OUTLINE OF ZEPHANIAH

I. The Judgment in the Day of the Lord   1:1-3:8

A.  The Judgment on the Whole Earth     1:1-3

Zep 1:1 The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

Zep 1:2 I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.

B.  The Judgment on the Nation of Judah...................... 1:4-2:3

1.      Causes of the Judgment    1:4-13

Zep 1:8 And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.

Zep 1:12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

2.      Description of the Judgment    1:14-18

Zep 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

3.      Call to Repentance    2:1-3

Zep 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.

C.  The Judgment on the Nations Surrounding Judah...................... 2:4-15

1.     Judgment Against Philistia (West).. . 2:4-7

Zep 2:5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.

2.     Judgment Against Moab and Ammon (East)                 2:8-11

Zep 2:8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.

3.     Judgment Against Ethiopia (South)... 2:12

Zep 2:12 Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.

4.     Judgment Against Assyria (North)   2:13-15

Zep 2:13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.

D.  The Judgment on Jerusalem     3:1-7

1.     Jerusalem's Injustice    3:1-4

Zep 3:1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

Zep 3:4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

2.     The Lord's Justice    3:5-7

Zep 3:5 The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

E.  The Judgment on the Whole Earth     3:8

Zep 3:8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

II. The Salvation in the Day of the Lord . .. 3:9-20

A.  The Promise of Conversion     3:9-13

Zep 3:12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.

B.  The Promise of Restoration ........... 3:14-20

Zep 3:20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.