Unlocking The Old Testament

Zephaniah

David Pawson says that Zephaniah was a descendant of the last good king, but now, after evil kings, there was a boy king on the throne, Josiah. What kind of king would he become? The whole nation was in chaos, having had bad examples on the throne, and God sent Zephaniah as his prophet. His job was to try to pull the nation of Judah back to God before He would have to exile them as He had the northern 10 tribes already. Zephaniah warns the people of Judah and also the lands around them that there is coming a Day of the Lord when accounts must be settled, but there is time to repent and deflect punishment. Interestingly, God had brought the Philistines to Canaan at the same time as he had brought his chosen people - as an instrument of discipline for his people. David says it’s much better to have the discipline of our Father God now than to reap eternal punishment. Zephaniah is letting the people know that the choice between God’s justice and his mercy is theirs. God’s last word was always to choose his mercy. For all Zephaniah’s and good King Josiah’s efforts, the people wouldn’t listen.

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Haggai

While some prophets had a lifetime of prophesying, David Pawson says that Haggai spoke for only 3 months. He came after the exile, so his job was to encourage Jews who had returned. Not all Jews returned to Israel as they had become established in Babylon. The returnees had problems because the land had not been cultivated for 70 years, the walls had been torn down, there was opposition from the Samaritans and financial support was withdrawn so this was heavy going for them. Haggai spoke to them 18 years after they had returned, and he provoked them to rethink their attitudes. They had stopped building the temple because money was short, but Haggai showed them that money was short because they had stopped putting God first. When they resumed the building, there was still a drought – because they had not put their lives right with God. They responded well and Haggai encouraged them to be strong and not afraid. And eventually financial support came to them from Persia again. Haggai gave them a promise from God that His glory would fill the temple.

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