Zephaniah Chapter One, Baal Worship

Zephaniah 1:4 “I will stretch out My hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place. The names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests–

God focuses upon Judah and the city of Jerusalem, or rather the people who dwell in it. Judah was the remaining, dominant tribe after northern Israel or Samaria was taken in captivity by Assyria (around 720 BC). And as Samaria was the capital city of northern Israel, becoming synonymous with it, so was Jerusalem to Judah. Jerusalem held the temple built by Solomon, and the king’s palace. It was a holy place to the Jews, who had dwelt there after expelling the Jebusites from it during the time of King David.

Zephaniah Chapter One, The Prophet's Calling

Zephaniah 1:1 The word of the Lord which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

Zephaniah was called to be a prophet during the reign of Judah’s last godly king, Josiah. His family lineage is traced back to his great grandfather, Hezekiah. This may indicate that Zephaniah descended from the royal bloodline in Judah. Since it is not expressly stated, we do not know. Furthermore, since this Hezekiah is not referred to as King Hezekiah, it seems less likely that this is in fact the case.

Apologetics: Who Made God?

An apologetic is a reasoned or reasonable answer to a question posed to those outside of Christendom to offer a valid explanation. It is derived from 1 Peter 3:15, which states, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

Jude, God Alone

Jude 25 To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

The final passage in Jude’s benediction shines the light perfectly and completely upon God. He ascribes to God a quaternity of attributes, extolling the Lord for His virtues; virtues which provide definition for His otherwise inscrutable character. There is very much we would not–and could not–know about the nature of God if He did not deign to share it with the sons of men.

Jude, Faultless

Jude 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

Jude concludes his epistle with a benediction, or blessing. As is appropriate for a Christian minister, his desire is to direct our undivided attention to God, where it properly belongs. The benediction begins with a presentation of Him, who is able to keep the saints from stumbling.

Jude, Fear Of Burning

Jude 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Now we come to the second camp of people. In verse 22 we are instructed to have compassion on some, showing a distinction; that distinction being that there are those honestly doubting who just need loving, prayerful support to help them in time of need. Then there is another camp who needs to be saved with fear.

Jude, Distinctions

Jude 22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;

The NASB renders this verse, “And have mercy on some, who are doubting.” The NIV says, “Be merciful to those who doubt.” It is not a sin to doubt. All Christians suffer doubt in some area of our faith and our lives. The church is to be ready to offer support, edification and compassion to those who doubt. To doubt is not to apostatize. Doubt can come from a seemingly infinite number of sources; but here, in this context, the doubt within Christ’s church may arise from the Satanic, worldly doctrines the false teachers promote.

Jude, God's Mercy & Eternal Life

Jude 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Jude appeals to Christians to remain in God’s love; we are to abide in Christ, and by doing so, He will abide in us, John 15:4. The idea is to remain steadfast in God’s love. But what does this mean?

Jude, Built Upon Christ

Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

Jude diverts the reader’s attention from the false teachers that have thus far been the object of his epistle to themselves. Jude tells his fellow Christians to build themselves up on their faith. The idea here implies that we are, as God’s saints, to build upon the foundation of our faith, which is Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 3:11.

Jude, Sensual, Divisive & Unsaved

Jude 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

This verse is the final direct conversation Jude has about these false teachers, though he will allude to them again toward the conclusion of his epistle. In this verse we learn three more things about the false teachers. In an effort to bring us into this culmination, we should recapitulate what Jude has already said about these men.

Jude, What Is Right In Their Eyes

Jude 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.

I don’t typically begin the conversation with a biblical quote, but it is appropriate to cite 1 Timothy 4:1: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” The apostles of the Lord warned that we should adhere to the words they have committed by virtue of the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, Jude 17. Why? Because the same Holy Spirit warns the church that in later times professing Christians will leave behind the truth, paying attention to, and being deceived by, the doctrines of demons. The saint is not to, “give place to the devil,” Ephesians 4:27; that is, not to give him a foothold in our lives by which he may lead us from our faith whichever distraction most pleases us.

Jude, Remembering

Jude 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Jude reminds us (and his readership) that if we are fellow Christians, we are beloved. We are not only beloved by Jude, but we are to love and be loved by anyone who names Jesus Christ as their Savior. Jesus told us, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another,” John 13:34, 35.

Jude, The Anatomy Of False Teachers

Jude 16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.

Jude refers to the ungodly first as grumblers and complainers. The two words are synonymous but one is slightly more aggravated. To be a grumbler is to complain. We may easily find records of the Jews complaining against God during the wilderness wanderings and His reaction to such ungrateful, spiteful, unfaithful conduct, which emanates from an unbelieving heart.