2. Zephaniah and Habbakkuk

3. The Message from the Lord to Zephaniah: I will sweep, reduce, wipe, crush, and destroy. I will punish all those involved in: Baal worship, worship of Molech, pagan worship, and worship of sun, moon, and stars.

4. Zeph. 1:12 “I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem's darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. They think the Lord will do nothing to them, either good or bad.”

5. DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER!!

6. 1: 14-16 The terrible day of the Lord is near. A day when strong men will cry out A day when the Lord’s anger is poured out A day of terrible distress and anguish A day of darkness and gloom A day of clouds and blackness A day of trumpet calls and battle cries

7. A Sense of Urgency! The Call to Repentance: 2:2 “Gather before judgment begins, before your time to repent is blown away like chaff. Act now, before the fierce fury of the Lord falls and the terrible day of the Lord’s anger begins.” 2:3 “Seek to do what is right and to live humbly.”

8. Not “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. Judgment for: Philistia – Gaza and Ashkelon will be abandoned. Moab and Ammon: “will be destroyed- destroyed as completely as Sodom and Gomorrah”. 2:9 2:10 – “They will receive the wages of their pride, for they have scoffed at the people of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

9. More Judgment Ethiopia and Assyria: “You Ethiopians will also be slaughtered by my sword,” says the Lord. v. 12 2:13 says “He will destroy the land of Assyria and the proud city will become a pasture for flocks and herds, and all sorts of wild animals will settle there.”

10. DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER!!

11. No wonder that a prophet has no honor in his own country!!

12. Rebellion is Jerusalem 3: 1 – What sorrow awaits rebellious, polluted Jerusalem, the city of violence and crime! 3: 2 – It does not trust in the Lord or draw near to its God. Its leaders are like roaring lions Its judges like ravenous wolves Its prophets arrogant liars Its priests defile the Temple with disobedience

13. Redemption 3: 14 – “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem” 3:17 – “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” 3: 20 “I, the Lord, have spoken!”

14. The God who Sings! He will sing with joyful songs over you. The Apostle Paul said: “I will sing with the Spirit, and sing with the understanding also. Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brethren, his brother and sisters, and indicates that in the middle of the congregation He will sing praise to God. Hebrews 2:12 After the Lord’s last supper they sang a hymn

15. That was then, This is Now. Not much has changed!

16. Hebrews 1:1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2a And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. GOT EARS?