In this week's There is Nothing Minor about Grace series we will
look at two Minor Prophets, Zephaniah and Haggai. We will learn from them
that God gives perfect direction
Zephaniah's name means, God has concealed or hidden. This
is good news for Judah because there are hard times coming. The prophet
describes three special “days” two of which are grievous, while the third is
glorious.
1. The first grievous
day: Historical in scope, it includes Judah and her surrounding neighbors and
is fulfilled by the Babylonians.
A. For
Judah (1:1-13; 2:1-3; 3:1-5) We see her sins.. But Zephaniah tells
Judah to repent and escape God’s wrath.
Gather together, gather yourselves together, you shameful
nation, before the decree takes effect and that day passes like
windblown chaff, before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you. Seek
the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be
sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger. (2:1-3)
B. The Gentiles (2:4-15) This is a list of
Judah’s enemies who will also face Babylonian destruction.
2. The second grievous
day: Prophecy that will include all nations and is yet to be fulfilled by the
King of heaven. The day of the Lord
probably refers to the Great (1:14) Tribulation. Divine wrath
will occur to all the earth (1:15-18; 3:6-8)
That’s why we
all must be ready for the Lord’s return. 6 Then they gathered around him
and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the
times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a
cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky
as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand
here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into
heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into
heaven.” Acts 1:6-11
