Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, from Cindi, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Today's Blog Title: "Introduction into the Book of Zephaniah"

Today we begin number 9 of the 12 Minor Prophets. the Book of Zephaniah.  Zephaniah is a book of contrasts, and no prophet paints a brighter picture of Israel's future.  Zephaniah has been called "the orator" because of the oratorical style evident throughout the prophecy.  

Zephaniah has some literacy affinities with Isaiah, but more with Jeremiah and Joel.  Both he and Joel paint very dark pictures of the day of the Lord, but in both books beautiful rays of light penetrate the darkness.  Two recurring expressions are important: (1) "remnant," 1:4, 2:7, 9, 3:13 and (2) the "day of the Lord," 1:7-10, 14-16, 18, 2:3, 3:8, 11, 16.

The purpose of Zephaniah's prophecy is to set forth what the day of the Lord will mean to ungodly Judah, to the world powers, 1:2-3:7, and to the godly remnant, 3:8-20.  His theme is the day of the Lord, which destroys the false remnant of Baal, Chapter 1, destroys the God rejecting nations, Chapter 2, and purifies the true remnant, 3:8-20.

Beyond the prophecy that bears his name, nothing is known about Zephaniah.  His name means "Yahweh Hides."  The meaning of his name offers some clue to the characteristics of the prophecy.

OUTLINE OF ZEPHANIAH

I. The Introduction
II. The predictions of judgment in the light of the day of the Lord 1:2-3:7
     A. The warnings of judgments delivered 1:2-2:15
          1. Against Judah 1:2-2:3
          2. Against Judah's enemies 2:4-15
     B. Woe upon Jerusalem pronounced 3:1-7

III. The exhortation in the light of the day of the Lord 3:8-20
      A. To wait for the Lord 3:8-13
      B. To rejoice in the Lord 3:14-20

Jesus Reigns and He Is, Has Been, and ALWAYS Will be In Complete and Total Control!!!. May God's Peace, Love, Strength, and Grace be with you all.  May we as Christians reach to heave with one hand and with the other reach out to this lost and dying world.  May we as John at the close of the Book of Revelation say, "Come, Lord Jesus, Come."

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

     





























































































































































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