生命之道

Category: 先知书

  • Response Paper for Plowshares & Pruning Hooks: Rethinking Prophecy & Apocalyptic by Brent Sandy

    Response Paper for Plowshares & Pruning Hooks: Rethinking Prophecy & Apocalyptic by Brent Sandy

    Introduction

    Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic was written by Brent Sandy, a professor and chair of the department of religious studies at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana when the book was published by InterVarsity Press in 2002. The book aims to examine how biblical prophecy and apocalyptic genre work. In this paper, I will summarize the book’s content, give its overall thesis, strengths, weaknesses, and most thought-provoking points, and share how this book has impacted my thinking about the apocalyptic genre in the Old Testament.

    Summary Content and Overall Thesis of the Book

    The book is organized into seven chapters with the intent to answer seven questions about biblical prophecy. First, what makes prophecy powerful? The answer is that prophecy uses metaphors to let the readers experience God, heaven, and the future in full colors. Second, what makes prophecy problematic? The answer is that 21st-century readers do not understand how metaphors work in biblical literature. Third, how does the language of prophecy work? The answer is that metaphor is the language of prophecy and functions to create memorable images in the readers’ minds and to speak to their hearts. Fourth, how does the language of destruction and blessing work? The answer is that it uses metaphors and hyperboles to convey God’s holiness and, therefore, cannot be understood if we look only at the surface meaning of the words. Fifth, how does the language of apocalyptic work? The answer is apocalyptic is not primarily prediction but prosecution. In other words, the function of prophecy is more important than the content of the prophecy. Sixth, how have prophecies been fulfilled? The answer is that prophecies fulfillments have been generally translucent, not transparent. In other words, knowing the details of a prophecy before it is fulfilled is impossible. And finally, how will prophecies be fulfilled? The answer is that God only wants us to see the big picture, not to understand every detail of future events.

    The overall thesis of this book is that biblical prophecy and apocalyptic passages are not meant to give microscopic details of future events but intend to give a telescopic picture of future events.[1] Therefore, the intent of biblical prophecy and apocalyptic passages is not primarily prediction but prosecution and persuasion.[2] Sandy’s thesis challenged the traditional hermeneutic of many commentators, especially those from the dispensation camp, who believe prophecy should be interpreted literary based on the surface meaning of the Scriptures unless that is clear evidence not to do so.[3]

    Strengths

    This is a very well-written book. First, Sandy extensively researched how prophesy works and presented compelling arguments with lots of supporting materials. For example, in chapter five, he provided clear historical background on Alexander’s victory over the Persian empire; explained the distinction between prophecy and apocalyptic; provided the functions of apocalyptic; gave ten reasons that the original readers of Daniel 8 could not have gotten the details of the conquest; gave six questions to help readers understand how apocalyptic work; and ended with another extensive research on Revelation 12-13 to support his point.

    Second, Sandy did a fine job of demonstrating how prophecy works and making it accessible to non-seminary trained readers. His presentation is clear, logical, and easy to follow. He provided lots of concrete examples in each chapter to illustrate his points. The 26 figures (diagrams) that are spread throughout the book are beneficial for his readers. He did not use Hebrew in the book, making it accessible to those without biblical language training.

    Weaknesses

    The book has a few weaknesses. First, the emphasis that prophecies are mainly metaphorical languages and thus the surface meaning of the Scripture is not its actual meaning could lead to misinterpretation of Scripture. This is a real danger, especially since it is not always easy to identify whether a passage is a metaphor. Although Sandy did include twelve criteria to identify metaphors, it is not still an easy task.[4] For example, is Isa 65:25 a metaphor? I think the book would be stronger if Sandy had spent some pages discussing the danger of interpreting Scriptures as metaphors when they are not.

    Second, the author emphasized the importance of prophecy’s function at the expense of the importance of the content of the prophecy. Sandy is influenced by the speech act theory that communication often is performative.[5] He wrote that prophetic language is emotionally charged and designed to influence our beliefs. He believes the function of the prophecy does not always correspond with the dictionary definition of the words. [6] Again, this book would be stronger if Sandy would spend time discussing the danger of overemphasizing the function of a prophecy when the authorial intent is for readers to know the passage’s content.

    Finally, the genre of apocalyptic, if abused, could cause us to misinterpret the Scripture. For example, Sandy interpreted the 144,000 in Revelation 7 as saints, meaning Christians, I presumed, while the Scripture says they are from every tribe of the sons of Israel (Rev 7:4).[7] Readers need to have discernment not to let the genre of apocalyptic become the dominant interpretative lens for an entire book in the Bible to a point where the clear surface meaning of a passage is misinterpreted.

    Most Thought-Provoking Points

    The most thought-provoking points are first, Sandy claimed biblical prophecies are intended to reveal big pictures, meaning to give panorama views of the future; therefore, it is not suitable to be studied for details of future events. Second, Sandy urged that if his conclusions on the language of prophecy and apocalyptic are correct, “all systems of eschatology are subject to reconsideration.”[8] This big claim particularly impacts those who believe in dispensationalism because dispensationalism is built on a literal interpretation of the Scripture, including the prophetic books and passages.

    How This Book Has Impacted My Thinking about the Apocalyptic Genre in the Old Testament

    This book expanded my tool set on interpreting the apocalyptic genre in the Old Testament. This book has convinced me of the need to think about the function of an apocalyptic passage in addition to the content of the passage. It helps me consider the possibility that God did not intend me to understand every detail of an apocalyptic passage. It is a very liberating idea because I have been shying away from preaching apocalyptic passages or books in the Old Testament. With a better understanding of how metaphor works after reading this book, I will pay more attention to the emotion conveyed by the passage and spend more energy looking for the overarching theme of a passage instead of spending all my energy on the details of the content. This book has made me a better student and teacher of the apocalyptic genre in the Old Testament.

    Conclusion

    In this paper, I have summarized the book’s content and thesis. I mentioned that the book’s strengths are its extensive research with convincing arguments and accessible presentation. Its weaknesses are missing warnings on the miscategorization of passages as metaphors, emphasizing the function of a prophecy could lead to the danger of neglecting its content and potential abuse of the apocalyptic genre. Its most thought-provoking points are that biblical prophecy is not suitable for details analysis; it is only meant to give a big-picture view, and if he is correct, all systems of eschatology are subject to reconsideration. Finally, I shared that this book has given me valuable tools to understand and teach apocalyptic passages.

    Bibliography

    Johnson, Elliott. “Book Review on Plowshares and Pruninghooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic Literature by Brent Sandy.” Bibliotheca Sacra 162 (2005).

    Sandy, D. Brent. Plowshares & Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic. Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press, 2002.

    [1] Sandy, Plowshares & Pruning Hooks, 188–89.

    [2] Sandy, 154.

    [3] Johnson, “Book Review on Plowshares and Pruninghooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic Literature by Brent Sandy,” 119.

    [4] Sandy, Plowshares & Pruning Hooks, 189–94.

    [5] Sandy, 81.

    [6] Sandy, 82.

    [7] See note 1 for the Conclusion chapter. Sandy, 249.

    [8] Sandy, 206.

  • Habakkuk’s Chart

    Habakkuk’s Chart

  • 耶利米哀歌大纲

    耶利米哀歌大纲

    1. 希伯来圣经的书名是“何竟”，说出了这本书的主题
      1. 第一个“何竟”（1：1）的重点是圣城变成寡妇。城代表见证，教会失去了基督的见证。
      2. 第二个“何竟”（2：1）的重点是神不纪念自己的脚凳。脚凳代表约柜（代上28：2），是神同在的象征。教会失去了主的同在。
      3. 第三个“何竟”（4：1）的重点是锡安宝贵的众子从精金变成瓦瓶。锡安是大卫的居所，代表基督的宝座。教会失去了基督是王是主的实际。
    2. 第一首诗描写耶路撒冷犹如哭泣的寡妇孀居哀悼，她是‘没有安慰，’（一2，9，17，21，）‘没有安息，’（3，另译，）‘没有草场。’（6，另译。）
      1. 圣城遭受灾难。（一1～7。）
      2. 神的审判显祂为公义。（一8～11。）
      3. 向过路人哀求同情。（一12～19。）
      4. 向神祷告。（一20～22。）
    3. 第二首诗描写耶路撒冷被围的情形。先知说得非常清楚，这些严厉的刑罚是乃出乎神。
      1. 城被围困和倾覆。（二1～14。）
      2. 过路人的嘲笑和侮辱。（二15～16。）
      3. 审判出乎主。（二17。）
      4. 向神祷告。（二18～22。）
    4. 第三首诗是旧约中极可注意的诗歌。在此先知使自己和城（代表百姓）一致，看它的困苦和伤痛就是自己的。
      1. 城受困苦。（三1～20。）
      2. 城有指望。（三21～39。）
      3. 向百姓的要求。（三40～54。）
      4. 向神祷告。（三55～66。）
    5. 第四首诗描写耶路撒冷像失光变色的金子。
      1. 城被困时的恐怖。（四1～10。）
      2. 神的审判是祂公义的表示。（四11～16。）
      3. 仇敌的残酷。（四17～20。）
      4. 以东遭报。（四21～22。）
    6. 第五首诗是先知所发的祷告，作第四首诗的结束。
      1. 城的遭遇。（五1～6。）
      2. 承认罪孽。（五7。）
      3. 痛苦。（五8～18。）
      4. 求神施恩。（五19～22。）
  • Eight Visions of Zechariah

    Eight Visions of Zechariah

    Overview

    1. Ch 1 – 6 consists of 8 visions Zechariah saw in one night (1:8)
    2. There was an angel who interprets the visions for Zechariah but leaves some of the symbols unexplained.
    3. Zechariah fall as sleep after the fourth vision, the angle had to wake him up (4:1)
    4. These visions mix the work of the Messiah in both advents
    5. Like other prophets, Zechariah sees only the peaks of God’s program without the intervening valleys
    6. These visions had historical meaning for Zechariah’s time, but they also have meaning for all time.

    Vision 1 – The Red-Horse Rider among the myrtle (1:7-17)

    1. Meaning: God’s anger against the nations, restoration and and blessing upon Israel
    2. The report of the scout horses angers God as everything apparently is in peace and order while His people Israel is in captivity for 70 years
    3. The Lord proclaims His returning to Jerusalem with mercy.
    4. His house will be built
    5. Prosperity will come again upon Israel
    6. He will confort Zion
    7. He will choose again Jerusalem
    8. The man riding the red horse (1:8) is Jesus Christ. Christ has returned doing His work for redeeming and restoring mankind to God. His red horse represents the ransom sacrifice. Jesus’ blood that satisfies God’s justice and releases man from death.
    9. The angle that stood among the myrtle trees (1:11)
      1. That is the Lord Jesus Christ
    10. Meaning of the horses:
      1. Red represents sinful condition
      2. Sorrel represents spotted, sinful patterns conditions still to be removed
      3. White represents prefect and holy condition
    11. The meaning of myrtle trees:
      1. Holy children of God. The white flowers of the trees signify the righteousness of those who have made his walk in the path of holiness

    Angels on horses returning from patrolling the earth

    Vision 2 – The Four Horns and the Four Craftsmen (1:18-21)

    1. Meaning: God’s judgment on the nations that afflict Israel
    2. The meaning of the horns:
      1. nations that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem
      2. They were Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks and Romans
    3. Meaning of the craftsmen:
      1. these are nations who have come to terrify the horns, to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it (1:21)
      2. They are the Persians, Greeks, Romans and Kingdom of Christ
      3. Horns symbolize power and dominion

    Vision 3 – The Surveyor with a Measuring Line (Chapter 2)

    1. Meaning:  God’s future blessing on restored Israel
    2. The vision: A man was measuring the length and width of Jerusalem with a measuring line
    3. Who is the man:
      1. The is the Lord Jesus Christ, whom was riding on the red horse on the first vision
    4. Disperse you

    Vision 4 – The Cleansing and Crowning of Joshua the High Priest (Chapter 3)

    1. Israel’s future cleansing from sin and reinstatement as a priestly nation

    Cleansing and Crowning of Joshua the High Priest

    Vision 5 – The Golden Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees (Chapter 4)

    1. Israel as the light to the nations under Messiah, the King-Priest

    Golden Lampstand and Two Olives Trees

    Vision 6 – The Flying Scroll (5:1-4)

    1. The severity and totality of divine judgment on individual Israelites

    Vision 7 – The Woman in the Ephah (5:5-11)

    1. The removal of national Israel’s sin of rebellion against God

    Vision 8 – The Four Chariots (6:1-8)

    1. Divine judgment on Gentile nations

  • Summary of Zechariah’s Prophecies Concerning Christ

    Summary of Zechariah’s Prophecies Concerning Christ

    1. Christ is the man riding on the red horse (1:8)
    2. Christ’s atoning death for the removal of sin (3:8-9; 13:1)
    3. Christ is the servant of God and the Stone (3:8-9)
    4. Christ is the Branch (3:8-9; 6:12)
    5. Christ is the builder of the house of God (6:12)
    6. Christ is a priest and a king at the same time (6:13)
    7. Christ is The King that has dominion over this world (9:10)
    8. Christ’s triumphal entry (9:9; Matt 21:5; John 12:15)
    9. Betrayal for 30 pieces of silver (11:12; Matt 27:9-10)
    10. Christ’s deity (12:8)
    11. Christ’s hands were pierced (12:10; 13:6; John 19:37)
    12. Christ is a stricken Shepherd (13:7; Matt 26:31; Mark 14:27)
    13. On Christ second advent, His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives (14:4)
  • Zechariah Introduction

    Zechariah Introduction

    Author

    1. Zechariah means “Yahweh Remembers”
    2. Contemporary of Haggai. Haggai was born in Judah before the exile, while Zechariah was born in Babylon after the exile, he was the grandson of Iddo, who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon (Neh 12:4, 16). thus Zechariah was much younger than Haggai
    3. Like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Zechariah is born in a priestly family (Neh 12:4)and later was called by God as a prophet
    4. Zechariah was a popular name, at lease 30 Zechariah in OT

    Date

    1. Chapter 1 to 8 falls in the same time frame with the book of Haggai (520 BC – 518 BC)
    2. The rebuild of the second temple resumed in 520 BC and completed in 516 BC
    3. Chapter 9 – 14 are undated. Some says Zechariah record these chapters between 480 BC – 470 BC, during the reign of Persian King Xerxes (486 BC – 464 BC), whom made Esther queen of Persia.

    Background

    1. Cyrus the Great decreed that the Jews could return to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple (Ezra 1:2-4; Isa 44:28)
    2. Only 50,000 Jews returned, including Haggai and Zechariah under the leadership of Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest (Ezra 2)
    3. Levitical sacrifices were soon re instituted on a rebuilt altar of burnt offering (Ezra 3:1-6)
    4. On the second year of return, the foundation of the temple was laid (Ezra 3:8-13;5:16)
    5. However external oppression and internal depression halted the rebuilding of the temple for about 16 years of spiritual apathy till the rule of the Persian King Darius (522-486BC)
    6. In the 2nd year of Darius (520BC), God raised up Haggai to encourage the Jews in rebuilding (Ezra 5:1-2; Haggai 1:1)
    7. Haggai preached 4 sermons in 4 months, two months later Zechariah began his prophetic ministry, encouraging the people to spiritual renewal and motivating them to rebuild the temple by revealing to them God’s plans for Israel’s future.
    8. With this encouragement, the temple rebuild was completed in 515 BC (Ezra 6:16), four years after Haggai started his sermons.
    9. Haggai had been preaching for two months, and the work on the temple had already started, when Zechariah began his ministry.

    Theme

    1. The backdrop of the book is rebuilding the temple.
    2. This book is messianic prophecies, mentioning many details of the life and work of Christ.
    3. It is the most messianic, the most truly apocalyptic and eschatological of all the writings in OT
    4. NT writers quoted or alluded to this book 41 times

    Outline

    1. Ch 1-8 were written to encourage the remnant while they were rebuilding the temple
      1. Ch 1 – 6 consist of 8 visions
        1. The Horses Among the Myrtle Trees 1:7-17
        2. The Four Horns and Four Craftsmen 1:18-21
        3. The Man with the Measuring Line 2:1-13
        4. The Cleansing of Joshua, the High Priest 3:1-10
        5. The Golden Lampstand and Olive Trees 4:1-14
        6. The Flying Scroll 5:1-4
        7. The Woman in the Basket 5:5-11
        8. The Four Chariots 6:1-8
      2. Ch 7-8 consist of 4 messages
        1. Rebuke of Hypocrisy 7:4-7
        2. Repent of Disobedience 7:8-14
        3. Restoration of Israel 8:1-7
        4. Rejoice in Israel’s Future 8:18-23
    2. Ch 9-14 consist of 2 burdens (Oracles). These chapters were written after the completion of the temple to anticipate Israel’s coming Messiah.
      1. Ch9-11: Rejection of the Messiah
      2. Ch12-14: Reign Of The Messiah
  • Haggai Introduction

    Haggai Introduction

    Theme

    Key Theme: Rebuilding The Temple of the LORD

    Key Verse: 1:8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and he honored

    The destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar followed the departure of God’s glory (Ezek 8-11). To Haggai, the rebuilding of the temple invited the return of God’s presence to their midst.

    Background

    1. Second shortest book in Old Testament, only Obadiah is shorter.
    2. Haggai is quoted once in Hebrew 12:26
    3. Haggai was fully aware he was God’s message (1:13). The book started with “the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai” and ended with “declares the LORD Al-mighty”. He used over 24 times “the LORD Almighty says” or similar expression in this short book.
    4. Haggai was the first prophet God used in the post exilic Jews. Zechariah was second and Malachi was third.
    5. There are four messages in this book, all of them were dated in the second year of Darius I (520BC).
    6. Together with Zechariah, Haggai encouraged the Jews to finish rebuilding the temple (Ezra 5:1-2; 6:14). The temple was completed four years after Haggai prophesied, on the 6th year of the reign of King Darius (Ezra 6:15)
    7. Meaning of Haggai means “festival”. That is why some bible teachers believe he was born on a feast day.
    8. We nothing nothing about the genealogy of Haggai. This is a sharp contrast with Zephaniah, whose genealogy was traced back four generation (Zep 1:1)
    9. Haggai may have saw the original temple (2:3), if that is true he is an elderly prophet.
    10. The 1st temple  was destroyed in 586BC, the Jews were exiled to Babylon on the same year for the 3rd and final time.
    11. Under the reign of King Cyrus, 50,000 Jews returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest (Ezra 1:2-4) to rebuild the temple. Haggai and Zechariah were among the Jews who returned to Jerusalem.
    12. The foundation of the 2nd temple was laid on the 2nd year of return (Ezra 3:8-13;5:16)
    13. However under Samaritan harassment, King Artaxerxes gave an order to stop the rebuilding work (Ezra 4:21, 4:24). The rebuilding stopped for 16 years, until the 2nd year of the reign of King Darius.
    14. God raise up Haggai to encourage the Jews in the rebuilding of the temple. His task was to arous the leaders and the people of Judah from the spiritual lethargy and to encourage them to continue working on the temple. Haggai was supplemented by the continued efforts of Zechariah until the temple reconstruction was finished in 515 BC.
    15. Jerusalem was still a city without a wall, the wall of Jerusalem was not built until 70 years later, under Nehemiah

    Outline

    1. 1st Message: Chapter 1
      1. Call to rebuild the temple
    2. 2nd Message: Chapter 2:1-9
      1. A prophetic promise of the future glory of the temple
    3. 3rd Message: 2:10-19
      1. A priestly decision to illustrate the present blessings of Obedience
    4. 4th Message: 2:20-23
      1. A messianic Prophecy concerning Zerubbabel

    Message 1 (Chapter 1)

    1. v2: These people say, ‘The time was not yet come for the LORD’s house to be built’
    2. v4: “Is it a time for your yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?
    3. Many God’s people spending all their time and energy to build their own houses, but ignore the house of God. This God is asking us to “Give careful thought to your ways” (v5, v7)
    4. We have two ways to live our life
      1. We worked very hard to build wealth for ourselves, but we will be poor spiritually.
      2. We worked very hard to build the house of God, and all the things we need will be given to us (Matt 6:33)

    Message 2 (2:1-9)

    1. v7 “I will share all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory”, says the LORD Almighty.
    2. v8 “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” says the LORD Almighty. “And in this place I will grant peace,” declares the LORD Almighty
    3. God was revealing His eternal plan, a temple for the nations. The is the Church of Jesus Christ.
    4. This temple was build with living stones (1 Cor 3:16-17, 2 Cor 6:16, Ephe 2:21, 1 Peter 2:5)
    5. v6 “In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land”. This is quoted in Hebrew 12:26 as referring to the judgment of the nations at the second coming of Christ.

    Message 3(2:10-19)

    1. sin is contagious, righteousness is not.
    2. We can transmit defilement from one thing or person to another, but we can;t transmit sanctity.
    3. an analogy is our health. We can transmit our sickness to healthy people, but we can’t share our health with other people.

    Message 4 (2:20-23)

    1. The signet ring was a symbol of honor, authority, and power. It corresponded to a king’s scepter which was used to seal letters and decrees. Zerubbabel, as God’s signet ring, stands as the official representative of the Davidic dynasty and represents the resumption of the messianic line interrupted by the Exile. Just as Pharaoh gave Joseph his signet ring and made him second in the kingdom, so God will do for the Davidic line of kings. The pre-exilic signet of Jehoiacin was removed by God (Jer 22:24) and renewed here in his grandson, Zerubbabel, who reestablished the Davidic line of kings, which would culminate in the millennial reign of Christ.
  • Zephaniah Chapter 3

    Zephaniah Chapter 3

    1. After the prophesies about the gentiles, the prophet returned back to the city of Jerusalem
    2. v5: “The LORD within her is righteous”. Even though sometimes it may seems that God does not punish the wicked and reward the righteous. If we think that way, we are saying that God is not righteous. This scripture tells us that God does NO wrong. He is righteous. Morning by morning He dispenses His justice. He does NOT fail. The problem is not with God, it is with the sinners, because the sinners know no shame.
  • Zephaniah Chapter 2

    Zephaniah Chapter 2

    1. v2: The goal of this book is not to bring people to despair, but to repentance and obedience.
    2. v3: God is calling the Jews to
      1. seek Him
      2. be humble
      3. do what He commands
      4. Seek righteousness
      5. Seek humility
    3. v3: Many died in the Babylonians invasions, others were spared and some were exiled to Babylon.
    4. v4-5: Judgement will come to the gentiles as well
    5. v4: “Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron” these are Philistine major cities
    6. v5: Kerethites are Cretans
    7. v7: “the remnant of the house of Judah” not all Jews were destroyed. The remaining Jews are called remnant, God will one day restore their fortunes.
    8. v8-11: Judgment against Moab and Ammon. Both were descendants of Lot’s (Gen 19:30-38). These people lived in the east of Jordan river.
    9. v9: “salt pits” being close to the Dead Sea, much of Moab and Ammon is salty, barren land.
    10. v10: The reason why they would be judged: pride and insulted the people of the LORD Almighty
    11. v11: “The nations on every shore will worship Him” this will be fulfilled starting from Christ’s second coming.
    12. v12: Cushites are people who resided in upper Nile region (southern Egypt, Sudan, and northern Ephiopia)
    13. v13-V15: A prophesy of the destruction of the Assyria and its capital Nineveh.
    14. v15: “Carefree city that lived in safety”
      1. Circumference of 60 miles
      2. Population of at least 120,000 (Jonah 3:3, 4:11)
      3. External Wall and Internal Wall (8 mile circumference, 50 feet thick and 100 feet high).
      4. Between the two walls was enough farmland to support the huge population.
  • Zephaniah Chapter 1

    Zephaniah Chapter 1

    1. v1: “The word of the LORD that came …” the same opening were also used by Hosea, Joel and Micah. This book, just like all the books in the bible, was written by the Holy Spirit through His chosen vessel, the prophets of God
    2. v1: Zephaniah was the only prophet whose lineage is traced by to four generations. Probably because he was great grandson of King Hezekiah
    3. v2: “I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth” Judgment on the whole earth
    4. v3: The judgment is in reverse order from Creation. Men, animals, birds and fish will be swept away.
    5. v3: “The wicked”, the judgment will only for the wicked. All men are sinners, but those who put their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ will be clothed with righteousness (Rom 3:23-24).
    6. v4: change from judgment to the world to judgment to Judah and Jerusalem
    7. v4: Baal was the Canaanite god of fertility whom many in Israel had worshiped in the time of the judges (Jud 2:13), King Ahab (1 Kings 16:32) and King Manasseh.
    8. v4: Two kind of priests are mentioned:
      1. 1) pagan priests are non-Levitical priests who worshipped idols, King Josiah did remove pagan priests in 2 Kings 23:5.
      2. 2) Idolatrous priests are Levitical priests who workshop idols.
    9. v5-6: Three kinds of people are mentioned
      1. those who worshipped starry host
      2. those who worshipped the LORD and also worshipped Molech
        1. Molech was the chief god of the Ammonites (1 Kings 11:33). The Jews were sacrificing children to Molech (Jer 32:35, 2 Kings 16:3, 21:6)
      3. those who neither seek the LORD nor inquire of him
    10. v7: “the day of the LORD” this is the first of 19 references to the day of the LORD in this book
    11. v7: “prepared a sacrifice” meaning the Jews
    12. v7: “consecrated those he has invited” meaning the Babylonians
    13. v8: The princes and clad like the latest fashions from Nineveh and Babylon. Their outward appearances also reveal their heart. They had absorbed foreign values and practices.
    14. v9: “stepping on the threshold” could mean one of the following:
      1. followed the Philistines’ superstition (1 Sam 5:5)
      2. suddenly leaped into others’ homes to steal and offered the plunder to their gods
    15. v12: God will search the city, no one does not believe in Him (the LORD will do nothing, either good or bad) will go unpunished.
    16. v13: They will not live long enough to enjoy their houses and vinepards
    17. v14: “The great day of the LORD” is a day of judgement
      1. 605 BC first exiles to Babylon
      2. 597 BC second exiles to Babylon
      3. 586 BC finial exiles to Babylon
    18. v16: Attacks will come to Jerusalem and the other Jew’s cities
    19. v17: The reason of this judgement: “They have sinned against the LORD”
    20. v18: money cannot save us from God’s judgment, only the blood of Jesus Christ could save us
    21. v18: “the whole world will be consumed” prophesy changed from near term to end times.