Judgment For All Nations
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Introduction
Introduction
Ignoring warnings comes with consequences. Warnings are meant to do just that - warn - to ignore them is to disregard their entire purpose. Maybe you can think of times where you ignored a warning, and later had regrets about it. Other times you have listened to a warning and steered clear from bad decision, trouble or perilous danger.
God sent prophets to warn of His promised judgment - Zephaniah is one such prophet and as we looked last week we saw that His warning message was for Judah - and the desire of the warning is to seek the LORD before its too late. Warnings are only warnings until it is too late. Zephaniah started with the people of the LORD because judgement begins at the house of the LORD.
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
However judgment begins at the house of the LORD but spreads and is promised to all nations. God is the God of all nations and the nations who ignore God’s warnings and ignore God’s laws and act against God’s people will not escape the wrath to come. On the Day of the LORD the LORD is warning us today and promising the nations of then that all the nations, and all the people will taste the judgment of God - this morning we must not ignore the warning — Judgment is For All Nations.
4 For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon will become a ruin. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted. 5 Woe, inhabitants of the seacoast, nation of the Cherethites! The word of the Lord is against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines: I will destroy you until there is no one left. 6 The seacoast will become pasturelands with caves for shepherds and pens for sheep.
7 The coastland will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah; they will find pasture there. They will lie down in the evening among the houses of Ashkelon, for the Lord their God will return to them and restore their fortunes. 8 I have heard the taunting of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, who have taunted my people and threatened their territory.
9 Therefore, as I live—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel— Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah: a place overgrown with weeds, a salt pit, and a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of my people will plunder them; the remainder of my nation will dispossess them.
10 This is what they get for their pride, because they have taunted and acted arrogantly against the people of the Lord of Armies. 11 The Lord will be terrifying to them when he starves all the gods of the earth. Then all the distant coasts and islands of the nations will bow in worship to him, each in its own place. 12 You Cushites will also be slain by my sword.
13 He will also stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria; he will make Nineveh a desolate ruin, dry as the desert. 14 Herds will lie down in the middle of it, every kind of wild animal. Both eagle owls and herons will roost in the capitals of its pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but devastation will be on the threshold, for he will expose the cedar work.
15 This is the jubilant city that lives in security, that says to herself: I exist, and there is no one else. What a desolation she has become, a place for wild animals to lie down! Everyone who passes by her scoffs and shakes his fist.
1 Woe to the city that is rebellious and defiled, the oppressive city! 2 She has not obeyed; she has not accepted discipline. She has not trusted in the Lord; she has not drawn near to her God. 3 The princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the night, which leave nothing for the morning.
4 Her prophets are reckless— treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to instruction. 5 The righteous Lord is in her; he does no wrong. He applies his justice morning by morning; he does not fail at dawn, yet the one who does wrong knows no shame.
6 I have cut off nations; their corner towers are destroyed. I have laid waste their streets, with no one to pass through. Their cities lie devastated, without a person, without an inhabitant. 7 I said: You will certainly fear me and accept correction. Then her dwelling place would not be cut off based on all that I had allocated to her. However, they became more corrupt in all their actions.
8 Therefore, wait for me— this is the Lord’s declaration— until the day I rise up for plunder. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, in order to pour out my indignation on them, all my burning anger; for the whole earth will be consumed by the fire of my jealousy.
God Will Act
God Will Act
On Behalf of His People
On Behalf of His People
4 For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon will become a ruin. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted. 5 Woe, inhabitants of the seacoast, nation of the Cherethites! The word of the Lord is against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines: I will destroy you until there is no one left. 6 The seacoast will become pasturelands with caves for shepherds and pens for sheep.
7 The coastland will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah; they will find pasture there. They will lie down in the evening among the houses of Ashkelon, for the Lord their God will return to them and restore their fortunes.
8 I have heard the taunting of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, who have taunted my people and threatened their territory.
9 Therefore, as I live—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel— Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah: a place overgrown with weeds, a salt pit, and a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of my people will plunder them; the remainder of my nation will dispossess them.
Zephaniah begins God’s pronouncement against the nations by naming four cities Gaza,Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron. They are listed in order from south to north and they represent Philistia - the land of the Philistines, famously Gath is missing from this list and most likely due to Gath already being ruins from Uzziah’s devastation of it. Amos also omitted Gath from his list. Continues on to the seacoast nation of the Cherethites - or Crete land of the Cretans. The judgment is that the word of the LORD is against Canaan known as the land of the Philistines. Complete destruction is described - Abandoned, ruined, driven out, uprooted. Verse 8 adds Moab and the Ammonites to the list of nations. These two nations have been a sore spot in the history of Israel born of Lot’s daughters sin and given the same judgment and future as Sodom and Gomorrah. To be overcome with weeds a salt pit and perpetual (ongoing) wasteland.
Pay close attention to the end of verse 5 - Woe inhabitants the word of the LORD is against you. I will destroy you until there is none left. Their destruction is coming and it is indeed coming from the LORD Himself. God is a God of action and verses 6 - 8 show us that His action is on behalf of His people. God acts on behalf of His people to judge their enemies and to restore their place. God promises judgement for the enemies of His people and at the same time promises to restore His people - the remnant the remainder of His nation. On the one hand the people will be destroyed from the land and it will be desolate and on the other hand His people will be returned and restored to the land by the direct action of God. Judah’s future occupancy is guaranteed through the faithfulness of God’s word and God’s promises of His faithful love for His people.
In Response to Pride
In Response to Pride
10 This is what they get for their pride, because they have taunted and acted arrogantly against the people of the Lord of Armies. 11 The Lord will be terrifying to them when he starves all the gods of the earth. Then all the distant coasts and islands of the nations will bow in worship to him, each in its own place.
12 You Cushites will also be slain by my sword. 13 He will also stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria; he will make Nineveh a desolate ruin, dry as the desert. 14 Herds will lie down in the middle of it, every kind of wild animal. Both eagle owls and herons will roost in the capitals of its pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but devastation will be on the threshold, for he will expose the cedar work.
15 This is the jubilant city that lives in security, that says to herself: I exist, and there is no one else. What a desolation she has become, a place for wild animals to lie down! Everyone who passes by her scoffs and shakes his fist.
God declares He is taking action because of the pride of the nations, the pride of the people. God is not acting arbitrarily but on behalf of His people and in response to the pride of the nations and people. God hates pride because pride raises up and causes a person to act not only contrary to God but despite God or without considering God at all. This is why they taunt God’s people - because their pride has lifted them up and they ignore the true and living God. God in His judgment of pride promises to starve all the gods of the earth. To show them worthless and powerless in an effort for the nations to bow in worship of Him. They will be terrified through this display of power because they will realize they themselves are powerless despite all their pride. Pride is the root sin that removes one’s worship from God to put it on themselves.
God’s list of nations continues to include the Cushites (Modern day Ethiopians) they will be slain by God’s own sword. God’s hand will stretch out against the north and destroy Assyria and Nineveh will be a desolate ruin. Again we see God acting wielding His own sword to attack pride for God hates pride. Verse 15 shows why. Pride says one is secure, pride says I exist and there is no one else.
Pride rises up and declares no need of God and that we are like God. The phrase in verse 15 I exist is the phrase “I am” - the phrase God uses for Himself because He is independent and has no needs. These nations, these people are audacious enough to claim this for themselves. The prideful reject God.
1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and his Anointed One: 3 “Let’s tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us.”
C.S. Lewis described pride as the sin of all sins:
“Pride is the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”
God take pride seriously and so should we - a fitting end to the prideful is that they become the scorn of people.
Jerusalem Included (Again)
Jerusalem Included (Again)
A Sinning People
A Sinning People
1 Woe to the city that is rebellious and defiled, the oppressive city! 2 She has not obeyed; she has not accepted discipline. She has not trusted in the Lord; she has not drawn near to her God.
3 The princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the night, which leave nothing for the morning. 4 Her prophets are reckless— treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to instruction.
Having described God’s willingness and promise to act in regards to His people and the pride of nations Zephaniah again turns to Jerusalem. Its akin to now the warning message is flashing. As the warning is greater and as the danger is nearer the warning starts flashing and perhaps even making siren sound. Zephaniah directed by the message of God is emphasizing Judah to see her own wickedness and guilt in order she might seek repentance and desire to be part of the remnant of the LORD.
Jerusalem is a sinning people described as rebellious, defiled AND oppressive (not impressive but Oppressive). The root of Jerusalem sinfulness is found in the phrase being repeated four times “She has not...”. She has not OBEYED - The word of the LORD the voice of the LORD. God has called, instructed, and now warns but She has not obeyed and has not listened.
22 Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
She has not accepted discipline - She has not received the correction from the LORD. Discipline has certainly come to her but she did not receive it. It was a bad time, rough times, a downturn, terrible circumstances - she did not receive it as correction from the LORD.
17 See how happy is the person whom God corrects; so do not reject the discipline of the Almighty.
11 Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son, and do not loathe his discipline; 12 for the Lord disciplines the one he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.
She has not trusted in the LORD - God has not given a single reason He cannot be trusted or that they need to stop trusting Him. He has never proven unworthy or unfaithful or unrighteous. But in not trusting the LORD one turns to trusting in themselves and their own understanding.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.
She has not drawn near to her God - The worst offense against God saved for last. God desires relationship with His people, but they reject and go their own way apart from Him. In rejecting His word, His Correction and not trusting Him She has drawn away from the LORD. The one who does not obey God’s Word, accept God’s discipline and does not trust God will also not draw near to God - they cant. The one who remains far from God remains instead close to sin and sinfulness.
They are corrupt from leadership down. The princes are nothing more than lions roaring and her judged are wolves which leave nothing for morning. Even her prophets - those who are to speak the word of God are reckless and treacherous. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to instruction. Instead of being holy the city was filthy and polluted with shameful sin.
God has spoken to His people but they refused to receive correction
Guilt Increased By God’s Faithfulness
Guilt Increased By God’s Faithfulness
5 The righteous Lord is in her; he does no wrong. He applies his justice morning by morning; he does not fail at dawn, yet the one who does wrong knows no shame. 6 I have cut off nations; their corner towers are destroyed. I have laid waste their streets, with no one to pass through. Their cities lie devastated, without a person, without an inhabitant.
7 I said: You will certainly fear me and accept correction. Then her dwelling place would not be cut off based on all that I had allocated to her. However, they became more corrupt in all their actions.
Zephaniah declares the most damning truth for their sin. God has remained faithful and true to His word and His promises. He has not failed. He has judged other nations and utterly destroyed them as a warning and message. The desire was to restore the fear of the LORD and that they would receive correction. Her dwelling place was promised not to be cutoff. How did Judah, how did Jerusalem respond to the faithfulness of God? They became more corrupt in all their actions.
23 “If in spite of these things you do not accept my discipline, but act with hostility toward me, 24 then I will act with hostility toward you; I also will strike you seven times for your sins.
Even in this pronounced judgment God remains faithful and true to His word and His promises towards Judah. Judah responds by even being eager to continue in their corrupt ways. God brought His justice to nations around Judah and instead of hearing the warning and instead of learning they dedicated themselves to ungodliness all the more. They doubled down - He said He would judge and showed He would judge and they said we are gonna sin harder. Our most damning aspect of our culture is that people flaunt and celebrate their sin. Sin has always been since the garden, but our culture is now taking pride in their sin - becoming more corrupt in all their actions.
Judgment is Universal
Judgment is Universal
8 Therefore, wait for me— this is the Lord’s declaration— until the day I rise up for plunder. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, in order to pour out my indignation on them, all my burning anger; for the whole earth will be consumed by the fire of my jealousy.
Therefore wait for me, because the nation instead of heeding the warning chose to become more corrupt the LORD says wait for me, until the day I rise up. There is a set time where I will come for plunder, to conquer to take from the wicked and corrupt.
God has decided how it will happen - God has made the decision to assemble all the kingdoms. To gather them all together in their rebellion and wickedness at the appointed time. While it has immediate application for the Babylonian captivity it also points forward to a time at the end of the tribulation period. This gathering together is the battle of Armageddon. It is at this time the fullness of the LORD’s wrath will be poured out along with the fire of His jealous anger.
31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Indignation in the Old Testament is synonymous with Tribulation in the New Testament.
2 I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem for battle. The city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women raped. Half the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.
14 For they are demonic spirits performing signs, who travel to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for the battle on the great day of God, the Almighty.
16 So they assembled the kings at the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
After seeing the day of the LORD pronounced judgment upon Jerusalem and the Gentiles, we are about to see the third and final section of Zephaniah’s book: the deliverance of the Lord—a section I personally love for in it we see the light break forth and the Son rise.
Watch for this in four ways: the regathering of Israel (verses 9 and 10), the repenting of Israel (verses 11 through 13), the rejoicing of Israel (verses 14 and 15), and the Redeemer of Israel (verses 16 through 20).
God’s promise in the Day of the LORD is that He will pour out His wrath upon the gathered nations, deliver His people and establish His kingdom
Conclusion
Conclusion
A challenge for believers today is believing that God loves us. This is the same struggle that we fight everyday. This is why we tell ourselves that we need to be awesome or perfect because otherwise, things will fall apart. If you believe that you have an almighty God, why will you not feel secure to trust Him? Today, this passage tells us that God is mindful of His people even when they are in exile, and He promises hope that He will restore their fortunes.
What does it mean that He will restore their fortunes? God promises more than just material and political possession. He will also bring about spiritual wholeness, where He will was away their sin and guilt (Jer 33:3-9). The apostles ask the same thing of the risen Jesus, asking "will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" in Acts 1:6-8. Look at Jesus' reply. God knows what He's doing and will do it in His own time.
Since the prophecy about the destruction of these nations have all come true, it is also reasonable to believe that Zephaniah’s other prophecies will also be fulfilled. Each of these local invasions and conquests was a precursor of the end times Day of the Lord, which will come upon the whole world. But when the Day of the Lord has run its course, Israel will be delivered, and the Lord will establish His glorious kingdom on the earth. In the last chapter of his prophecy, Zephaniah explains how the Day of the Lord will relate to this promised kingdom.
God’s judgment comes against all nations including His own who are specifically called to be separate from the surrounding nations.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
2 And do not be conformed to this world
God’s promises still stand - especially the promise to Abraham
3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
God word remains true and will be fulfilled in the appointed time. God’s people can claim and hold on to God’s promises knowing that God will be faithful.