Zephaniah 2:4-15

Zephaniah includes prophecies against the hostile nations that surrounded Judah.  Remember that Zephaniah is a prophecy of the day of the LORD.  As we have noted that day involves judgment on Israel AND the nations.  Thus the point of 2:3 is that those who seek the LORD might be hidden on that day; and 2:4 makes a connection with that day as the prophet begins to announce judgment on Israel’s neighbors.

The judgment of the nations is both a warning and comfort to God’s people.  Zephaniah has announced judgment on Judah and Jerusalem (Ch. 1); thus this message provides comfort in knowing that God will also judge the nations and will fulfill His word faithfully to Israel.  As you read this section you will see that when these nations are judged it will be for the benefit of the remnant of God’s people and that is comforting.

But we also note that at the end of the prophecies about the nations (2:15) it leads directly to another prediction of judgment on Israel (3:1-7).  In that sense the judgment of the nations is a warning; God’s judgment on the nations is not an escape from judgment for sinful Israel.  The idea that judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17) is borne out in Zephaniah.

·        2:4-7: Judgment on Philistia.  This loosely structured nations is identified by four leading cities (v4) and then as Cherethites, a reference to the origins of much of the population in Crete.  The seacoast area that today is often called the Gaza strip was the original land of Canaan.  Note that the judgment is that this area will first become a land for raising and grazing sheep but will eventually belong to the remnant of the house of Judah in accordance with the original promise of land to Abraham which included this area.

·        2:8-11: Judgment on Moab and Ammon.  These nations to the east of Judah will be repaid for their arrogance against God and His earthly people Israel.  They will be made perpetually desolate as indicated by the comparisons to Sodom and Gomorrah.  And in the end will be possessed by the remnant of My people.

o   In v10-11 God’s prophecy against Moab and Ammon is for reasons that are evident in all the nations.  It is an arrogance against the LORD God of Israel, the true God.  We should see that judgment is not simply an expression of wrath; it is ultimately aimed at the gods of the earth and seeks to bring the nations as well as Israel to true worship of the LORD.

·        2:12-15: Judgment on Ethiopia and Assyria.  This judgment is on strong nations to the south (Ethiopia was south of Egypt and ruled Egypt for a time prior to the rise of Babylon) and to the north (Assyria who had deported the Northern Kingdom of Israel and would soon be removed as a power by Nebuchadnezzar).  With Ethiopia it is the sword of the LORD; with Assyria there is more desolation.  Again we see the arrogance of the mighty.  Assyria was for a time the greatest world power and was confidence she would never be destroyed.  Hear the words: I … none besides me.  And yet even today the desolation of the area that was once Assyria.  

These prophesies against the nations were fulfilled by the Babylonians; it truly was the soon-coming day of the LORD (1:14).  Meditate on Zeph. 2:11.  God’s response to the arrogance of the nations is the same wherever people rise in pride against Him.  God will reduce the gods to nothing.  If I have sided with a god rather than the Awesome God then I must expect to be judged accordingly.  As it says in the Song of Moses, “their rock is not like our Rock” (Deut. 32:31).  On what rock do you stand?