Chapter Summary

Coming judgment on Judah prefiguring the coming day of the Lord.

Discussion Questions for Zephaniah, Chapter 1

1. Who is the author of this book? Why is it important that he include 4 generations of his heritage in verse 1? How does your own history and heritage contribute to the role God has you in today?
2. Why does God declare universal judgment in verses 1-2? How can you justify this with God's promise to Noah to never again destroy the whole earth? What role does hyperbole play in this prophecy? When have you felt like the Lord has taken drastic action against your sin?
3. What was the cause of God's judgment toward Judah and Jerusalem? What specific sin provokes God's wrath? How serious is God about addressing idols and false gods? What kinds of idols have you followed in your own heart?
4. How many different metaphors of God's judgment can you find in chapter 1? Why is God's judgment so severe? How does this impact your view of your own sin and of God's holiness and righteousness?
5. Does this chapter lead you to believe God is an angry God? Why or why not? How do you reconcile God's judgment and wrath with His goodness and love? In what ways have you experienced these different characteristics in your own life?
6. Why does God single out "those loaded with silver" and "the men who settle down comfortably" (HCSB)? Is there anything inherently wrong with money? In what ways have you allowed wealth, or the pursuit of wealth, to come before your pursuit of God?
7. Why does God ironically use the word "sacrifice" (HCSB) to refer to His coming judgment on Judah and Jerusalem? What is the relationship between the impure worship of His people and the punishment they were receiving because of it? What are God's expectations of you in worship?
8. What is "the Day of the Lord" (HCSB) that is mentioned multiple times? To what is this specifically referring? How do we see God's grace in announcing coming judgment? What does this teach you about the reliability of God's promises?
9. How are we supposed to understand God's "jealousy" (HCSB) in verse 18? Does this contrast with God's command for us not to covet or be jealous? What is God jealous for in your personal life?
10. Where do we see religious hypocrisy in this passage? Why were the religious leaders especially under judgment for hypocrisy? In what ways have you seen religious leaders live hypocritically, and how did it impact the spiritual community around them?

Key Words/Phrase

Day of wrath, v. 15.

Characters

God, Zephaniah, Josiah.

Strong Verse(s)

18