Zephaniah &
Haggai
Today's
reading includes two small prophetic books again. Though small they have big
messages. One focuses on the Day of the Lord, the other on the Temple of the
Lord.
Zephaniah
– Day of the Lord.
Zephaniah was a great-great grandson of King Hezekiah. His theme was the "Day of
the Lord"—a time of judgment and fulfillment of Divine rule. His messages here
speak of the things that will occur in the "Day of the Lord."
•Retribution (1:2-18): the
calamity of the retribution (great destruction and distress); the
cleansing from the retribution (the land of Israel is cleansed of
idolatry); the cause of retribution (sin); the certainty of
retribution (sinners will be searched out in Jerusalem and money cannot deliver
from the wrath of God). •Revenge (2:1-15):
judgment is forecast for nations around Judah such as Philistia (cities
of Philistia to be destroyed); Moab and Ammon (desolation of their land
like Sodom and Gomorrah); Ethiopia (slain with the sword);
Nineveh (land to be made desolate). •Rebuke (3:1-7): the
people, princes, prophets, and priests are all rebuked for their sinfulness.
•Restoration (3:8-20): Israel
will be restored, this includes indignation (wrath of God upon the
enemies of Israel); purification (Israel will be purified in
restoration); jubilation (great joy will come in the restoration);
reputation (Israel will be respected by the world).
Haggai
– Temple of the
Lord. Two chapters with five messages which are all dated as to when
they were given. •First message—Remonstration (1:1-11): the
charge (neglect in building the Temple but building their own houses);
the chastening (poor crops). •Second message—Reward (1:12-15): the
prompting of it (the people started to build on the Temple again); the
promise in it (God promised to be with the people as a result). •Third
message—Reassurance (2:1-9): the
purpose (to counter discouragement from the smallness of the new Temple
building); the prospects (glory for future Temple to be greater than
any Temple). •Fourth message—Rules (2:10-19): the
rules about pollution (to show that the people were polluted); the
rules for prosperity (obedience will bring blessing). •Fifth
message—Revenge (2:20-23): the
punishment of the enemy (God will punish the Gentile nations);
promotion of leaders (the despised will be dignified).