The Coming Judgment on Judah

 

Zephaniah 1:2-6

The Coming Judgment on Judah

“I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord.
“I will sweep away man and beast;  I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble^[a] with the wicked.  I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord.  “I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom,  those who have turned back from following the Lord, who do not seek the Lord or inquire of him.”

 

When talking about sweeping away everything from the face of the earth, Holman Study Bible states that is a  Hyperbole, for those with my lack of education it means an exaggeration.  They make that claim that God is merciful, and He goes on to proclaim that a remnant of Judah will be saved, and others also.  It was again not deserved, it was not required to spare anyone, but His judgment last but a moment, but God's mercy last a lifetime.

 

Once more Zephaniah is using a hyperbole in verse three to give an account of the wicked people of the world and of Judah, who worship even animals.  It is not in any way telling us that Judgement is not coming to the wicked.  The sad news is only a few of the wicked have an understanding of how detestable they are to a Holy God.

 

In verses 4-6, we get a clear picture of God’s judgment on Judah and Jerusalem.  For those who have chased after the gods of this world and have not sought repentance, judgment is coming.  But God has a special judgment for those who were to be spiritual leaders and lead his people after the little gods of this world that cannot see or move or hear.  A pastor or teacher should be very careful to not lead anyone in the wrong way.  2 Peter 2:1, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.”

 

Let me close this paper with this statement, I would be very careful in any statement about the meaning of what has been written in God’s word.  Is it clear that Zephaniah is using hyperbole to make clear the judgment that is coming on the wicked people of the earth, even those of God's chosen people?

 

Shall we look at what the Bible has to say; Genesis 6:7, So, the LORD said, "I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air--for I am grieved that I have made them."  We know that in this case, one man found favor in the eyes of God, his name was Noah, and the Bible tells us he was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries, “Noah walked with God.”  He was not the second Adam, for he like you and me had been passed on the nature of sin from Adam; trying to get our needs met outside of God's only Son.  We also know that the book of Zephaniah was addressing a later time.  I’m not sure of many things, but be very careful handling the Word of God.

I also would look at Isaiah 6:11, Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man and the land be utterly desolate, land.

 

 

From the Back Porch, 

 

Bob Rice