Zephaniah and the Day of the Lord (6): The Desolation of the Nations Close By (Zephaniah 2:4-11) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. West: Philistia
II. East: Moab and Ammon
The map referred to in this sermon is here: http://cprf.co.uk/audio/bulletin/jan3116.html
O. Palmer Robertson: “So this second major section of the prophecy [i.e., Zephaniah 2] shows the Lord’s involvement with all the nations of the earth. Wherever unrighteousness is found, it shall be punished. The announcement of judgment on the nations also functions to summon Judah to repentance. Little time remains before the arrival of the Day of [Jehovah]. Judah must seek the Lord. Humility may make it possible for them to be hid on the Day of [Jehovah’s] wrath. Let them consider the Lord’s dealings with their national neighbors. Let them be moved by fear and by jealousy to turn to the Lord. The Day cannot be turned back. But they may be among that remnant that shall be saved for the enjoyment of the plundered nations” (The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, p. 314).
David W. Baker: “... Zephaniah uses the example of what awaits the surrounding nations as a warning, giving Judah good reason to repent, as he had warned them to do (vv. 1-3). This causal connection between verses 1-3 and verses 4 to 3:8 is shown by the particle ‘for’, which links these oracles against the nations with the description of the Day of [Jehovah], but the force is lost due to its omission in the NIV” (Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah, p. 104).