Zephaniah 3:9-20
Zephaniah is filled with judgment, yet it ends with a call to celebrate. This session explores what judgment accomplishes: purified peoples, restored worship, and a God who rejoices over his people with singing.
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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
Session Highlights: As we have seen in this study, Zephaniah is filled with judgment; however, it ends on a call to celebrate. We don’t often think of judgment as something worth celebrating, but it’s not judgment we celebrate. We celebrate what judgment accomplishes. I.
Judgment brings purification (9-13) a. Read Isaiah 6, Genesis 11, and Acts 2. b. Cush=exiles who will return from the farthest ends of the earth. c. The meek and humble are the purified remnant (see 2:3). d. They will do no wrong, just like God (3:5). II. Judgment brings restoration (18-20) a. Those mourning festivals are probably unfaithful Jews who enjoy pagan worship festivals that God is removing. This parallels 1:4. b. 19-20 are similar to Micah 4:6-7. c. God’s restoration is as complete as his destruction (1:2-3). III. This leads to celebration in the form of a chiasm (14-17) a. Sing: rejoice (14) i. The Lord has taken away punishment (15a)
- The Lord is with you (15b) a. Do Not fear (15c-16)
- The Lord is with you (17a) ii. The Lord will no longer rebuke you (17b) b. He will rejoice with singing (17c) His purification and his restoration are worthy of our celebration. Questions for Discussion/Reflection:
- We attend a variety of different celebrations (graduations, weddings, birthday parties, etc.). What makes something worth celebrating?
- God’s judgment on Judah purifies their speech and purifies them of pride. If God were to bring judgment on your community or your church, what would he need to purify?
- In 3:13, the remnant does no wrong; they begin to act like their God. How does judgment shape and transform our character to align it more closely with God’s character?
- In Zephaniah’s chiasm in 3:14-17, Judah receives an exhortation to sing and rejoice because punishment has been removed and God is with them. If you were creating your own chiasm calling yourself to sing and rejoice, what would be included in it as reasons to rejoice?
- What hardship or struggle have you faced that is worth celebrating because of what it accomplished? What might it look like to celebrate what God’s judgment accomplishes?
Zephaniah 3:9-20 Instructions
Lesson
Session Highlights: As we have seen in this study, Zephaniah is filled with judgment; however, it ends on a call to celebrate. We don’t often think of judgment as something worth celebrating, but it’s not judgment we celebrate. We celebrate what judgment accomplishes. I.
Judgment brings purification (9-13) a. Read Isaiah 6, Genesis 11, and Acts 2. b. Cush=exiles who will return from the farthest ends of the earth. c. The meek and humble are the purified remnant (see 2:3). d. They will do no wrong, just like God (3:5). II. Judgment brings restoration (18-20) a. Those mourning festivals are probably unfaithful Jews who enjoy pagan worship festivals that God is removing. This parallels 1:4. b. 19-20 are similar to Micah 4:6-7. c. God’s restoration is as complete as his destruction (1:2-3). III. This leads to celebration in the form of a chiasm (14-17) a. Sing: rejoice (14) i. The Lord has taken away punishment (15a)
- The Lord is with you (15b) a. Do Not fear (15c-16)
- The Lord is with you (17a) ii. The Lord will no longer rebuke you (17b) b. He will rejoice with singing (17c) His purification and his restoration are worthy of our celebration. Questions for Discussion/Reflection:
- We attend a variety of different celebrations (graduations, weddings, birthday parties, etc.). What makes something worth celebrating?
- God’s judgment on Judah purifies their speech and purifies them of pride. If God were to bring judgment on your community or your church, what would he need to purify?
- In 3:13, the remnant does no wrong; they begin to act like their God. How does judgment shape and transform our character to align it more closely with God’s character?
- In Zephaniah’s chiasm in 3:14-17, Judah receives an exhortation to sing and rejoice because punishment has been removed and God is with them. If you were creating your own chiasm calling yourself to sing and rejoice, what would be included in it as reasons to rejoice?
- What hardship or struggle have you faced that is worth celebrating because of what it accomplished? What might it look like to celebrate what God’s judgment accomplishes?