Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Looking for yesterday’s
Journey Study?
Check out Faithful Pursuit!
The Questions
1) When was this passage written,
and to whom?
2) What is the meaning of verse 15?
3) How does God pursue His people?
Zephaniah 3:12-20
12 I will leave
a meek and humble people among you,
and they will take refuge in the name of the Lord.
13 The remnant of Israel will no longer
do wrong or tell lies;
a deceitful tongue will not be found
in their mouths.
They will pasture and lie down,
with nothing to make them afraid.
14 Sing for joy, Daughter Zion;
shout loudly, Israel!
Be glad and celebrate with all your heart,
Daughter Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has removed your punishment;
he has turned back your enemy.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is among you;
you need no longer fear harm.
16 On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear;
Zion, do not let your hands grow weak.
17 The Lord your God is among you,
a warrior who saves.
He will rejoice over you with gladness.
He will be quiet in his love.
He will delight in you with singing.”
18 I will gather those who have been driven
from the appointed festivals;
they will be a tribute from you
and a reproach on her.
19 Yes, at that time
I will deal with all who oppress you.
I will save the lame and gather the outcasts;
I will make those who were disgraced
throughout the earth
receive praise and fame.
20 At that time I will bring you back,
yes, at the time I will gather you.
I will give you fame and praise
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes before your eyes.
The Lord has spoken.
Original Intent
1) When was this passage written, and to whom?
The prophet Zephaniah made these proclamations shortly after 622 B.C., the year of King Josiah’s partial revival of Judah (the southern kingdom). In 605 Judah, under Jehoiakim, became a servant of Babylon and many of Judah’s best young men were deported. Under Jehoiakim’s equally wicked successor, Jehoiachin, the city was again attacked by Nebuchadnezzar in 597 and some 10,000 Jews were deported. Under Zedekiah the city was under a long siege by Nebuchadnezzar and was finally destroyed in the summer of 586. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary)
The prophecy was written to Judah as the remnant of the nation of Israel. This passage was meant to provide hope that the Lord would restore; He would restore the nation’s purity and righteousness, He would restore Himself as their King, and He would restore Israel – all of Israel, the nation of people – to the land He had promised to Abraham and his descendants (see Deuteronomy 30:1-10).
2) What is the meaning of verse 15?
When Israel did not keep God as rightful King of their nation, they fell into rebellion, idol worship, and all sorts of evil practices including infanticide. Because of this, God used their enemies to punish them as means of grabbing their attention. God used pagan nations to accomplish this purpose, including Babylon. Verse 15 speaks of a coming time when all will be made right. The enemies will forever be banished, the Lord will be their rightful King once more, peace will reign and there will be no fear.
3) How does God pursue His people?
In the centuries prior to Jesus coming to this earth as a baby in Bethlehem, God pursued people by direct communication (Adam – Genesis 3:9, Abram – Genesis 12:1-3, 7), through visions (e.g. Abram – Genesis 15:1), and angels (Hagar – Genesis 16:7-12, Gideon – Judges 6:11-22). He also spoke through leaders like Moses and Joshua and through prophets like Isaiah and even Zephaniah. God appointed specific people to be His mouthpiece as He issued instruction or warning upon warning to remove idols and turn back to Him.
Everyday Application
1) When was this passage written, and to whom?
Although this passage was specifically written to the nation of Israel, the hope that it offers is the same hope that we, as believers in the One True God, also have. If we ask Jesus to be our Savior, He sets us free from sin and its eternal consequences, giving us the hope of future restoration as well as living with fullness and peace on earth. Oh, dear ones, our lives in these decaying bodies (no matter how hard we try to stay young and vibrant) and these decaying homes (no matter how much renovation we do) will forever be hard. But we are encouraged by remembering that our trials are “light, momentary afflictions compared to the coming glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) In the power of the Holy Spirit we can follow God and be obedient, bringing us great joy in the Lord. God Himself rejoices over us with victorious singing!
2) What is the meaning of verse 15?
Israel experienced punishment from God when she ventured willfully into idolatry and pagan worship despite centuries of God calling her back into relationship with Him. She is not the only one. I have certainly found myself engaged in war with an enemy being used by God to get my attention. Lately it has been traffic and parking. Ugh. God is punishing my self-righteousness and need for control. Can you point to an area in your own life, dear one, where God is using an enemy to bring you back to Himself? Or do you find yourself on the other side of punishment with the King back on His rightful throne?
3) How does God pursue His people?
It is true that no one on earth has any excuse for denying God because He has made Himself known in creation. But what does He do when we shuffle our feet on the path to relationship with Him, whether it be the beginning (salvation), a return to Him (rededication), or anywhere else on the path (sanctification)?
Personally, I find that He often pursues me in song, but the Holy Spirit also tugs at my heart with Scripture. Occasionally, a Christian friend will be telling about an instance in their life and their response that grabs my attention and shakes me about.
God knows each of us intimately, including the best way to get our attention. For one it’s the pages of Scripture, for others it’s a sunrise. But regardless of the method, the motivation remains the same…He desires us. Let yourself be caught today, sister, and delight in the Lord as He delights in you.
What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it, several times
3) Write down your questions as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God in your everyday!
Digging Deeper Community
Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!
Our Current Study Theme!
This is Bride Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!
Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
Memorize It!
Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.