Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“The word of Yahweh that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah” (Zephaniah 1:1)

Zephaniah was a contemporary of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. He prophesied during King Josiah’s reign (2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 33). In fact, he was a cousin of Josiah because he was the great-great-grandson of king Hezekiah. It was written between 700 and 601 BC, probably closer to the end than the beginning. It is a book calling for repentance to avoid the consequences of the Great Day of the Lord and enjoy the great hope of restoration that was in the future of Judah – and all Israel.

The Lord proclaims that ALL will be consumed. Man and beast, birds and fish, everything on the face of the Land. Sin had affected everything and God was going to wipe it all away. The idols that had been the stumbling blocks of the nation would be removed entirely. The idolatrous priests who worshipped the stars and idols but also worshipped and swore oaths to Yahweh were particularly despised. These were not true worshippers of God and they led others in the same ways. They have turned back from following the Lord. God was telling them to be silent in His presence. Silent as the Day of the Lord came upon them. The Day of the Lord was judgment upon the wicked. Removal of the wicked. It would be a great and terrible day. There would be mournful cries on that day. Destruction and judgment would fall together. Commerce would cease. There would be nowhere to hide. There would a complete victory over the Land. A day of wrath, trouble, distress, devastation, desolation, darkness, gloominess, clouds, and thick darkness. Nothing would help them. Not even their money.

The cry is this: gather together BEFORE it is too late. Seek the Lord. Seek righteousness and humility. Repent. Abandon your old, broken behaviour and cling to what the Lord says is right and true. Throw out your idols. No one but God can help you. Gaza will be forsaken. Ashkelon will be desolate. Ashdod and Ekron will be driven out. The nations of the seacoasts would be lost. Moab and Ammon had made arrogant threats, but they would not escape. Cities would become pastures. Great might would become desolate wilderness. The idols would be reduced to nothing. The Ethiopians and Assyrians would be destroyed. Places of wilderness with only animals inhabiting them. They said they were great, but they will only be places of snakes and hissing.

The rebellious and polluted were the target of His wrath. Why? They had not obeyed, not received correction, not trusted, and not drawn near to the Lord. Their princes were arrogant and oppressed the poor. Their priests were lying and treacherous people who had corrupted justice. The Lord was RIGHTEOUS and would do no unrighteousness. He would make the streets of all such people desolate. They would be killed and would not escape. But those what waited on the Lord would be the remnant that would be restored. It would not happen immediately, but God would restore them to a pure language. They would be able to call on the name of the Lord and serve Him together of one accord. The dispersed would be brought back. They would rejoice again, meek, humble, and trusting in the Lord. They will speak no lies, do no unrighteousness, feed their flocks, and lie down in rest. The Lord would take away their judgments and walk among them. He will rejoice over His people, sing over them with Joy. He will gather the sorrowful and take their burdens. He will deal with ALL who afflict them. He will return them to the Land before the eyes of the world. They would have peace.

“In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day, the word of Yahweh came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, “Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘This people says, “The time has not come to rebuild the temple of Yahweh.’” (Haggai 1:1-2)

Haggai was written about 520 B.C. He was a contemporary of Zechariah. He rebuked the people who were delaying the building of the Temple even though they had permission from the king of Babylon to do it. He also encouraged them with the glory of a restored Temple, the prosperity to the Land it would bring, and the final overthrow of the nations surrounding Israel. The messages came at specific times over a four month period. The first day of the sixth month. The twenty-first day of the seventh month. And the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month saw two prophesies. The Temple reconstruction – started with the blessing of the king of Babylon (Cyrus) – had been resisted by the people around Jerusalem who had managed to get a stay of construction from the new king of Babylon (Artaxerxes). It had been dormant for about sixteen years (a scholarly estimate).

The Lord spoke and asked if it was time for them to have houses when His house was still in ruins? They had returned to Jerusalem to do this thing that had been prophesied by Ezra. But they had stopped the godly project because of ungodly murmurs. He warned them to watch their ways. They were working, sowing, reaping, but they were not being satisfied. He warned them to watch their ways. They were to go to the mountains and bring down wood. They were to rebuild the Temple so that He could take pleasure in it and so He could be glorified. The prosperity they wanted was being blown away by the Lord because His House was not finished. The Land’s bounty was being withheld. Zerubbabel, the governor appointed by Babylon, was told by God: I will be with you. So the governor took heart and the project was started again. The people began to rebuild the Temple.

Seven weeks later, God spoke again. He told them to take heart. Even though this Temple wasn’t as grand as Solomon’s, they were to be strong. The governor, the people, the priests, and everyone. They were to stay focused and stay strong. He covenanted with them when they left Egypt and His Spirit remained with them. They were not to fear. In a little while, He would shake heaven and Earth. He would shake the nations and fill His Temple with glory. And the glory of THIS Temple that He would fill would be greater than the former. It would be the place where He would give the people peace.

Two months later, God spoke again – the third time in three months. God was asking the priests to consider the Law. He wanted them to think, consider, and remember that holiness could not be transmitted by association, but un-holiness could. The uncleanness of their hearts (all the people, not just the priests) had defiled their works. But when they put away their fears, leaned into Him, and did as they had been told (obedience), then everything would improve. Their labours (agriculture and commerce) were diminished because the Temple wasn’t finished and they weren’t centering their lives around Him. He encouraged them to keep working. Keep building. Not to be discouraged. God promised to bless the people from this day forward for their obedience to Him. Obedience to the Lord ALWAYS brings blessing.

Later that month, God spoke again. He spoke of how He would shake the Earth and upset the nations. He would overthrow their might. They would fall, each and every one. None would escape.

Summary

Key Players: God, Zephaniah, Haggai

Key Verse(s): Zephaniah 1:14-18, 2:10-11, 3:8-20; Haggai 1:12-15, 2:6-9, 20-23