By:               Eyanrin Sunday (Evang.)

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INTRODUCTION

Today we shall be focusing on  two books of the minor prophets: ZEPHANIAH/HAGGAI. In this chapter we will be looking at one of the last prophets to minister to the Southern Kingdom before its exile (Zephaniah), and a man who was called to ministry while living during the Jewish return from exile (Haggai).

1. THE PROPHET ZEPHANIAH:

The name Zephaniah means “Jehovah hides” or “he whom Jehovah has hidden.“ The word of the Lord which came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah:

– Zephaniah 1:1

The first verse of this chapter traces his ancestry back for four generations. He was the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son Amariah, the son of Hezekiah (or Hizkiah, KJV). Since this is the only prophet to trace his ancestry in this fashion,

it is generally believed that the Hezekiah specified was none other than the good king of Judah who reigned in the days of Isaiah and Micah. This would mean that Zephaniah was not only a prophet, but also a prince.

Zephaniah was familiar with the conditions in Jerusalem and referred to that city in such a way as to make it likely that it was his home. There is no information given concerning his occupation or other details of his life. This prophet’s ministry was carried out during the reign of Josiah (640-609 BC).

The prophecy of this book was likely given during the period just prior to the reforms begun by Josiah in 621 BC. His preaching likely served to help bring about these reforms. Like other minor prophets, Zephaniah’s message includes a description of sin and unfaithfulness; a call to repentance and a promise of redemption,

However Zephaniah focused on the “Day of the Lord” as judgment more than others and he not only speaks about judgment on the Southern Kingdom, but on other nations, as well as a final universal judgment to come.

2. The Prophet’s Time

Good King Hezekiah had been followed to the throne by his wicked son Manasseh. He reintroduced idolatry into the land and set out to undo the things that his father had done in the land. Amon, who succeeded Manasseh to the throne, also followed in his father’s wicked steps.

His reign was one of great wickedness. Manasseh and Amon turned the people away from their God. When Amon was assassinated, his eight-year-old son came to the throne. This son, Josiah, was the last good king to reign over Judah. At sixteen, he began to seek after God. At the age of twenty, he began to purge the land of the trappings of idolatry.

In the process of having the temple in Jerusalem repaired, a copy of the long-forsaken “book of the law” was found (II Kings 22:3-10). This book was taken to the king and read before him. Upon hearing its teachings and exhortations, Josiah set about to establish an extensive series of religious and social reforms.

Idolatrous priests were slain, and purity in worship was restored (See II Kings 22-23 and II Chronicles 34-35 for the Biblical account of these events). Zephaniah’s prophecy evidently occurred just prior to these reforms, for he addresses himself to a corrupt, carnal and cruel people.

3. The Prophet’s Message
4. This book has judgment as its theme. It looks to the coming of the “day of the Lord”. Its pronouncements are clear and unsparing. Judah had been a sinful nation, and its day of grace has passed. Doom was in the offing. The Babylonians would strike soon – in 605 BC

Zephaniah not only foretells judgment of his own people but also speaks of the fate of the surrounding nations.

1. History of Destruction of Jerusalem

The destruction of this great city was not accomplished with a single blow but was eventually realized in a series of events over a 19–20 year period.

1. Battle of Carchemish

In 605 BC the Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar II, decisively defeated the Egyptian and Assyrian forces at the Battle of Carchemish. This victory solidified Babylon’s control over the region north of Israel.

2. Subjugation of Judah

After the Battle of Carchemish, Nebuchadnezzar II naturally turned his attention to Judah. Judah was a vassal state of the Babylonians, and its king, Jehoiakim, had initially been loyal to Egypt, placing it between the two great powers of that day, Egypt to  south and Babylon to the north.

3. First Deportation

Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and during this time he took select members of the royal family and nobility as captives to Babylon. Among them were Daniel and his friends, who later became prominent figures in the Babylonian court. – 605 BC.

4. Establishment of Babylonian Rule

Following the invasion, Nebuchadnezzar placed Jehoiakim under tribute and Judah became a vassal state under Babylonian control.

5. Prophetic Context

The events of this period are prophesied in the Bible, particularly in the books of Daniel and Jeremiah, as well as the book we are looking at here, Zephaniah. These prophets warned about the impending judgment and exile due to the disobedience of the people of Judah.

6. Later phases of Babylonian Conquest

The invasion of 605 BC was just the beginning of Babylon’s actions against Judah.

Subsequent invasions occurred in 597 BC and 587 BC, leading to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the beginning of the mass exile of the Jewish population to Babylon.

7. Fall of Babylon

The Babylonians themselves were defeated by the Medo-Persian Empire led by Cyprus the Great in 539 BC.

The following year, 538 BC Cyrus released the first wave of Jewish exiles led by Zerubbabel and Joshua to return to Jerusalem (67 years after the original exile). In the year 458 BC a second wave returned with Ezra. In the year 445 BC Nehemiah, a Jewish exile who served as cup bearer to the king was sent to rebuild the protective wall around the city of Jerusalem.

1. Warning

Zephaniah’s book warns about the judgment in the form of the Babylonian Invasion of 605 BC. However, the book does not paint a totally bleak picture. A clear promise of mercy and restoration is also set forth.

The Lord desired to have a purified people and accomplished this transformation with the terrible defeat and captivity the Jews suffered at the hands of the Babylonians. These events, however, eventually looked forward to the hope of bringing of a remnant of the Jewish people back to their homeland (under Zerubbabel and Ezra) and, ultimately, the establishment of the reign of the Messiah with the coming of Jesus. Zephaniah’s prophecy about the judgment, exile, and eventual return from Babylonian captivity originally spoken of by Jeremiah (70 years) and now by Zephaniah will set up the ministry of Haggai which will take place during the return of the exiles in a little less than a century.

4. The Prophet’s Message

The first section of the book (1:1-2:3) announces a universal and consuming judgment against the earth. Judah and Jerusalem – without excuse in their sinfulness – are especially singled out for wrath. All of this will come on the day of the Lord. The only hope on that day will be to turn to God in repentance.

The second section (2:4-3:8) makes it clear that no nation would escape judgment on the day of the Lord. The sins of the heathens and the despicable idolatry of Judah demanded that God, in his holiness, punish men. The prophet makes it clear that this punishment was not to be viewed as an end in itself but as a means of bringing men to salvation through chastisement.

The third section (3:9-20) presents the glory which the penitent and purified people would receive after the judgment already described. The restoration of the Jews to their land under Zerubbabel and Ezra is envisioned here. But, beyond that, the salvation of the Messianic era is foreseen. This is regarded as Messianic prophecy.

Our take home for Today’s message

1. All men and nations are within the power of God and are accountable to Him, then as well as now.

Even today, nations including our own can face God’s chastisement for its evil (abortion, political corruption, sexual immorality). depravity, and arrogance of nations today.

2. The Day of the Lord (as the term was used in the Minor Prophets) was the day on which a nation received its just due for sin.

These times in history all foreshadow the ultimate day of the Lord when all men will be judged before the Lord Jesus Christ.

³⁰Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, ³¹because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
– Acts 17:30-31

The lesson here is that there is no excuse for not being ready. We’ve seen examples of warning being fulfilled; we’ve heard the gospel ourselves, and we’ve been taught to be ready at all times for the Master’s return. We’ve even been told that He will come when we least expect Him to appear. So, there is no excuse!

THE CORE LESSONS OF ZEPHANIAH ARE RELATED:

• Repent if you need to.
• Be ready at all times because God’s judgment is coming and is sure.

1. HAGGAI

• We now move on to the three minor prophets who served after the Jews were returned to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel. The first of these was Haggai and his prophecies were given around 516-515 BC and directed at Zerubbabel and the people he led (Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi).

2. PROPHET HAGGAI

• The name Haggai means “festival of Jehovah”. We know practically nothing about the prophet himself. He is mentioned not only in the book bearing his name but also in Ezra 5:1 and Ezra 6:14.
• Haggai had been a captive in Babylon and had returned to his homeland with the remnant under Zerubbabel. He and Zechariah were contemporaries and worked toward the common goal of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. They grew up during the time of the initial return to Jerusalem with the first wave of people freed from exile.
• The ministry of this prophet is easily dated from the first verse of the book. The “second year of Darius the king” would have been 520 BC From the four dates given in the book (1:1, 2:1, 2:10, 2:20), it would appear that his primary work among the people was done in a period of only four months. But as brief as his ministry may have been, it was effective.

The Prophet’s Time

In undertaking to see this book in its correct historical setting, we must understand that a full hundred years had passed after the work of Zephaniah when Haggai undertook his mission for Jehovah. Many important things had happened in this century.

Zephaniah had indicated that Judah’s day of grace had passed, and that Jehovah’s judgment was inescapable. This judgment came at the hands of the Babylonians who, under Nebuchadnezzar, first invaded Judah in 605 BC. An ill-fated revolt against the Babylonians brought an even worse invasion in 586 BC.

Jerusalem was burned, the temple was destroyed, and more captives were taken. Daniel and Ezekiel prophesied among the exiles in Babylon and sought to keep hope alive among the people. After Nebuchadnezzar’s death in 562 BC, a series of weak kings followed.

The Babylonian Empire deteriorated to the point that in 539 BC, King Cyrus of Persia captured the city of Babylon. Cyrus showed a benevolent attitude toward the Jewish exiles in Babylonia. In 538 BC, he made a decree allowing them to return to their native land. (See II Chronicles 36 and Ezra 1 for the biblical account of this decree.)

In 536 BC, the first group, numbering about forty thousand, made their journey home. Led by Zerubbabel, they began rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. The foundation of the temple was laid. But then, because of threats made by various tribes in the area, work on the temple was halted.

Nothing more was done until fifteen or sixteen years later when Haggai and Zechariah began their ministries. The Jews were obviously dispirited and wretched when these two prophets came among them. Jerusalem and the other cities of Judea were in ruins. The walls were torn down.

The land had not been worked and was thus poor and unproductive. People now living in the area were hostile to the returning Jews. Both Haggai and Zechariah had been witnesses to this decline as they grew up during this time period.

The Prophet’s Message

Haggai has been described as a man with a single idea. His primary message was this: Build the temple. He attributed the people’s lack of success in all areas of their lives to the single fact that they had abandoned the task of rebuilding the House of God (The Temple).

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people showed reverence for the Lord.

Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke by the commission of the Lord to the people saying, “‘I am with you,’ declares the Lord.” So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, ¹⁵on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king. 

The Prophet’s Message

The first message (1:1-15) brought a stinging rebuke to the people for building their own houses and looking to establish their material prosperity before looking to their spiritual obligations. Unless God’s work is put first in one’s life, everything else to which he puts his hand will eventually fail him

The second message (2:1-9) was designed to encourage the builders who had undertaken the task of rebuilding the temple. They were assured that God was with them in their work.

The third message (2:10-19) was designed to teach the people that their sacrifices and external rituals would be in vain if they did not purify their hearts.

The fourth message (2:20-23) is a Messianic prophecy. Zerubbabel, the first ruler of restored Israel and a descendant of David, is allowed to symbolize the Messianic line. God had not forgotten His promise to send the Messiah (Matthew 1:12; Luke 1:32-33).

Our Take Home From Haggai Today

1. Assurance

We have confidence that we are doing God’s will, and He is pleased with us. We have confidence in our salvation because Jesus promises that those who are faithful to the end will be saved – Matthew 24:13.

2. Peace

Those who are faithful experience the peace that passes understanding (which means that our peace of mind is not based on human reasoning, mediation, or wealth, but rather is a gift from God) – Philippians 4:7.

3. Faithfulness and hope

We can bear hardship and we can avoid the seduction of wealth in this world because we have a secure hope for another life to come with Christ (Romans 15:13). Haggai’s preaching affirms the truth that God is faithful in His promise to bless us if we remain faithful. 

CONCLUSION

 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy  meditate on these things. Phil 4:8    

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