Zephaniah prophesied judgment and blessings. He warned Judah and surrounding nations that God's judgment was coming for disobedience. However, for those who repent, blessings would follow including restoration, joy in Jerusalem, and salvation. Ultimately, the "day of the Lord" is coming, but it will bring purification so that God's people can enjoy relationship with Him without sin.

1. ZEPHANIAH :
The Royal Prophet
Zephaniah 1:7
Be silent in the presence of the Lord God;
For the day of the Lord is at hand, For the
Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has
invited His guests.

2. Introduction
• Zephaniah was the great-great-grandson of
King Hezekiah. (Zephaniah 1:1)
• He was a prophet in the days of Josiah, king of
Judah – 640 – 609 BC
• Zephaniah used the phrase - “The day of the
Lord.” (6 times in these 3 chapters.)

3. Background
• The message of Zephaniah is :
• God's wrath will come on Judah
• God's wrath will come on surrounding nations
• Through judgment will come blessing

4. To Judah :
• The Lord is bringing judgment
• The day of the Lord is at hand
• Therefore – He issues a call for
repentance

5. To Judah : Repent
1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather
together, O undesirable nation, 2 Before the
decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff,
Before the Lord's fierce anger comes upon you,
Before the day of the Lord's anger comes upon
you! 3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth,
Who have upheld His justice. Seek
righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you
will be hidden In the day of the Lord's anger.
Zephaniah 2:1-3

6. To Surrounding Nations:
• God's judgment on nations east
and west
• God's judgment on nations north
and south
• Therefore – Woe to Jerusalem

7. Through Judgment to Belssing
• Today is Father's Day
• I will not preach at or scold fathers
(or mothers)
• Parenting is tough. There are lots of
trials, issues, problems, and
challenges.
• There are also blessings.

8. Through Judgment to Belssing
• Wait upon the Lord
3:8 "Therefore wait for Me," says the
Lord, "Until the day I rise up for plunder;
My determination is to gather the nations
To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour
on them My indignation, All my fierce
anger; All the earth shall be devoured
With the fire of My jealousy.

9. Through Judgment to Belssing
• Wait upon the Lord
Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will
wait for the God of my salvation; My
God will hear me.
Micah 7:7

10. Through Judgment to Belssing
• God will restore His people
"For then I will restore to the peoples a
pure language, That they all may call on
the name of the Lord, To serve Him with
one accord. Zephaniah 3:9

11. Through Judgment to Belssing
• God will restore His people
12 I will leave in your midst A meek and humble
people, And they shall trust in the name of the
Lord. 13 The remnant of Israel shall do no
unrighteousness And speak no lies, Nor shall a
deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For
they shall feed their flocks and lie down, And no
one shall make them afraid." Zephaniah 3:12-13

12. Through Judgment to Belssing
• There will be joy in Jerusalem
14 Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be
glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter
of Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away your
judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The
King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; You
shall see disaster no more. Zephaniah 3:14-15

13. Through Judgment to Belssing
• There will be joy in Jerusalem
The Lord your God in your midst, The
Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over
you with gladness, He will quiet you with
His love, He will rejoice over you with
singing." Zephaniah 3:17

14. Through Judgment to Belssing
• There will be joy in Jerusalem
19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you;
I will save the lame, And gather those who were driven
out; I will appoint them for praise and fame In every land
where they were put to shame. 20 At that time I will
bring you back, Even at the time I gather you; For I will
give you fame and praise Among all the peoples of the
earth, When I return your captives before your eyes,"
Says the Lord. Zephaniah 3:19-20

15. Conclusion
1. Judgment is coming
• On other nations that disobey God
• On God's people that disobey Him
2. Blessings will follow those who
repent

16. Conclusion
3. The “day of the Lord” is coming.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in
the night, in which the heavens will pass
away with a great noise, and the elements
will melt with fervent heat; both the earth
and the works that are in it will be burned
up.
2 Peter 3:10

17. Conclusion
3. The “day of the Lord” is coming.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be
dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to
be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for
and hastening the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved,
being on fire, and the elements will melt with
fervent heat?
2 Peter 3:11-12

18. Final Challenge
4. Learn to look beyond the
coming judgment. Look for
the blessings to follow .