NextLevel Online: The Book of Zephaniah

Zephaniah 1:7-2:3

How long do we have, and can judgment be avoided? This session walks through the nearness of the day of the Lord for the powerful, the false worshipers, and the complacent, and Zephaniah's call to seek the Lord in humility before it arrives.
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Zephaniah 1:7-2:3

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The vision of Ozark Christian College is to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and edifying Christians worldwide. The mission of Ozark Christian College is to train men and women for Christian service as a degree-granting institution of biblical higher education.

Classroom Instructions

Lesson
20:17Session 2 Video - Zephaniah 1:7-2:3Session 2 Video - Zephaniah 1:7-2:3

Session Highlights: In the previous session, we heard Zephaniah declare God’s plans to reverse creation and bring judgment. This should prompt us to ask two questions that Zephaniah will answer in this passage: How long do we have? Is there anything we can do to avoid this judgment? I.

The day of God’s judgment is close (1:7-13) a. It is closer than you think (7) i. Day of the Lord: God is a divine warrior who is now fighting against Judah. b. It is close for the powerful (8) c. It is close for false worshipers (9) d. It is close for those who trust in wealth (10-11) e. It is close for the complacent (12-13) i. Dregs: If wine sits too long during fermentation, parts settle and congeal at the bottom, making the wine useless. ii. Much of verse 13 has connection to the covenant curses in Deuteronomy 28. II. The Day of God’s judgment is close, because God is fighting (14-18) a. God is fighting against Judah (14-16) b. Judgment is inescapable (17-18) i. Zephaniah has answered their first question: How long do we have? Now he turns to the second question: Is there anything we can do to avoid this judgment? ii. Answer: maybe? III. Seek God & maybe be protected (2:1-3) a. Seek God through humble obedience. Seek God with humble obedience, because the Day of the Lord is near. Questions for Discussion/Reflection:

  1. If you lived in Zephaniah’s day, how do you think you would have responded to Zephaniah, the bullhorn prophet? Would you have listened or walked right past?
  2. Whenever we use battle language like “the day of the Lord,” we generally picture God fighting for us, on our behalf. What are the dangers of not realizing that he could fight against us?
  3. In 1:7-13 we identified four categories of people being warned about God’s judgment: the powerful, those who mixed worship of God with worship of another god, those who trusted in wealth, and those who grew spiritually complacent. Which one of those four is the greater threat to your relationship with God?
  4. Where you turn when crisis hits often reveals what gods you’ve placed your trust in. The people of Judah turned to wealth when crisis hit. Where do you turn when crisis hits?
  5. In what area or relationship in your life do you find it difficult to seek humility?

Zephaniah 1:7-2:3 Instructions

Lesson
20:17Session 2 Video - Zephaniah 1:7-2:3Session 2 Video - Zephaniah 1:7-2:3

Session Highlights: In the previous session, we heard Zephaniah declare God’s plans to reverse creation and bring judgment. This should prompt us to ask two questions that Zephaniah will answer in this passage: How long do we have? Is there anything we can do to avoid this judgment? I.

The day of God’s judgment is close (1:7-13) a. It is closer than you think (7) i. Day of the Lord: God is a divine warrior who is now fighting against Judah. b. It is close for the powerful (8) c. It is close for false worshipers (9) d. It is close for those who trust in wealth (10-11) e. It is close for the complacent (12-13) i. Dregs: If wine sits too long during fermentation, parts settle and congeal at the bottom, making the wine useless. ii. Much of verse 13 has connection to the covenant curses in Deuteronomy 28. II. The Day of God’s judgment is close, because God is fighting (14-18) a. God is fighting against Judah (14-16) b. Judgment is inescapable (17-18) i. Zephaniah has answered their first question: How long do we have? Now he turns to the second question: Is there anything we can do to avoid this judgment? ii. Answer: maybe? III. Seek God & maybe be protected (2:1-3) a. Seek God through humble obedience. Seek God with humble obedience, because the Day of the Lord is near. Questions for Discussion/Reflection:

  1. If you lived in Zephaniah’s day, how do you think you would have responded to Zephaniah, the bullhorn prophet? Would you have listened or walked right past?
  2. Whenever we use battle language like “the day of the Lord,” we generally picture God fighting for us, on our behalf. What are the dangers of not realizing that he could fight against us?
  3. In 1:7-13 we identified four categories of people being warned about God’s judgment: the powerful, those who mixed worship of God with worship of another god, those who trusted in wealth, and those who grew spiritually complacent. Which one of those four is the greater threat to your relationship with God?
  4. Where you turn when crisis hits often reveals what gods you’ve placed your trust in. The people of Judah turned to wealth when crisis hit. Where do you turn when crisis hits?
  5. In what area or relationship in your life do you find it difficult to seek humility?