The judgement of the nations… (4 things)

• 1^st – A glimmer of hope… vs. 1-3
  • 1^st – Undesirable nation… vs. 1-2
    • Judah had become an undesirable (lo kasaph) nation…
      • The heart of Judah should have been for the Lord – like King David wrote…
      • Psalm 84:2 –“My soul longs [kasaph], yes, event faint for the courts of the Lord…”
      • But Judah was undesirable – because they no longer desired the Lord!
      • Their love had shifted – their desire was now ONLY for the things of this world!
      • Often we try to reason with God – how far away from the world do we need to be…
      • Can we at least look at the world – how about touch – just a light touch…
      • We do not want to be in the world – just really close – is that OK God…
      • The truth is – if we are not drawing closer to the Lord – then we are drifting away…
      • We can reassure ourselves that we attend Bible studies /attend church on Sunday…
      • But where is our heart – are we excited / or just going through the motions…
      • It is not worth the danger to play around with the love of this world…
      • It is far too easy to fall in love with this world – and loose our desire for Jesus!
      • II Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith…”
    • Therefore God commanded Judah to gather together before it was too late…
      • The allusion is coming together to pray as a nation for repentance…
      • In the days before Google Maps – I was driving on the New Jersey turnpike – VERY LOST…
      • I was convinced I was going the right way – but ended up going in circles!
      • It is easy to convince ourselves we are going the right way in life / right choices…
      • But our heart is deceitful – Jeremiah 17:9 – and can easily turn away from the Lord…
      • The only way to be certain of the direction we are heading – is to check the ‘App’…
      • Pray to the one who knows – who can turn us around if we are going the wrong way!
    • Time was limited – that had until the decree was issued – the Babylonian onslaught…
      • Then the opportunity to repent would blow away like chaff on the wind…
      • And the fierce anger of the Lord would come upon Judah – the Day of Anger!
      • Judah had a very small window in which to repent – and it was closing fast!
      • There is a silly game called taboo – guess a word using anything but THE word…
      • It has a timer – that you have to rush to beat – before the buzzer rings!
      • I lot of people play a game – guessing at the meaning of life – before it is too late…
      • For too many the buzzer rings before they have it – with eternal consequences!
      • The decision on where we spend our eternity is limited to our time here on earth…
      • The moment we die our fate is sealed – there are no second chances – Hebrews 9:27
      • And God does not guarantee tomorrow – right now is the time to get right with God!
      • II Corinthians 6:2 – “Today is the day of salvation…”
  • 2^nd – Hidden from judgment… vs. 3
    • In spite of the terrible destruction that was coming nationally – there was hope individually!
      • Not everyone would perish in the coming waves of devastation…
      • Certainly Judah would be punished as a nation – and the wicked would be killed…
      • But there were some who ‘might’ be hidden – speaking of the difficulty in saving them!
      • Because saving sinners from judgment is not easy – it is the very definition of impossible…
      • The only thing that could keep us from hell – was God putting Himself on a cross!
    • The Lord gave 5 characteristics of those who dared to have hope!
      • The list has many similarities with the opening of the Sermon on the Mount…
      • Because the characteristics of those who seek and find Jesus – do not change!
      • The list begins with Seek the Lord – because salvation is only found in ONE place – Jesus
    • Meek – Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
      • Meekness is not a lack of power – instead it is defined as power under control…
      • Jesus was meek – not that He lacked power – but He chooses to depend on the Father…
      • And it is when we look to Jesus (not our strength) that we find He is everything we need!
    • Uphold justice – Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
      • Because although we are all sinners – we do not always do what is right – Romans 3:10
      • That does not mean we live a sinful life – we strive to uphold justice / live a pure life!
    • Seek Righteous – Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…”
      • We know what it means to be hungry and thirsty – but do we have that need for God…
      • Do we seek after the righteousness of God with the same passion as food and water…
      • When we hunger and thirst after God’s righteousness we will be filled! 
    • Seek Humility – Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
      • The only thing that will keep us from the Kingdom of Heaven is our righteousness
      • It is when we realize how poor we are that we long for and cling to Jesus righteousness!

• 2^nd – The judgment of Enemies… vs. 4-7
  • 1^st – The next part of the prophecy…
    • Having given a glimmer of hope – Zephaniah turns to the second part of his prophecy…
    • The judgment of the nations on the Day of the Lord – he will list 5 specific nations!
    • Those 5 nations will be broken up into 3 groups – clearly marked by paragraphs in the text…
    • The nations are not randomly chosen – they represent 3 different categories…
    • The Judgment of God on the Enemies of Judah / Family of Judah / and the Empires of world!
    • Because while judgment began with Judah – Chapter 1 – it would not end there!
    • Recent news been transfixed on the moral delinquency of our nation…
    • Teachers having affairs with students / the impropriety of our politicians and actors…
    • None of should which should come as a surprise – public education teaches sexual promiscuity
    • Somehow we try and define an arbitrary line – everything is ok – except ‘THIS’…
    • And we wonder how far off can judgment be – the answer is – it starts with the church!
    • The church is to be set apart for God – we are called to convict the world by our lives…
    • But if the church starts to looks and acts just like the world – then judgment of God is close!
    • Because once God begins to judge the church – those who do not believe are not far behind!
    • I Peter 4:17 – “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God, and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
  • 2^nd – The 4 cities of the Philistines… vs. 4-6
    • Philistia was ruled by 5 cities – Gaza / Ashkelon / Ashdod / Ekron / and Gath…
      • Gath – is not mentioned here because Dave and Judah had conquered it – I Chronicles 18:1
      • The rest would be forsaken / desolate / driven out – uprooted at noonday (during siesta)!
      • Woe to the Cherethites – meaning the Cretans – the Philistines came from Crete…
      • The name Philistine means ‘emigrant’ – because they migrated to costal area of Canaan…
      • But they were illegal immigrants who were living on borrowed time!
      • Because the Lord was against them – and would completely remove them from the Land!
      • Their land would become pastures for flocks of sheep and their shepherds!
    • When Israel first entered the Promised Land…
      • The Philistines had been allowed by God to remain in the Land…
      • Judges 2:22 –“Through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the LORD.”
      • It was not that God could not give victory to Israel – he was testing Israel…
      • Would they trust in themselves  / false gods – or look to and trust in the Lord!
      • Sadly Israel would not trust God – and the Philistines would become their perpetual enemy!
      • Did you ever wonder why God did not perfect us the day we were saved…
      • He certainly could take away every sinful desire / make us completely holy…
      • But He allows us to have ‘Philistines’ in our lives – to test us…
      • Who are we going to look to – do we trust in ourselves / put our faith in this world!
  • 3^rd – The remnant of the house of Judah… vs. 7
    • The land of the Philistines would become the inheritance of the remnant of Judah…
      • Hope here is given to Judah – they would be judged – but a remnant would return…
      • God would fight for them – and return their captives from Babylon – after 70 years!
      • Then that remnant would dwell in the houses of Ashkelon!
    • Quite literally fulfilled – there are no more Philistines – lost to history…
      • In fact the Roman Empire rename Judah – Palestine – in AD 132 (did not like the Jews)…
      • But the term Palestinian from then on referred to Jews (until 1967 – Yasser Arafat)…
      • And the city of Ashkelon still exists today – full of Jews – and LOTS of sheep!
      • If we have a sin our lives that we just cannot seem to overcome – there is hope…
      • Though there are consequences – in the end we can trust there is victory…
      • God will finish the work He began in us – He will give us the grace to overcome!
      • Philippians 1:6 – “Confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…”

• 3^rd – The judgment of Family… vs. 8-11
  • 1^st – Insulting the people of God… 8-10
    • God heard the insults of Moab and Ammon…
      • Moab and Ammon were family – the descendants of Lot – the nephew of Abraham…
      • Lot moved to Sodom and Gomorrah – with his wife and daughters…
      • When God destroyed the city he and his daughters hid out in a cave…
      • The girls thought the whole world had been destroyed – got pregnant by their dad…
      • These nations were the result of that incestuous relationship – Genesis 19:37-38
    • Yet Moab and Ammon mocked Israel / Judah – and arrogantly threatened them…
      • So as the Lord lives – they would become like Sodom and Gomorrah…
      • They too would be overrun by weeds and salt pits – a perpetual desolation!
      • And the remnant of Israel would posses and plunder them!
      • Again quite literally fulfilled – Moab and Ammon were in the area of the Dead Sea…
      • A place that to this day is a virtual wasteland – with only weeds and salt pits!
      • Which is part of Israel today – and the Dead Sea is mined / plundered for valuable minerals!
    • Moab and Ammon insulted Israel – because of their pride… vs. 10
      • They pointed out the flaws of their brothers – to try and hide their own!
      • There are those who like to look down on the mistakes of others…
      • The reason – if they focus on others mistakes – it makes them look better…
      • Often when a believer is in trouble – and needs help – Christians tend to attack…
      • Rather than picking them up – they instead are quick to judge…
      • Christians unfortunately are famous for ‘shooting their wounded!’
      • The tendency is to ‘leave those in need alone’ when we should be ‘loving them’…
      • But it should not be that way in the church – we are to be known by love – John 13:35 
  • 2^nd – Hope for family… vs. 11
    • He will terrify (awesome) them – reducing to nothing all the gods of their land (earth)…
      • Then people from all over the world will worship the Lord – each in their own land…
      • Because when people see the judgment of God – failure of idols to save…
      • They will turn from their pagan ways – and instead put their faith in God!
      • Although this is the last mention of Moab (160x OT) and Ammon (83x OT) in the OT… 
      • The devastation of Moab and Ammon was not complete – there was hope…
      • According to Jeremiah 48:47 / Jeremiah 49:6 / and Daniel 11:41…
      • God would one day restore these nations – they would call out on the Lord!
    • Some of the hardest people to reach are family…
      • The problem is they know us to well – our mistakes / flaws / and sins…
      • When we share Jesus with them – they are quick to remind us of them all!
      • But do not give up on friends – they might give us a hard time…
      • But in due time – when the ‘idols’ they are trusting in fail…
      • We can be the loving hand that points them to Jesus – see them saved!

And the only hope we have – is to put our faith in Jesus!

4^th – The judgment of Empires… vs. 12-15

1^st – The Ethiopians and Assyrians… vs. 12-15

The Ethiopians would be slain by the sword…

The capitol of Ethiopia / Egypt was the City of Thebes – the first of 7 great Empires…

Egypt / Assyria / Babylon / Medo-Persia / Greece / Rome / Anti-Christ

Yet in 667 B.C. Thebes was conquered by the Assyrians – never to regain its former glory!

Even today ruins stretch 27 miles – included the famous temples of Luxor and Karnack!

God would also stretch out His hand against Assyria…

The city of Nineveh would be desolate – as dry as the wilderness…

The city would lie in ruins – birds nesting on the mighty capitols of her pillars…

The doorways would all be covered by rubble / the cedar beams open to the sky!

Nineveh – the city that rejoiced and dwelt securely…

The people who said they ‘WERE IT’ and there was ‘NONE’ like them…

Would become a desolation – a place where wild animals laid down…

Everyone who passed by would laugh and shake their fists at the ruins!

The Assyrian Empire at its zenith was the largest the world had seen…

They controlled most of the nations from the Black Sea in the north to Egypt in the South…

From and Iran/Persia in the east all the way to Greece in the West!

Until in August of 612 B.C. the Babylonians conquered the city of Nineveh!

The ruins of which were hidden in the sands of Iraq until 1842 – for over 2000 years!

The Ethiopians (Egypt) and Assyrians were the 2 world Empires in the days of Zephaniah…

They had ALL the power / ALL the money / ALL the influence…

But NONE of that was going to do them ANY good in the Day of Judgment!

People tend to put their trust in governments / financial systems…

They think they are OK because they are part of the ‘Greatest nation on earth’…

Or they are confident of their future because they have a great stock portfolio…

But when you really look at our economy – $20 trillion in debt – $63k per person!

You realize how fragile the US is  – and that our hope should NOT BE in this world!

Not to trust in power / riches / or influence – because they cannot save us!

Mark 8:36 – “What good is it if a man gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

2^nd – The Day of Judgment…

Zephaniah lays out 4 different classes of Judgment in the first 2 chapters…

God would judge His people – Judah – and He did with 70 years of captivity in Babylon…

God would judge the enemies of Judah – Philippines – completely wiped out today…

God would judge the family of Judah – Moab / Ammon – weeks and salt pits…

God would judge empires – Ethiopia / Assyria – ruins are all that remains…

All that to say – there is NO QUESTION if God will judge – it is certain / proven!

The only question is – are we among those who will be HIDDEN in the judgment!

This is the message of Zephaniah – seek the Lord / be Meek / uphold Justice…

Seek Righteousness and Humility – because the Day of the Lord is coming…