NextLevel Online: The Book of Zephaniah

Zephaniah 2:4-15

Zephaniah announces judgment on the nations surrounding Judah: Philistia to the west, Moab and Ammon to the east, Cush to the south, and Assyria to the north. This session asks what Judah, and we, should learn from watching God judge the nations.
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Zephaniah 2:4-15

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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
18:55Session 3 Video - Zephaniah 2:4-15Session 3 Video - Zephaniah 2:4-15

Session Highlights: In this session, we hear Zephaniah announce judgment on various nations surrounding Judah: Philistia to the west, Moab and Ammon to the east, Cush to the south, and Assyria to the north. Zephaniah wants Judah to learn from their failures. I.

From Philistia we learn about God’s character: He cares & restores (4-7) a. Four major Philistine cities would be destroyed (4) b. Kerethites may be a Philistine clan, or they may have originated from the same area as the Philistines (5) c. God cares for and restores his people (6-7) II. From Moab & Ammon we are warned: Watch your mouth (8-11) a. The Moabites and Ammonites are distant relatives to Judah through Lot, but their words got them into trouble (8) b. They will face judgment because of their words (9-11) III. From Cush & Assyria we are warned: Watch your pride (12-15) a. Cush was defeated by Assyria in 663 BC b. Assyria faces judgment for its pride (13-15) i. In 1:4, God stretched out his hand against Judah; now he stretches out his hand against Nineveh. ii. Nineveh was destroyed in 612 BC, and a Greek historian named Xenophon came looking for it 200 years later but couldn’t find it. iii. Compare their boast to Moses’ description of God in Deuteronomy 4:35. Seek the Lord in righteousness and humility by recognizing that he cares for you and restores you, by watching your mouth and by watching your pride. Questions for Discussion/Reflection:

  1. If you found yourself in a situation like the students mentioned at the beginning of this session, would you be more likely to go first or go last? Why?
  2. In the Old Testament prophets, God repeatedly brought judgment upon disobedient nations as an act of discipline. Do you believe he still judges nations similarly today? Based on what we see in passages like this one from Zephaniah, what might lead a nation to face judgment from God?
  3. Have you ever been through a season in which it felt like God’s judgment was upon you? How did God demonstrate his care for you in that season, and did he work to bring some kind of restoration?
  4. It can be tempting for the church to get into a war of words with those who speak against us. How should the church respond when those around us (politicians, celebrities, thought leaders, etc.) mock, insult, or taunt the church? What would it look like to watch our words?
  5. When you think about your experiences with various churches, where do we seem prone to pride or arrogance?

Zephaniah 2:4-15 Instructions

Lesson
18:55Session 3 Video - Zephaniah 2:4-15Session 3 Video - Zephaniah 2:4-15

Session Highlights: In this session, we hear Zephaniah announce judgment on various nations surrounding Judah: Philistia to the west, Moab and Ammon to the east, Cush to the south, and Assyria to the north. Zephaniah wants Judah to learn from their failures. I.

From Philistia we learn about God’s character: He cares & restores (4-7) a. Four major Philistine cities would be destroyed (4) b. Kerethites may be a Philistine clan, or they may have originated from the same area as the Philistines (5) c. God cares for and restores his people (6-7) II. From Moab & Ammon we are warned: Watch your mouth (8-11) a. The Moabites and Ammonites are distant relatives to Judah through Lot, but their words got them into trouble (8) b. They will face judgment because of their words (9-11) III. From Cush & Assyria we are warned: Watch your pride (12-15) a. Cush was defeated by Assyria in 663 BC b. Assyria faces judgment for its pride (13-15) i. In 1:4, God stretched out his hand against Judah; now he stretches out his hand against Nineveh. ii. Nineveh was destroyed in 612 BC, and a Greek historian named Xenophon came looking for it 200 years later but couldn’t find it. iii. Compare their boast to Moses’ description of God in Deuteronomy 4:35. Seek the Lord in righteousness and humility by recognizing that he cares for you and restores you, by watching your mouth and by watching your pride. Questions for Discussion/Reflection:

  1. If you found yourself in a situation like the students mentioned at the beginning of this session, would you be more likely to go first or go last? Why?
  2. In the Old Testament prophets, God repeatedly brought judgment upon disobedient nations as an act of discipline. Do you believe he still judges nations similarly today? Based on what we see in passages like this one from Zephaniah, what might lead a nation to face judgment from God?
  3. Have you ever been through a season in which it felt like God’s judgment was upon you? How did God demonstrate his care for you in that season, and did he work to bring some kind of restoration?
  4. It can be tempting for the church to get into a war of words with those who speak against us. How should the church respond when those around us (politicians, celebrities, thought leaders, etc.) mock, insult, or taunt the church? What would it look like to watch our words?
  5. When you think about your experiences with various churches, where do we seem prone to pride or arrogance?