RTW 2023

On that day I will gather you togetherand bring you home again.I will give you a good name, a name of distinction,among all the nations of the earth,as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes.I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Zephaniah 3:20

But Josiah refused to listen to Neco, to whom God had indeed spoken, and he would not turn back. Instead, he disguised himself and led his army into battle on the plain of Megiddo. But the enemy archers hit King Josiah with their arrows and wounded him. He cried out to his men, “Take me from the battle, for I am badly wounded!”

2 Chronicles 35:22-23

• Zephaniah began his ministry in the early days of the reign of King Josiah.
• Zephaniah’s family tree included King Hezekiah, he was in the house of Judah.
• Zephaniah was an aristocrat sent to speak to the aristocrats.
• King Josiah had desperately tried to turn his nation away from sinfulness.
• He tore down altars to idols.
• He renewed the covenant between Judah and the Lord.
• “Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.” 2 Kings 23:25
• Unfortunately the two previous kings, Manessah and Amon, led the nation into deep, dark sin.
• They had gone too far.
• The people lived wicked lives.
• Zephaniah preached of coming judgment for the city of Jerusalem.
• Zephaniah reminds Judah that they still have time for repentance.
• The wicked will fall.
• Zephaniah also has a message of restoration.
• God will bring about something new.
• God promises good.
• Zephaniah’s message is that God cares about holiness.
• God cares so much that He uses ALL things to bring about good.
• God wants us to cling to Him, and Him alone.
• That is the story of Zephaniah, and all history.

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Be known for what you cling to…and let it be God, and God alone. He is worth it all.