Zeph. 3:14-20

 

1) Since this is not in the top ten of biblical books, let's do a little background. the preface says that this is in the time of he reformer Josiah, but before his disastrous loss to the Egyptians in 609, by the way, in Megiddo. Josiah may have put a form of Dt. as an important biblical text. Soon Assyria will get theirs (2:13-15)

2)  This ending is a good example of apocalyptic being a message for losers. When Israel was on top, we don't hear this kind of speech. Having lost faith in their own power, they look again for a repeat of the Red Sea episode.

3) Notice with the last point, how much concern there is for the weak. Under threat, they return to an appreciation of the ethics of say, Dt. 15, that emphasizes concern for the weak.
4) v. 17 is a wonderful evocation of God's joyful love, a good image of spirituality and a fine sermon image. the renewal line could also be " hold his peace in his love" 17b reads god will be silent in his love or renew you (Sept reading) or quiet you

5) This (vv18-20) is a good example of the textual journey. How could this all be written in Josiah's time, when the end supposes an exilic time?

6) Notice that this is not a deist conception; God v. 15 is in their midst.some see a temple basis for this section in liturgy.

7) His name means God has hidden/kept a secret, or protects. That certainly fits the end times. Zephaniah is a prophet who expect the Day of the Lord soon (1:14) ben cushi could mean that as a son of Cush he could be African.

 

Is. 12

10 Some think that this closes the section of the book with a song of thanksgiving for an individual and the community.

2) What doe sit mean to draw water from the wells of salvation/ What other metaphors could one use? Apply it to the water images of the NT.

3)The temple Mt. Zion is a spatial center of Isaiah in general.

4) We don't talk much about God's anger, at least in mainline churches or in the contemporary services that I've suffered through. How could we speak in convincing ways of God's anger turning away and becoming comfort instead? What human responses are similar to this change of heart?