submerged. They are in the midst of the sea, to be sure, but they have Christ as their foundation, Christ who cannot be moved, HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 24.

Verse 3:14-15

NEW TESTAMENT CLEANSING FORETOLD.

CYRIL OF JERUSALEM: Take heart, 0 Jerusalem, the Lord will take away your iniquities. The Lord will wash away the filth of his sons and daughters by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burn­ing.' He will pour upon you clean water, and you shall be cleansed from all your sins." Choiring an­gels shall encircle you, chanting, "Who is it that comes up all white and leaning upon her be­loved?"¹⁸ For the soul that was formerly a slave has now accounted its Lord as its kinsman, and he, ac­knowledging its sincere purpose, will answer, Ah, you are beautiful, my beloved, ah, you are beautiful…your teeth are like a flock of ewes to be shorn" - a sincere confession is a spiritual shear­ing. And further: "all of them big with twins,"" sig­nifying the twofold grace, either that perfected by water and the Spirit or that announced in the Old and in the New Testament. God grant that all of you, your course of fasting finished, mindful of the teaching, fruitful in good works, standing blame­less before the spiritual bridegroom, may obtain the remission of your sins from God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen, CATECHETICAL LECTURE 3.I6,2⁰

REJOICE IN SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: As far as the deeper meaning of the passage is concerned, it clearly commands Jerusalem to rejoice exceedingly, to be especially glad, to cheer up wholeheartedly as its trespasses are wiped out, evidently through Christ. The spiritual and holy Zion-that is, the church, the holy multitude of the believers-is justified in Christ and only in him. By him and through him we are also saved as we escape from the harm of the invisible enemies, for we have a Mediator who was incarnated in our form, the king of all, that is, the Word of God the Father. Thanks to him, we do not see evil anymore, for we have been delivered from the powers of evil. He [the Word] is the ar­mor of good will, the peace, the wall, the one who bestows incorruption, the arbiter of the crowns, who shut down the war of the incorporeal Assyri­ans and made void the schemes of the demons. COMMENTARY ON ZEPHANIAH       ¹

Verse 3:16-18 Do Not Fear, 0 Zion

THE PROPHECY ABOUT REDEMPTION. THEODORET OF CYR: I am aware that some commentators understood this [text to apply to] the return from Babylon and the renovation of Jerusalem, and I do not contradict their words: the prophecy applies also to what happened at that time. But you can find a more exact outcome after the incarnation of our Savior: then it was that he healed the oppressed in heart in the washing of regeneration; then it was that he renewed human nature, loving us so much as to give his life for us. After all, "greater love than this no one can show than for one to lay down one's life for one's friend," and again, "God so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son so that everyone believing in him might not be lost but have eternal life,'²² COMMENTARY ON ZEPHANIAH 3:I6-I8.²³

3:19-20 Praised Among the Peoples

THE PROPHECY ABOUT RETURN FROM BABYLON. THEODORET OF CYR: The salvation of human beings rests with divine loving kindness alone: we do not earn it as the wages of right­eousness; rather, it is a gift of divine goodness. Hence the Lord says, "on your behalf I shall save and welcome" and make my own what has be^, come another's, render it conspicuous, make it more famous than all others, free it from its former shame, and from being captives and slaves I shall make them free people and my own, Now, as I have said, this he both made a gift of to those returning from Babylon at that time and also granted to all people later. We who were once in thrall to the devil but are now freed from that harsh captivity and unmindful of the error of polytheism have become God's own, being famous beyond pagans and barbarians, according to the prophecy, and we who were once far off have become near, according to the divine apostle. COMMENTARY ON ZEPHANIAH 3.I9-202